Urban Teacher Academy - Admissions

Requirements
The Urban Teacher Academy’s admissions process prioritizes the personal characteristics that research has shown to distinguish the most effective urban teachers. We seek applicants who:

• Have demonstrated an interest in or commitment to urban teaching through previous work, volunteer, or academic experiences
• Have demonstrated the ability to persevere and succeed in challenging situations
• Understand the challenges of urban teaching and believe strongly in the potential of urban learners
• Show potential for leadership and the desire to advocate for greater equity and justice in schools

We also look for:
- Ability to succeed in graduate school: We review applicants’ academic records and test scores frevidence that applicants will be successful in a challenging, accelerated graduate program. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred. The GRE is the only test required for admission. Because we take a broad look at applicant qualifications and prioritize our essential candidate characteristics over everything else, we don't have a set-in-stone cut score. That said, we like to see quantitative and qualitative scores above the 50th percentile, and an analytical writing score of 4.0 or higher. Click here for answers to frequently-asked questions about tests for teachers.

- Subject-area content knowledge: The best teachers of any subject have a deep knowledge of their content area and are passionate about it. The most competitive applicants to the Urban Teacher Academy have a strong undergraduate preparation related to the content area or developmental stage they wish to teach, or significant work experience in a related field. Applicants who are admitted without a related degree or work experience must demonstrate content-area proficiency through additional testing in their first semester of enrollment.

-Cultural, Linguistic, and Ability Diversity: The Urban Teacher Academy is committed to recruiting and preparing teachers who reflect the population of DC’s public schools. People of color, speakers of languages other than English, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with a demonstrated commitment to serving diverse students are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply
1. Submit a complete application packet seeking admission to the University.
Submit the following documents to the UDC Office of Admissions:

• Application for Graduate Admission. (Online Application here.)
• $50 non-refundable Admission Application Fee or Application for Readmission Fee - Money Order, Certified Check or Bank Check.
• A 500-word personal statement, focused on the Urban Teacher Academy’s  selection criteria for aspiring teachers. - Download Form;
• One official transcript from each undergraduate institution attended – submitted in the original sealed envelope.
• GRE Scores – Submitted directly to UDC via the test provider, ETS. The ETS recipient code for UDC is RA5929. Please be sure to indicate UDC as a recipient when you register for the GRE. The GRE is the only test required for admission to the Urban Teacher Academy. Additional Praxis tests are required for program completion, but we do not look at these at the application stage.
• Two letters of recommendation , submitted in one of two ways:
  • Hard-copy letter or form in sealed envelope, submitted to the UDC Office of Admissions
  • Electronic copy email or form sent directly from recommender to ncue@udc.edu, with the subject header Recommendation for (Your Name)

2. Notify the Urban Teacher Academy of your application and intended concentration.
Send an email and your resume to ncue@udc.edu, with the subject header Application for Admission.

• In the body of your email, specify:
  
  •  the degree you are seeking; if the MAT, also specify your desired concentration area
  • whether you intend to enroll as a full-time or part-time graduate student
  • the date you submitted your application to the Office of Graduate Studies
  • details about the status of the items (tests scores, recommendations, and transcripts) you are expecting others to send
• Attach your resume. Be sure to highlight:
  
  • experience with students and/or urban education
  • experiences that demonstrate your capacity to work effectively with students who are culturally, linguistically, or ability diverse
  • academic training or other experiences that speak to the content-area expertise relevant to the master’s degree you are seeking

3. Participate in an admissions interview.
After a review of application materials, selected applicants will be invited to an in-person interview day, which will include:

• Personal interview with panel of faculty
• Interactive/group activity with other applicants
• Writing exercise
• Public speaking excercise

Arrangements for phone or Skype interviews can be made for international or out-of-area applicants. Please note the need for this accommodation in your email application to the Urban Teacher Academy.