Best Master's in Teaching Programs

A Master of Arts in Teaching is aimed at teachers planning to work in a variety of disciplines, from math to language arts. Many undergraduate degrees can prepare students for an MAT. However, certain undergraduate degrees stand out as excellent pathways to a master's in teaching.

• Education: If a school offers a major in education, this program will certainly prepare students for an MAT. This major focuses on the methods of teaching, how students learn, and also gives students the chance to explore how factors outside the classroom impact a child's education.
• Sociology: A sociology degree gives students an understanding of communities, social structures, and institutions that can be used as a great backbone for work in the classroom. Sociology majors can explore a diversity of subfields that make their degree especially useful when branching out to earn an MAT.
• STEM: A degree in any STEM field is great preparation for work teaching math or the sciences in K-12 schools. STEM degrees are especially valuable as schools prepare students for increasingly technical jobs and programs.
• English: Much like a STEM degree, having a degree in English or literature means being prepared to work in K-12 education. Reading, grammar knowledge, and writing skills are foundational to childhood education. Thus having expertise in the language and the literary texts often used in secondary school classrooms is enormously useful before starting a master's program.
• History: This is another core academic discipline. A background in history prepares students for teaching social studies. Like an English degree, History also entails a firm understanding of reading and writing, which are excellent skills for an MAT.

For admission to an MAT program, successful candidates must have at least a bachelor's degree. For consideration to the more competitive programs, a strong academic transcript is also needed. Applications also usually require a resume and personal statement demonstrating interest in the field of education, and at least two letters of recommendation. For the letters of recommendation, some programs will require one recommender to be a person in the field of education who has seen the candidate's teaching in person. Although many programs do not require any graduate entrance exams (including the GRE), candidates should be prepared to attain a qualifying score in their state's Praxis exam. This would include attainment in both the Praxis Core and a Praxis II Subject Area Assessment. To learn about the Praxis requirements of each state, visit Educational Testing Service (ETS)

A Master of Arts in Teaching is an ideal degree for aspiring teachers looking for a program that will prepare them to handle the day-to-day needs of being a teacher well. Earning a master's degree also correlates with a salary increase. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), teachers with a master's degree can expect to earn at least $10,000 more annually compared to counterparts with only a bachelor's.

A good MAT program will successfully prepare aspiring teachers for work in a specific subject and teach at a specific level. A candidate who knows what level and what subject they want to teach is key to determining what program would be best for them. An MAT program may also be partnered with a school or school system as this allows students to gain the necessary in-classroom experience. To balance home life or juggle work commitments, prospective students should learn more about how much time must be devoted to real-time teaching and whether or not the schedule of the program is flexible. Finally, a school with experienced faculty and who are established experts in their specific field will offer prospective students a more extensive learning experience and better prepare them for life in the classroom.

The subject matters in a Master of Arts in Teaching is diverse in nature and courses in this degree will therefore vary. However, regardless of what specific discipline a student elects to study, they will graduate will an understanding of pedagogical tools, learning theory, and lesson development.

Master of Arts in Teaching Foundational Courses

Foundational courses in an MAT program will cover necessary skills for teachers across different subject areas and levels. This would include a course on the foundations of teaching or education as a way of providing students with an understanding of key theories in learning and development. An MAT program will likely also include courses on childhood and adolescent development. This will give prospective teachers the confidence to deal with the children and young people they will work with after graduation. Trainee teachers will also develop a firm understanding of the psychological needs and patterns of growth of their students. Finally, some programs will require students to take courses outside their individual subject area, such as courses that focus on reading and help ensure that focus is placed on general literacy irrespective of the subject taught (as an example, here's a list of required courses from the University of Maryland Global Campus MAT program).

Master of Arts in Teaching Specialist and Elective Courses

Specializing is essential to an MAT, as the individual subjects that aspiring teachers choose to study will eventually become the subject they teach in a school. Typically, candidates can specialize in the various K-12 academic disciplines, such as secondary-level English Language Arts, or secondary-level sciences). Candidates can also specialize in interdisciplinary roles, such as Special Education, Gifted and Talented Education, and Teaching English as a Second Language. Each specialization will require subject-specific courses, for example, Methods of teaching reading and writing for future English teachers (see, for example, this course list for students specializing in secondary English at Loyola University Maryland).

Licensure and Certification in Teaching

For a teacher to gain a license to work in their respective state, they have to successfully complete a Master of Arts in Teaching and also pass Praxis or other state-qualifying license exams. But a MAT is not the only pathway to teacher licensure. Teacher certifications are also available to candidates with a bachelor's degree in education, or those who have taken enough graduate courses for teacher certification. Completing the master's, however, will give teachers more flexibility to work in different states and an increased salary.

As the Master of Arts in Teaching is a very hands-on degree, many programs will require students to undertake practical classroom work to successfully complete their degree. This requirement will often be met by a practicum and/or internship of supervised teaching, or a student-teacher placement at a nearby school. The University of Maryland Baltimore County, for example, highlights a "100 day internship" in its MAT program, while Webster University uses a practicum to provide live teaching experience. These work experiences all typically involve getting guidance, feedback, and support coming from other experienced teachers or professors. Working in education while earning an MAT allows students to put to the test what they are learning in their studies directly into the classroom. This work provides an ideal controlled environment where they can work with other graduate students and professionals.

