MAT Master of Arts in Teaching
Online or Hybrid
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Become a transformative educator
Hamline’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, offered online or hybrid, provides the education, skills, and knowledge you need to foster sustainable, innovative, and resilient classrooms, schools, and communities. We prepare you to be a practitioner, researcher, and leader-advocate, empowering you to transform learning experiences and drive meaningful change for your students.
*The total number of courses and credits varies by teaching licensure area and the number of credits you transfer to the program. Additional courses and credits may be required. Check which Minnesota teaching license you are interested in in the "format" tab below. Some require a specific start term to complete the MAT degree fully online, or hybrid (with courses offered both online and on our Minnesota campus).
What will it take?
MAT degree program details
Start dates and application deadlines
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.
Master of Arts in Teaching format
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
Time to complete MAT degree
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
Masters in Teaching with initial licensure courses
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: Foundational coursework (18 credits), License-specific coursework (varied credits), and Culminating coursework, including student teaching and your Capstone.
Masters in Teaching Minnesota licenses
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
At Hamline, I had the opportunity to watch some really amazing teachers work. I learned that teaching isn't a 'one size fits all' profession; you can be exactly who you are and bring that into the classroom.
How we help make your hybrid or online MAT degree affordable
Competitive tuition
When you invest in a hybrid or online Master of Arts in Teaching degree program from Hamline, you benefit from a prestigious degree from Minnesota's first university. We work hard to ensure our tuition, accompanied by scholarships, tuition discounts, and other financial aid, is a worthwhile investment for all students.
Generous financial aid
In addition to the scholarships and tuition discounts listed below, additional financial aid is also available, and many graduate students use low-interest loans to finance their education.
- Community Impact Award
- Service discount
- Learning partnership discount
- Alumni discount
- TEACH grant
- Minnesota Teacher Candidate grant
Hamline made getting my teaching license in English so convenient and easy. They laid out a whole plan for how long it would take and all of the classes were at night, so I didn't have to quit my job. The convenience of everything was really what I needed.
MA in teaching news
