US Teacher Shortage 60K extra teachers were needed nationwide during the 2015-2016 academic year
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Spring Valley Building , Room 471
Teacher Education 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States
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
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.
Why Teaching Needs You
Frequently Asked Questions
How many credits must I take to be eligible for financial aid?
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.
Can I continue to teach full-time while completing the program?
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.
When do the practicum and student teaching begin?
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.
Can I work while completing practicum/student teaching?
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.
When is the program offered and what times are classes offered?
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.
Do I have to take the Praxis CORE to be admitted?
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.
Praxis Exam Resources
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
See what MAT alums, faculty, and students say sets this program apart.