Specializing in one of the various core academic disciplines, such as Elementary Education, English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies is important when pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching. However, many MAT programs offer other areas and assignments where students can focus and pursue concentrations.

• Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education will prepare teachers for working with the youngest learners, with programs and courses specifically designed to meet pre-K and the first few years of elementary-level education.
• Elementary Education: Distinct from Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education will focus more on preparing teachers to work with students between grades K-5.
• Secondary Education: Secondary Education track, which is sometimes split between middle school and high school level programs, allows candidates working towards an MAT to specialize in the various core academic disciplines. However, all teachers working in secondary education will need to know the best methods of teaching students within the middle and high school age ranges.
• Other Concentrations: It's not uncommon for universities to offer programs in Physical Education, Arts Education, or Computer Technology Education as their own individual concentrations. Similarly, just as candidates may elect to specialize in Special Education or Teaching English as a Second Language, many schools will offer these as their own individually tailored pathways to an MAT, such as the "Special Education-Learning and Behavior Disorders" track offered by the University of the Cumberlands.

While for many the Master of Arts in Teaching is the goal itself or otherwise a tool to becoming an excellent, certified teacher, there are many pathways to further advanced degrees in education. With a master's an individual can continue gaining experience or studying in pursuit of either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education or a Doctor of Education (EdD). Depending on what the master's student wants to do, the PhD and EdD offer various opportunities to conduct research, develop an understanding of pedagogy, and further build professional skills and networks. For a student wanting to work in academia, for example, this would be more in line with a PhD pathway, while if they want to be a high-level school administrator, which usually demands an EdD.

There are many professional organizations for teachers. These organizations allow teachers to share resources and strategies, network with other professionals, and address key issues that impact the field of education. Some of the leading professional organizations are listed below.

• National Education Association (NEA): With 3 million members, the NEA is the country's largest professional organization and union for teachers. It focuses on advocating for educators and working to enhance public education. There are different membership types for active teachers, aspiring teachers, retired teachers, and community allies. Dues vary according to state and experience but typically they are around $200 annually. By joining the NEA teachers gain access to advocacy resources that can enhance classroom experiences and safeguard the safety and respect of both teachers and students.
• Association of American Educators (AAE): The largest non-union education professional organization in the country, the AAE has a membership of around 300,000 teachers across all 50 states. Its mission is to promote teaching and education, and it provides its members with legal and liability protections. Like the NEA, dues are around $200 annually, with lowered rates for student teachers and retired teachers.
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT): This is the second-largest union with a little under 2 million members. The AFT advocates for educational equity and fairness for both students and teachers. Dues range between $70 and $132 annually and depend on the amount of liability and legal coverage members want. The AFT benefits teachers by pushing for educational equity legislation, negotiating, and engaging in collective bargaining.

As its name implies, the Master of Arts in Teaching prepares prospective students for a career in teaching. More specifically, a MAT can be used to secure a job in K-12 education as a teacher or teacher leader. This is a valuable degree for securing positions at both private and public schools and will provide preparation for work in various disciplines across any grade level. A master's in teaching can also be helpful when searching for jobs working in curriculum development or designing educational resources and content.

Job Outlook for a Master of Arts in Teaching

There will always be a need for teachers. Given the demands of the economy, there will especially be increasing demand for more skilled teachers to prepare children for life outside school and entering the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) studied job growth and employment prospects for elementary, middle and high school teachers, projecting around 4% job growth for each education level by the year 2029. This trend suggests a positive outlook for those pursuing an MAT. The BLS also reports median salaries for elementary, middle, and high school teachers at $60,660, $60,810, and $62,870 per year, respectively. It is also important to note that while salaries do vary, teachers holding a master's are likely to earn more, even if it is their first job.

How to Become a Teacher

Becoming a teacher does not require a master's, but it does require a bachelor's and the completion of a certification program. Also necessary is the demonstration of knowledge in a specific subject or across a variety of general subjects through state-required exams such as the Praxis. Having a Master of Arts in Teaching or a Master's in Education will make an applicant stand out when applying for jobs. Besides educational background, a teacher candidate has to be detail-oriented, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable so they can be a resource in their specific subject. A teacher will also need to regularly work and collaborate with other educators and administrators to ensure their students are learning and developing in accordance with state and internal goals. An excellent teacher will need to be constantly willing to innovate their lessons based on feedback from other professionals, and their students. Finally, a teacher should use test results and class portfolios to measure their success at teaching certain concepts and use these results and portfolios moving forward to shape future lessons.

For students struggling to afford a Master of Arts in Teaching program, many schools offer financial aid and scholarships to help pay. First, students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which will provide a Student Aid Report, outlining their financial aid eligibility. And, according to Federal Student Aid, (the office from the U.S. Department of Education that offers the FAFSA), students will have the option to take out a federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan of up to $20,500 per academic year as well as federal Direct PLUS Loans. Students can also take out private loans, but these will be at higher interest rates. Students may qualify for certain grants. Pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching, for example, may qualify a student to take out a TEACH grant, which subsidizes the cost of graduate school for educators planning on working at least four years in a high-need content area and a low-income school. There are also a wide variety of school-specific scholarships available from individual universities, as well as subject-specific scholarships, such as the AFCEA Stem Teacher Graduate Scholarship for prospective teachers in science, technology, engineering, or math.