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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2022-2023 
    
American University Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Teaching (MAT)


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Offered by the School of Education , the Teaching (MAT) is designed for the student with no previous background or preparation in education who wishes to acquire teaching certification in early childhood, elementary, secondary education, or English for speakers of other languages.

Admission to the Program


In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study, applicants must have an earned bachelor’s degree in the licensure area or 33 credit hours in the licensure subject area. A review of the undergraduate transcripts takes place upon admission.

Students seeking certification in English for speakers of other languages must be proficient in English. It is strongly recommended that native speakers of English have some background in at least one other language. International students are expected to demonstrate competence equivalent to a score of 600 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in order to be endorsed for certification.

Degree Requirements


  • 30-36 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 24-30 hours of coursework and 6 hours of student teaching with required seminar
    • Candidates must, over two semesters, successfully complete a practicum (15 hours/week) and student teaching (40 hours/week) field placement. Evaluation of practicum and student teaching will include observations from AU clinical faculty and local K-12 teachers
    • Students’ undergraduate transcripts will be evaluated individually; based on this evaluation, students may be required to take additional graduate work to meet certification requirements
    • Option to waive credit hours: Students who are fulltime classroom teachers may be permitted to waive a total of 3 credit hours of practicum (EDU-697 Practicum Field Experience with Seminar (1-2) ) and/or student teaching (EDU-699 Student Teaching Seminar in Professional Practice (2-6) ) without replacement. The waiving of credit hours and the specific number of credit hours to be waived are determined and approved by the program director and the SOE Dean upon admission to the program. The total credits waived cannot exceed 3 credits. Students in the Early Childhood or Secondary Education track are ineligible for this waiver
  • Completion of Praxis Core or equivalency exam as set by the District of Columbia. Please see american.edu/soe/admissions for exams and passing scores. The recommendation is for students to complete this by the end of the first semester of the program
  • Completion of Praxis Content Knowledge Exam prior to graduation
  • Specializations: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Secondary Education

Course Requirements


Note: All coursework must be approved by the director of the MAT program. Evaluation of field performance may involve videotaping of classroom teaching.

Practicum and Student Teaching (6 credit hours)


Complete 6 credit hours from the following:

Specialization (18-24 credit hours)


Complete one of the following specializations:

Early Childhood Education (18 credit hours)


Elementary Education (21 credit hours)


English for Speakers of Other Languages (24 credit hours)


Note: No new students will be admitted to this program for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Secondary Education [Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Physics, or Social Studies] (18 credit hours)


Online Teaching (MAT)


In the online Teaching (MAT) program for the elementary education specialization, teacher candidates are engaged in creative and innovative teaching, rigorous research, and professional service with a goal to be prepared to teach the next generation of students. As reflective practitioners, teacher candidates translate theory of pedagogical knowledge and instructional methods into everyday practice. Practical experience is an integral part of the program. Admission, degree, and course requirements are the same as for the on-campus program. Courses are offered in the traditional fifteen-week semester. Students are expected to take two courses each semester and complete the program within a twenty-month period. Students must be accepted into the online Teaching (MAT) program to enroll in online courses. 

Ongoing Assessment of Academic and Professional Performance


Students must be admitted to the Teaching (MAT) program before enrolling in methods courses (EDU-601 EDU-603 , EDU-604 , EDU-608 , EDU-655 /EDU-656 EDU-688 /EDU-689 , or TESL-601 /TESL-602 ). To enroll in EDU-699 Student Teaching Seminar in Professional Practice (2-6) , students must receive a positive evaluation from the Teacher Education Committee based on established criteria, a grade of B- or better in EDU-630 Foundations of Education (3)  and grades of B or better in methods courses and EDU-697 Practicum Field Experience with Seminar (1-2) .

Combined Bachelor’s Degree and Teaching (MAT)


American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program  and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees  for more information.

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for combined bachelor’s/master’s programs:

  • Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.00 or higher in major and minor courses
  • Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework for 30 and 33 credit hour MAT programs and up to 12 credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework for 36 credit hour MAT programs to satisfy the requirements of both degrees
  • Combined Bachelor’s Degree and Online Teaching (MAT) is prohibited

Teaching (MAT) and International Peace and Conflict Resolution (MA)


For approved dual degree program, see Teaching (MAT) and International Peace and Conflict Resolution (MA) .

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