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Online M.A. in Teaching
Start your journey to become a teacher. Online, at your own pace.
It’s never too late to follow your passion and embark on a fulfilling career in teaching. At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we offer a flexible online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program that allows you to pursue your dream of becoming a teacher while accommodating your busy schedule.
Our MAT program is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field who are looking to transition into the field of education. With our online format, you can complete your degree in as little as 2 years attending synchronous evening courses that provide the flexibility to balance your studies with your other commitments. The timeline for program completion varies depending on licensure/subject area and subject knowledge.
Choose from a variety of specialty subject areas within our MAT program, including Minnesota teaching endorsements, certificates, licensures, or content specialties. This allows you to tailor your degree to align with your interests and expertise, whether you have a passion for mathematics, social studies, science, or music.
At Saint Mary’s, we take pride in our long-standing tradition of excellence in teacher education. Our experienced faculty are dedicated to providing you with a high-quality education that prepares you to make a lasting impact in the classroom. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to inspire and guide your future students.
By earning your MAT degree from Saint Mary’s, you’ll join a community of educators who are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of their students. Be a part of a profession that shapes the next generation and creates lasting change.
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Program Highlights
- Participate in the ISTEP project at Saint Mary’s to become an impactful STEM teacher, inspiring young minds while receiving financial support, training, and mentoring. Learn more.
- Choose from a range of teaching license areas and specialties, including elementary education, secondary education, and specialty subject areas. We provide the flexibility for you to focus on your specific interests and passions.
- Gain invaluable hands-on experience through 100 field experience hours and student teaching. We believe in the importance of practical application and provide opportunities for you to develop your teaching skills in real educational settings.
- Join a community of learners at a university with a strong reputation for excellence in education. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has a long-standing tradition of preparing teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students.
- Discover scholarships available through our partnerships with several regional and national employers. See if your employer is part of our Trusted Partnership Program. Learn more.
What You'll Learn
- Learning experiences that are meaningful for students
- Learning opportunities that support a student’s personal development
- Instructional opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds
- Student development through instructional strategies
- Active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom
- Evaluate, synthesize, and disseminate research related to educational practice
Virtual Information Session
Admissions
Ready to apply? Learn about taking the next steps.
- Applicants may apply for admission to a master’s degree program at any time during the year.
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
- Applicants must demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework.
- Applicants must complete an interview with a program director.
Students with transcripts from universities outside the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada (except for the Quebec Province) must take and pass English proficiency testing.
Saint Mary’s accepts:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
- Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 74%
- International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
- Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel), and
- An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits.
- An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.
- Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards.
- Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
- A personal statement which includes:
- brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience; and
- statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
- statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
- personal information the applicant wishes to share.
- Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
- A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.
- Applicants with international transcripts may require an English language proficiency exam (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or MELAB accepted.)
Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Twin Cities Campus.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
Please reach out with any questions about the application process.
Phone: (612) 728-5100
Toll-free: (866) 437-2788E-mail: tcadmission@smumn.edu
Aug. 4, 2023
Aug. 28, 2023
You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.
Tuition & Fees
We help you find ways to finance your education.Talk to your Enrollment Counselor about scholarships, loans, and other ways to make your education affordable.
Course Catalog
In addition to foundational courses, you’ll engage in field experience and student teaching. The course catalog provides complete information about course requirements.
Hear their stories. Create your own.
The most beneficial thing for your students — and for you — is to learn how to develop meaningful relationships with them.
Learn how our program fits your life, offers specializations to enhance your career, and inspires you to become the teacher you’ve always wanted to be.
Career Outlook
A surge in student enrollment over the next several years is creating an urgent need for licensed teachers in preschool, elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Careers are projected to grow 10% from 2020 to 2030 with about 920,500 new job openings.1
Elementary Teacher
$61,350 per year*Instructional Designer
$63,740 per year*High School Teacher
$61,820 per year*Related Programs
Discover the power to empower with Saint Mary’s advanced degree programs in education.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Saint Mary’s, we want you to succeed, and we help you do so, inside and outside of the classroom:
Student Central: Your one stop for student services.
Library: Resources and services are available 24/7 to all students.
Writing Center: Offers virtual and face-to-face services to support students.
Career Services: Can help you develop your career-readiness skills at any point in your education
Tuition for the 2023-24 school year is $560 per credit. There will be minimal additional program fees.
Yes, there is the ISTEP program as well as other federal and state programs.
Courses meet in a remote format (synchronously, virtually) during weekday evenings.
Student teaching is a semester-long, full-time experience in a K-12 school under the guidance of a supervisor from Saint Mary’s and a cooperating teacher licensed by the State of Minnesota.
All candidates seeking an initial license are required to demonstrate basic skills competency and pass Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations that assess pedagogical and content-area knowledge.
News and Information from the School of Education
Sources and Disclaimer
- O*NET Online, Minnesota Wages, Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary at https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/11-9032.00?st=MN (Visited March 10, 2022).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/kindergarten-and-elementary-school-teachers.htm#:~:text=Median%20wage%20data%20are%20from,for%20all%20workers%20was%20%2445%2C760. (Visited May 10, 2023).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm (Visited May 10, 2023).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, High School Teachers at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm (Visited May 10, 2023).