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Online MAT Master of Arts in Teaching

Teaching
Master of Arts in Teaching
DEGREE AT A GLANCE
  • 30 credits
  • Transfer up to 12 credits
  • All courses available online
  • Location restrictions apply
  • Program restrictions apply
  • On-site experiences in each course
  • 18-week teaching internship
TUITION RATES
  • $534 per credit (in-state)
  • $659 per credit (out-of-state)
  • $336 per credit (military)
  • Other fees may apply

Earn a master's degree that prepares you for Maryland teaching certification.

The Master of Arts in Teaching at Â鶹ÐÔ°®µçÓ° of Maryland Global Campus can prepare you to leverage innovative educational technology and meet the needs of diverse learners in a wide range of secondary school environments. This program is designed for students with a bachelor's degree who want to earn Maryland teaching certification in secondary education in subject areas including English, history, social studies, biology, chemistry, earth/space science, physics, mathematics, computer science, Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin Chinese. If you are interested in teaching in a state other than Maryland, please see that state's department of education for certification requirements.

Total Credits Required: 30

Each core and capstone course in the program includes in-person field experiences. In addition, the program culminates in a full-time, on-site teaching internship of at least 80 in-school days (approximately 18 calendar weeks), which you complete under the supervision of a mentor teacher who is certified in your content area and a university supervisor.

Take the following courses in the order listed:

Foundation Course

  • (0 Credits, UCSP 615)
    (to be taken within the first 6 credits of study)

The UCSP 615 requirement may be waived if you previously earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. For more information, contact your academic advisor.

Core Courses

  • (6 Credits, EDTP 600)
  • (6 Credits, EDTP 635)
  • (6 Credits, EDTP 639)
  • (6 Credits, EDTP 645)

Professional Internship

  • (6 Credits, EDTP 650)

  • The MAT program requires that you earn grades of 80 percent (B) or better on major assignments. Therefore, you must complete each course with a grade of B or better to advance to the next course.
  • You must obtain department permission to enroll in more than one course at a time.
  • Your course syllabus will explain options for and consequences of requesting an Incomplete.
  • Before proceeding to the professional internship, you must earn a qualifying score on the for your discipline. To graduate, you must also complete a performance-based teaching portfolio and student learning objectives project and complete the required pedagogy assessment.

General Master's Degree Requirements

  • You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times.
  • All degree requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years.
  • Any transfer credits must have been earned within the above five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate degree.
  • Please review the overall master’s degree requirements for additional considerations.

Accelerated Pathway

Through an accelerated pathway, you may be able to reduce the total coursework for the Master of Arts in Teaching by up to 12 credits—two core MAT courses, plus UCSP 615.

You may be eligible for this accelerated pathway if you completed EDTP 500/EDTP 600 and EDTP 535/EDTP 635 with a grade of B or above during your UMGC undergraduate program and met one of the following conditions:

  • You earned a bachelor’s degree from UMGC with a major in computer science, english, or history
  • You completed 30 credits in the MAT content area you wish to teach (for example, biology or mathematics)

Note: Applicants must meet all admissions requirements for full admission to the MAT Program.

The UCSP 615 requirement may be waived for students who completed the MAT accelerated pathway option. 

Search Course Catalog

These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2024–2025 academic year. For prior year requirements, visit our catalog archive.

Master’s Degree Requirements

In addition to the specific course requirements outlined on each master's degree webpage, UMGC maintains certain requirements for all master’s degrees.

Program Highlights

Develop skills and gain knowledge through coursework that draws from the expertise and experience of our respected faculty.

Teaching Certification

Fulfilling the requirements of this program provides you with eligibility for the , which is granted by the Maryland State Department of Education. to become certified in Maryland. This certification enables you to teach in the state of Maryland once you graduate and provides enhanced opportunities for interstate reciprocity.

View the Program's AAQEP Accreditation

Â鶹ÐÔ°®µçÓ° of Maryland Global Campus is a member in good standing of the , a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The Master of Arts in Teaching has been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Full accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality. This program is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education as a professional education program leading to state teacher certification in the state of Maryland.

 

Additional Program Information

Kentucky

Please be advised that UMGC currently does not admit students residing in Kentucky into UMGC's Master of Arts in Teaching program unless approved on a case-by-case basis. UMGC students residing in Kentucky would not be permitted to complete the program's field and clinical requirements in Kentucky public or nonpublic schools. For more information about Kentucky licensure, please visit the website. Please email us for further information regarding UMGC's MAT program. Link to

U.S. Department of Defense Schools

If a student resides in a state in which UMGC is not currently accepting students and the student is eligible to complete the program's field and clinical requirements at a Department of Defense Education Activity school, the student may email us to discuss options for enrollment in the MAT program.

Professional Licensure

This program is designed to help prepare students to obtain initial certification as a teacher in Maryland in the field of secondary education in a specific subject area.

