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    Nov 23, 2024  
American University Catalog 2024-2025 
    
American University Catalog 2024-2025

Teaching (MAT)


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 special education: learning disabilities, 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, at admission, a review of the applicant’s undergraduate transcript will be conducted for alignment to any licensure specializations with required prerequisite coursework. Based on this evaluation, students may be required to take additional coursework.

Applicants whose first and primary language is not English are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Duolingo English Test, unless they hold a degree from a U.S.-accredited institution before enrollment at SOE. The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT) or 600 on the paper-based test (PBT). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0. The minimum Duolingo score is 120.

Degree Requirements


  • Early Childhood Education Specialization:
    • 33 credit hours of approved graduate work
    • Capstone Experience:
      • Licensure Specialization:
        • 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
        • 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 (1-3) ) 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’ undergraduate transcripts will be evaluated individually; based on this evaluation, students may be required to take additional graduate work
        • Completion of Praxis Core or equivalency exam as set by the District of Columbia; completion recommended by the end of the student’s first semester. Please see american.edu/soe/admissions for exams and passing scores
        • Completion of Praxis Content Knowledge Exam prior to graduation
      • Non-Licensure Specialization:
        • Candidates must, over two semesters, successfully complete a practicum (15 hours/week) or independent study. Evaluation of practicum includes observations from AU clinical faculty and local K-12 teachers
        • 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 (1-3) ) and/or independent study (EDU-690 Independent Study Project in Education (1-6) ) 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
  • Elementary Education Specialization:
    • 33 credit hours of approved graduate work
    • Capstone Experience:
      • Licensure Specialization:
        • 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 
        • 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 (1-3) ) 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’ undergraduate transcripts will be evaluated individually; based on this evaluation, students may be required to take additional graduate work
        • Completion of Praxis Core or equivalency exam as set by the District of Columbia; completion recommended by the end of the student’s first semester. Please see american.edu/soe/admissions for exams and passing scores
        • Completion of Praxis Content Knowledge Exam prior to graduation
      • Non-Licensure Specialization:
        • Candidates must, over two semesters, successfully complete a practicum (15 hours/week) or independent study. Evaluation of practicum includes observations from AU clinical faculty and local K-12 teachers
        • 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 (1-3) ) and/or independent study (EDU-690 Independent Study Project in Education (1-6) ) 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
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages Specialization:
    • 36 credit hours of approved graduate work
    • Capstone Experience:
      • Licensure Specialization:
        • 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 
        • 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 (1-3) ) 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’ undergraduate transcripts will be evaluated individually; based on this evaluation, students may be required to take additional graduate work
        • Completion of Praxis Core or equivalency exam as set by the District of Columbia; completion recommended by the end of the student’s first semester. Please see american.edu/soe/admissions for exams and passing scores
        • Completion of Praxis Content Knowledge Exam prior to graduation
      • Non-Licensure Specialization:
        • Candidates must, over two semesters, successfully complete a practicum (15 hours/week) or independent study. Evaluation of practicum includes observations from AU clinical faculty and local K-12 teachers
        • 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 (1-3) ) and/or independent study (EDU-690 Independent Study Project in Education (1-6) ) 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
  • Secondary Education [Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Physics, or Social Studies] Specialization:
    • 30 credit hours of approved graduate work
    • Capstone Experience:
      • Licensure Specialization:
        • 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
        • Completion of Praxis Core or equivalency exam as set by the District of Columbia, completion recommended by the end of the student’s first semester. Please see american.edu/soe/admissions for exams and passing scores
        • Completion of Praxis Content Knowledge Exam prior to graduation
      • Non-Licensure Specialization:
        • Candidates must, over two semesters, successfully complete a practicum (15 hours/week) or independent study. Evaluation of practicum includes observations from AU clinical faculty and local K-12 teachers
  • Special Education: Learning Disabilities Specialization:

Course Requirements


Complete one of the following specializations:

Note: The director must approve all coursework of the MAT program. Evaluation of field performance may involve videotaping of classroom teaching.

Early Childhood Education (33 credit hours)


Elementary Education (33 credit hours)


English for Speakers of Other Languages (36 credit hours)


Secondary Education [Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Physics, or Social Studies] (30 credit hours)


Elective (3 credit hours)


Complete 3 credit hours from the following, or other education-focused course approved by School of Education Program Director: 

Capstone (6 credit hours)


Complete one of the following specializations:

Special Education: Learning Disabilities (30 credit hours)


Online Teaching (MAT)


In the online Teaching (MAT) program for the elementary education and special education: learning disabilities specializations, teacher candidates are engaged in creative and innovative teaching, rigorous research, and professional service with the goal of being prepared to teach the next generation of students. As reflective practitioners, teacher candidates translate the 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 twenty months.

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)  or EDU-690 Independent Study Project in Education (1-6) , 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) .