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Teacher standing in classrom with children working and conversing.

Designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree and interest in a teaching license, the Master's in Teaching (MAT) program:

  • offers an online and on-campus option with the Elementary Education track, in addition to on-campus options with three tracks in Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education, and ESOL
  • does not require previous training or experience in education
  • offers Scholarships & Partnerships including City Year / AISGW, Career Switcher, and TEACH Grants
  • is CAEP-recognized, the highest standard of accreditation
  • prepares graduates in 5 semesters for direct entry into positions as classroom teachers and related careers
  • provides a strong network within DC-Maryland-Virginia (over 50 area schools offer placements for our students) and further networking with our MAT grads teaching in schools nationwide
  • maintains a 100% placement rate after graduation

Faculty Spotlight

Carolyn Parker

Program Director, Master of Arts in Teaching

I wanted to be a part of work that [was] making a positive impact in the world.

Director for the MAT program, Dr. Parker comes to AU from Johns Hopkins University, where she taught in their School of Education. At AU, she is developing new curricula that focuses on STEM education and address educational equity in K12 schools. Her work appears in Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, and Cultural Studies in Science Education.

Meet the teaching program Faculty & Staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

To receive financial aid students must take at least a part-time class schedule, which consists of 6 credits (2 classes) in the Fall and Spring semester, and 3 credits (1 class) in the Summer semester.

Yes! Many students continue to teach full-time throughout their MAT program. Students employed as full-time teachers in their area of certification can use their job to fulfill the practicum and student teaching requirements.

Practicum takes place in the second-to-last semester of the MAT program, and student teaching takes place the semester after practicum. Depending on your planned graduation date, this could be either the fall or the spring semester.

It may be possible to maintain employment during the teaching practicum, which requires two weekdays of your time. Student teaching is a full-time commitment for 14 weeks. Many of our student teachers will continue at a school in a long-term substitute position until the summer.

The MAT program offers a Spring, Summer, and Fall start. The classes are conveniently offered in the evening, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Thursday.

Online Elementary Education courses are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 p.m.- 9:20 p.m.

Students with over a 3.0 GPA can waive their Praxis CORE scores during the admissions process. 

Students with under a 3.0 GPA will need to provide Praxis CORE scores or one of the authorized test substitutions. Click here for a list of the test substitutions and eligible test scores.

**If a substituted test is used, the student is still required to take the Praxis Writing exam. You can register here.

Please go to www.ets.org/praxis to create an account and register for the exam.

If you qualify for a fee waiver, please use this link to register for the fee waiver.

ETS Praxis has partnered with Khan Academy to provide free math tutoring and support.

Still have questions? Send us an email: teachered@american.edu

Look inside the MAT

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See what MAT alums, faculty, and students say sets this program apart.