Learn more about . If you are seeking licensure in another state, you are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in that state and confirm that the specific subject area you wish to pursue is available for licensure in that state. Learn more about professional licensure and how to contact your state's licensing board.

Application Deadlines

This program accepts applications for the fall, spring, and summer terms.

  • Fall: August 15
  • Spring: January 15
  • Summer: April 15

Once we receive your , transcripts, and test scores (if applicable), we will notify you if you meet the admission criteria.

Admission Requirements

Updated for Fall 2022

To be eligible for admission, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • Submit a letter of intent*
  • Have an evaluator submit a completed recommendation form
    • Provide the recommendation form to a supervisor who can evaluate your potential as a graduate student and professional teacher. Once completed, the evaluator should email the form to admissions@umgc.edu with "MAT Recommendation" as the subject.
    • Note: Please download the form in Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader to complete.
  • Complete a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Complete a major in the content area in which you will seek certification (alternatively, and subject to UMGC approval, you can complete 30 credits in content-related coursework from a regionally accredited college/university.)
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in content area coursework
  • Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on your most recent degree
    • If you do not have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on your most recent degree, you will need to submit an official qualifying test score on the , or alternatively, a qualifying composite score on the Praxis I, SAT®1, ACT, or GRE. Titles and qualifying scores for these exams can be found at the .

* Letter of Intent Requirements

Your letter of intent assists the admissions committee in understanding how your experiences and academic history contribute to your interest and ability to be successful in UMGC’s program and a career in teaching.  A strong letter communicates why you are choosing to pursue a degree in teaching. This is also an opportunity to tell the faculty what important experiences, values, and aspirations you bring to graduate study.  Please include a summary of the following in your letter of intent:

  • Your background and academic history (including degrees, certifications, and licenses)
  • Your experiences working with children/youth that prepare you for graduate study (prior teaching experience is not required)
  • How your personal attributes and interests, professional background, and relevant experiences prepare you for success in the online graduate program
  • The name and contact information of at least two references

Your letter should be one to two pages in length, single-spaced in 12-point font.

Please submit your completed letter directly to UMGC at admissions@umgc.edu with "MAT Letter of Intent" as the subject.

Computer Science Applicants

Computer science applicants who possess a degree or coursework older than five years must also take the for computer science and submit a qualifying test score to apply to the MAT program.

World Language Applicants

World language applicants may be admitted without having a major or 30 credits in the language they wish to teach, but they must submit scores of Advanced Low on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the ACTFL Written Proficiency Test (WPT) for the language as well as show an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their bachelor’s degree or submit a qualifying basic skills assessment.

Transcripts and Test Scores

Please send official transcripts and test scores (if applicable) to

UMGC Graduate Admissions
3501 Â鶹ÐÔ°®µçÓ° Blvd. East
Adelphi, MD 20783

Applicants who will be taking the Praxis exams should use the following code to send their transcripts directly: UMGC Praxis code RA5406

Applicants who will be submitting SAT® scores should use the following code to send them directly: 0551

Transcript Self-Assessment

Although UMGC's graduate education department makes the final determination regarding admission, you are encouraged to perform a self-assessment of your transcript. Use the following forms to help you analyze your transcripts and review the required standards for your preferred teaching specialty.

Transcript Review Forms

Teaching Standards

Strong writing skills are encouraged in this program.

  • As a student in this program, you are required to purchase a one-time $139 subscription (good for seven years) to  before your first class begins; this is a comprehensive assessment and management system which supports all students and programs within the department.
  • You may need access to a webcam/microphone for certain assignments.

Program transition points exist to ensure candidate progress and meet candidate needs in a timely manner. Transition points enable analysis of program progression and enable graduation projection and determinations of eligibility. For candidates to pass through transition points, they must meet the following criteria.

MAT Program Entry

  • Apply to UMGC and meet graduate admission requirements and the additional program-specific admission requirements.

MAT Candidacy

  • Receive a 3.0 in the first course or earn a 3.0 GPA in the term during which the first course is taken.
  • Complete (0 Credits, UCSP 615) within the first 6 credits of the program.

MAT Entry to the Professional Internship

  • Complete the first 24 credits in the program, including all field experiences, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher or be placed on probation.
  • Pass the 

MAT Eligibility for Graduation

  • Complete all MAT course requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Successful completion of full-time internship
  • Complete the required pedagogy assessment

Please note: You will be responsible for following procedures for arranging field experiences and classroom observations within the school district of your choice. While UMGC is able to provide support and assistance in securing field placements, we cannot guarantee that all school districts will grant MAT students permission to enter the classroom. Also, states and local school districts have varying regulations and policies regarding field experiences and student teaching. We recommend you familiarize yourself with the student teaching requirements for your state and locality.

 

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