MAT Master of Arts in Teaching

We review applications on a rolling basis, meaning that you can apply and start your Master of Arts in Teaching degree at three separate times throughout the year. We recommend applying at least 6 weeks before the beginning of your term, in order to ensure your spot.

How to apply

Online MAT Degree

Elementary education, ESL, and special education licenses (ABS, ASD):

If you start in the fall term, these licenses can be completed fully online. If you start in the spring or summer terms, you will take online and on-campus courses.

Hybrid MAT Degree

All other licenses:

For all the other MAT licenses, we offer a hybrid format, including online and on-campus courses.

• Online courses meet synchronously on weeknights from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
• On-campus courses are held on weeknights from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
• You can expect to take 2 to 4 classes on campus, and field experiences occur in person during the school day or, for the ABE license, in various adult learning settings

Start summer term: If you start the program in summer term, you can finish your initial licensure in 18 months. You can complete your master's degree in one more term, while teaching.

Start fall or spring terms: If you begin in fall or spring terms, you can complete your initial licensure in approximately two years and your master’s with one additional term.

Want to get a better idea of how many courses you'll have to complete? 

Your exact completion time may be shorter or longer depending on what courses you transfer to Hamline. Our advisors will work with you and do an initial review of your transcripts.

Get my transcripts reviewed

We prepare you as a practitioner, researcher, and leader-advocate—to shape what the classroom can do for students and what students can do for the world.

No prerequisites

Hamline doesn’t require you to complete any coursework before starting the program. Instead, our advisors will develop a specific course plan that considers your previous undergraduate and graduate coursework and work experience to better tailor it to your chosen licensure area.

MAT Degree coursework

Your master’s in teaching degree is made up of three areas:

1. Foundational coursework (18 credits):

• GED 7801: Introduction to Advanced Teacher Thinking (0 credits)
• GED 7815: Schools and Society (4 credits)
• GED 7825 - Educational Psychology (4 credits)
• GED 7862 - Education and Cultural Diversity (4 credits)
• GED 7867 - Theory to Practice (4 credits)
• GED 7872 - Exceptionality (2 credits)

If you’ve already completed some of the above courses, you may be able to transfer up to 50% of them as long as they meet the required approval.

2. License-specific coursework (credits vary):

The number of courses you need for your chosen licensure area will vary depending on:

• Your licensure area
• Any courses you transfer to Hamline that satisfy your licensure course requirements. Work with our admission counselor to review your transcripts to learn more. 

3. Culminating coursework:

• Student teaching (credits vary by license)
• Capstone (credits vary)

Find your licensure courses

At Hamline, you can get your first teaching license in one of 12 licensure areas:

• Adult Basic Education
• Chemistry 9–12
• Communication Arts and Literature 5–12
• Elementary Education K–6
• English as a Second Language K–12
• General Science 5–8
• Life Sciences 9–12
• Mathematics 5–12
• Physics 9–12
• Social Studies 5–12
• Special Education - Academic Behavioral Strategist
• Special Education - Autism Spectrum Disorder