The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is an advanced-level degree designed for students who wish to teach in a pre-K or K-12 classroom environment. Students may be either those with existing teaching certification from an undergraduate degree in education who want to advance their career or those who need to complete appropriate certification to hold their initial teaching license after completing a non-education bachelor’s degree.

A variety of tracks and concentrations are available within a MAT that can help you tailor your degree program to fit your goals. Concentrations within the MAT degree exist as a way for students to integrate further specific coursework from a concentrated area in the K-12 arena to help students gain additional exposure to an area of interest to them. Some commonly offered concentrations within the MAT degree include early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education and special education.

The Master of Arts in Teaching is designed to help teachers and professors teacher learn what they need to know in order to find employment in education. Graduates of an MAT program may work as: [12]

Elementary School Teachers (with an average salary of $43,737)
High School Teachers (with an average salary of $48,001)
Special Education Teachers (with an average salary of $45,120 to $49,263)
Middle School Teachers (with an average salary of $45,991)

Which careers require this specific degree?

Employer and state licensing requirements vary. Students who have graduated from an MAT program and completed additional requirements for a teaching license will be able to become employed in public schools. Their teaching license can indicate where their specialties lie, in areas such as early childhood education; elementary, middle, or high school education; or special education.

These positions may also be obtained by teachers who only hold an undergraduate degree, although the MAT can help such candidates improve their career prospects and earnings.

How does the MAT affect salary potential in the field?

Teachers with graduate-level qualifications earn 10% more on average than those with bachelor’s degrees. After 10 years, the average annual salary gap between teachers with master’s degrees and those with bachelor’s degrees is $4,500. [13]

How do the career opportunities vary from state to state and internationally?

Teaching jobs are available globally in both brick-and-mortar schools and online. In the U.S., reciprocity agreements between states are in place to help teachers move around. Reciprocity agreements grant states the power to recognize certifications from other states. This allows graduate teachers to be considered for teaching posts in other states, providing they meet that state’s additional requirements. [14]

Teaching overseas is another popular choice, and many American teachers are working in locations such as China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

When deciding on which program to attend, curriculum is an important factor. Some related things you may consider regarding curriculum include:

• The program you select is accredited.
• The program’s core competencies and specializations match your abilities and interests
• The college’s academic infrastructure is appropriate for your program, including the provision of facilities and resources
• The faculty has the experience and resources to deliver the degree content to a high standard
• The coursework goes deep enough for you to develop your knowledge and will allow you to expand your areas of knowledge
• The program will allow you to progress into your chosen career
• There are opportunities to gain practical experience in your field

Whether the school you are considering is accredited is a very important factor as well, as this may affect your future employability. It could also be useful to talk to existing or former students about the view employers have of their training, or to read student testimonials. This and other information often can be found at the program’s website, although you may have to do independent research or contact a program representative directly.

What is the standard set of core courses for a MAT program?

Core coursework for Master of Teaching programs typically include foundational work in subjects like:

• Teaching methods
• Student learning styles
• Linguistic and cultural diversity
• Assessment and evaluation in the classroom
• How to work collaboratively with colleagues
• Curriculum management and implementation
• Reading and literacy

The length of an online master’s degree program can depend on a number of variables, perhaps the most prominent of which is the pace at which you choose to study. You can finish a typical master’s degree program in about two to three years if you choose to study full-time, although some accelerated programs may be able to help you finish more quickly.

Online master’s degree programs tend to offer flexibility suitable for students who choose to study part-time. This option will likely extend your time to completion, but it can allow you to study while fulfilling your familial, social, and professional obligations.

You can find more information on this topic at our program length overview page.

While each program will set its admission requirements based on its own criteria, many requirements are universal across all programs. No matter where you apply, you can expect to provide items like transcripts from previous degrees or coursework; standardized test scores; a personal statement or essay; letters of recommendation; and an overview of relevant work experience.

In certain cases, some of these requirements may be waived.

