Training Teachers To Provide Equitable Education To All Students.
At American University, we’re committed to training teachers who are dedicated to providing equitable education to all students. Our focus on social justice is a core part of our program’s philosophy; we want to be absolutely certain that our graduates have the tools they need to turn learning differences into learning strengths and to ensure that future generations are equipped to address society’s most pressing concerns.
Our curriculum leverages advancements in neurodevelopment, social-emotional interventions, and a multidisciplinary approach to teaching STEM education—because we believe that only when all students are offered the opportunity to thrive will our society truly thrive.
Students enrolled in the master’s in teaching program will have access to American University’s cutting-edge research, engaging coursework, and crucial partnerships with academic institutions throughout Washington, DC. Under the guidance of our award-winning faculty, students will learn how to empower others to make a difference and make a lasting positive impact on communities in need. American University’s online MAT is CAEP-accredited and designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in obtaining a teaching license in elementary education.
Required Credits
33 Credit Hours
Est. Time to Completion
Less than two years
Classroom Hours Completed in Your State of Residence
600 Hours
Program Highlights
- Earn your degree in 20 months
- Accredited locally by DC (OSSE) and nationally with CAEP
- Complete student teaching in your local area
- We currently have reciprocity in 47 states. Our Enrollment Team can help you research if your state is included
- No previous training in education necessary
- Obtain over 600 hours of experience in a classroom setting
- Become part of a diverse network of talented students from all over the United States and more than 150 countries
- Learn to teach in-demand STEM skills
What makes the online master’s in teaching unique?
American University’s master’s in teaching online program was built on the idea that a successful education system filled with exceptional teachers is at the heart of the fight for social justice.
Online master of arts in teaching students can expect an emphasis in cultural competency and diverse perspectives, an interesting and progressive curriculum, a focus on the STEM skills necessary for tomorrow’s most exciting careers, a focus on cultivating community among students (no matter where they might be based), and faculty members who are leaders in their fields and committed to social justice.
Summer 2020 Deadlines
- Early Decision Deadline
- December 6, 2019
- Priority Application Deadline
- March 6, 2020
- Application Complete Deadline
- April 10, 2020
- Class Start
- May 5, 2020
Information Webinar Sessions
Join our admissions team for a chance to learn more about our Master of Arts in Teaching. Ask any questions you might have around the application process or program requirements, meet a faculty member from the program and more.
Why the American Education System Needs Great Educators?
National Teacher Shortage
Growing Teacher Vacancies
Lack of Special Education Teachers
AU Accelerates Teaching Careers
Curriculum
American University’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education is not a typical teaching program. We train future teachers who are dedicated to helping ensure that all students in this country—regardless of race, socioeconomic background, or learning challenges—receive the high-quality education they deserve. We help our graduates do this by designing a curriculum that leverages advancements in neurodevelopment, social-emotional interventions, and a multidisciplinary approach to teaching STEM education. More specifically, our curriculum stands apart by equipping teachers to turn learning weaknesses into strengths; to offer to their students a cutting-edge STEM education; and to place a focus on social justice at the heart of their classrooms.
Students enroll in two classes per semester and complete the program in a twenty-month period.
Course Schedule
To complete the online Master of Arts in Teaching program, students must earn 33 credits, which includes 6 hours of student teaching with a required seminar.
Fieldwork is completed across two semesters. First, online MAT students engage in a semester-long practicum, spending two days per week in a local classroom observing and learning new skills. In their final semester, students complete their student-teaching requirement, which requires five days a week in a local classroom to apply and build their practical teaching tools.
Sample Course Schedule
Semester 1
- EDU 630 Foundations of Education
- EDU 620 Theories of Educational Psychology and Human Development
Semester 2
- EDU 609 Effective Teaching for Diverse Students
- EDU 601Teaching Literacy in the Elementary School
Semester 3
- EDU 619 Children’s Literature: A Critical Literacy Perspective
- EDU 643 Foundations of Special Education for Exceptional Children
Semester 4
- EDU 603 Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School
- EDU 604 Teaching Science in the Elementary School
- EDU 697 Practicum with Seminar and Professional Practice
Semester 5
- EDU 608 Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School
- EDU 699 Student Teaching Seminar in Professional Practice
Featured Courses
Foundations of Education (EDU 630)
Exploration of philosophical, sociological, and political foundations of American education and inquiry into the role schools play in cultural production, maintenance, and transformation and what this means for diverse learners of all ages. Includes an examination of law and policies that affect children and families.
Effective Teaching for Diverse Students (EDU 609)
Through action research, students explore ways of organizing and managing classrooms to support diverse learners. Students engage in curriculum design and implementation across the curriculum, including instructional planning and using portfolios. The role that families, the community, and other professionals can play in assessment and curriculum planning are explored.
Student Teaching Seminar in Professional Practice (EDU 699)
The class meets weekly for students to discuss their teaching experiences and to assist them in developing ideas and strategies to improve their classroom effectiveness. Preparation of a reflective case study and completion of a professional portfolio and an on-line journal are required. Note: Students enroll in this seminar in the semester they are completing their student teaching requirement.
Student Stories
Emily H.
Matthew K.
Catalina R.
New AU Alums Thrive in All Economic Sectors and in Grad Schools
Employers
- American International School of Niamey
- Arlington County Public Schools
- Arlington Public Schools
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
- Cesar Chavez Public Charter School
- Dallas Independent School District
- DC Public Schools
- DC Public Schools - Oyster Adams Elementary School
- Dolton School District 149
- Duke Ellington School of the Arts
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Frederick County Public Schools
- Friendship Public Charter School
- From the Heart Christian School
- JPDS-NC
- Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- National Presbyterian School
School
- Seattle University
Recent AU Grads are Competitive in the Marketplace
Alumni & Outcomes
Our alumni are working to change the lives of students throughout the country and the world. Within six months of completing their programs, 100 percent of American University’s MAT graduates are working, continuing their education, or both.*
Our students channel their talents into a wide variety of career roles:
* American University does not guarantee employment after graduation.
Program Head
Bilingual Teacher
Policy Maker
Researcher
Classroom Teacher
Edu. Game Designer
Tutor
Professor
Curriculum Specialist
Art Coordinator
Adult Educator
Learning Specialist
Who should choose this online teaching degree?
American University is looking for students who want to be teachers who change lives, empowering the next generation of change makers and ensuring that students have the tools to effectively transform their communities. Our online format will enable you to stay rooted in the community where you are as you work toward your degree—a factor that we know is often important to the active community members we tend to attract.
Without passionate, trained, progressive-minded, and dedicated teachers, our society simply cannot function to its democratic ideal. And teachers are currently in short supply in this country: according to the Learning Policy Institute, the United States faced a shortage of approximately 60,000 teachers in the 2015-16 school year. The lack of trained teachers is a real problem that we all face, but we believe that, with our students and talented graduates, we can rise to the challenge together. Help us be a part of the societal change we all want to see.
Professional Licensure Disclaimer Statement
This program meets the requirements for professional teaching licensure in Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) in Washington D.C. American University cannot guarantee whether the program meets requirements for professional licensure in any other states. American University recommends that you consult with the appropriate licensing agency or board in the state or territory for which you seek to obtain licensure prior to beginning your course of study.