For more information about admissions, please visit our admissions requirements page.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) is a common alternative to the MAT. This program focuses on teaching careers that will take the student outside of the classroom, so the scope of the curriculum is typically wider than the MAT. The M.Ed. also looks to topics such as educational law, accounting, and administration. The M.Ed. is usually completed by students that already have the right to work as teachers, while the MAT is intended to help prospective teachers develop pedagogical skills.

The Master of Science in Education is often a preferred path for teachers interested in educational research. There may also be an alternative route to certification where graduates with a bachelor’s degree can train for their teaching qualification, in practice, under the supervision of a qualified teacher. [4]

There are a number of groups working in the education sector in which students and professionals may come together for networking and discussion. These include:

• The American Federation of Teachers [20]
• The Association of Teacher Educators [21]
• The Department of Education [22]
• The Association of American Educators [23]
• The National Association of Special Education Teachers [24]

To move from teacher training to teaching practice, students will need to obtain a license from the state in which they hope to practice. The usual requirements are to have completed an accredited teaching degree program and to pass that state’s specific qualification demands.

Requirements and prerequisites will vary by state, but they may include passing standardized tests such as the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educator Tests. These measure subject-specific skills, as well as knowledge of pedagogy and teaching methods. These tests are a mix of multiple choice and essay questions and can take up to four hours to complete.

The National Evaluation Series (NES) is another testing method used to establish a teacher’s suitability to hold state teaching responsibilities. When states require the NES, they typically require it in conjunction with state-specific examinations that probe an applicant’s understanding of their topic. These are completed on a computer and the results may be portable between states. This means a teacher that passes could be eligible for employment in a number of states without having to take the test again.

Regional accreditation is the most prestigious type of accreditation that an online or traditional college or university can receive. It is granted only after careful consideration by private, not-for-profit organizations tasked with evaluating educational quality.

Regional accreditation is particularly important if you anticipate that you might want to transfer credits from one online degree program to another or use those credits to pursue another degree. Most regionally accredited schools will only accept credits from other regionally accredited institutions of higher learning.

You can learn more on this topic at our regional accreditation page.

Is there an accrediting body for the MAT?

Teacher training programs in the U.S. are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Department of Education recognizes the council. [6] CAEP was formed in 2013 to replace two previous organizations that oversaw education accreditation — the former National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). [7] The new body hoped to streamline the accreditation process to be as effective as possible.

What does it mean for a college or program to have this accreditation?

The CAEP evaluates MAT programs based on the quality of teaching provided by its graduates and whether there is a culture of evidence-based practice in how that training is delivered. This has been consolidated into five standards, which require that those admitted to the program have proven their worth for a place and that educational standards are monitored and continuously improved. CAEP takes into consideration whether employers and graduates are happy with a program. [27]

What does accreditation mean for your degree or licensure?

Many states will require teacher training programs to hold CAEP accreditation for graduates to qualify for a teaching license. Accreditation also provides reassurance to student and prospective employers that their training is up to date, useful, and based on sound academic principles. [28]

There are a number of factors that can greatly affect how much your education will cost. These include whether you attend a public or private institution; whether you attend as an in-state or out-of-state student; and whether you qualify for financial aid like grants or scholarships.

For a more detailed breakdown of tuition, fees, and other financial issues, please visit our tuition and fees page.

Loan forgiveness for teachers

Teachers that go on to work in areas of great need or in locations that have a low-income population may qualify for the cancellation or deferment of federal student loans. This may also be the case in areas where there is a teacher shortage. This is thanks to opportunities offered by either federal or local programs to relieve teachers of portions of their student debt in return for working in areas that need them most. [16] The deal on offer will depend on the types of loan you have:

• Perkins Loans may be canceled for those working full-time in a low-income school or those teaching in certain areas.
• Stafford Loans received from Oct. 1, 1998, onward may be eligible for part-cancellation if the teacher that received them has worked in a low-income school for five years.