MAT Online – Middle Grades Education Empower Young Minds
36
Credit Hours
100% online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Take the Next Step in Your Education Career with a Master of Arts in Teaching – Middle Grades Education Degree
Middle school can be a challenging, formative time for many children. Liberty University’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Middle Grades Education online program is designed to meet the growing need for middle school teachers who know how to lead and inspire students.
Maybe you’re seeking initial teaching licensure, or perhaps you’re looking to launch a new career in education as a middle school teacher. Either way, our program can equip you to meet your career goals and make a positive difference in the lives of your students. You can gain the tools you need to help children and adolescents succeed in their educational journey.
Upon successful completion of Liberty University’s Virginia state-approved Master of Arts in Teaching program, you may apply for your teaching license in another state through reciprocity, which may or may not result in additional requirements based on your state’s Department of Education regulations.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
Why Choose Liberty University’s MAT in Middle School Program?
We strive to live out Christ-like characteristics and to use the power of faith and education to transform people and the world. Our online middle school program is designed to help you integrate ethical standards with your professional life. As a Liberty student, you’ll be equipped to grow academically, professionally, and spiritually.
We don’t just train educators — we train educators who want to make a positive impact on the next generation. It’s who you are and who you aspire to become. We want to help you reach your goals, so we’re making a master’s degree more affordable. You can add to your skill set, broaden your professional capacity, and make a bigger impact on your students with an online graduate degree in education from Liberty University.
Choosing Liberty means choosing a degree that fits your schedule. We’ve designed our online MAT degree program with your success in mind. With no set login times, you can complete your online courses wherever and whenever you need.
What Will You Study with Liberty’s M.A.T. Online Program in Middle Grades Education?
In this program, you’ll take core courses that cover important topics in the field of education, including classroom management, instructional strategies, and theories of learning. The middle grades cognate explores how to teach math, natural sciences, literacy, and social studies at the middle school level.
You’ll also learn how to plan and implement a curriculum that meets your students’ needs and allows them to thrive. By understanding the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of middle schoolers, you can provide the leadership and guidance they need to succeed in school and in life.
At the end of this program, you’ll complete a semester of student teaching to gain real-world experience in the field of education. If you’d like to increase your marketability and diversify your skill set, we offer the option to pursue multiple areas of study.
Potential Career Opportunities
Liberty’s MAT – Middle Grades Education degree can help you become a licensed teacher in middle school classrooms. You’ll learn about effective teaching methods that can help your students learn, grow, and develop as they prepare to transition into high school.
If you’d like to expand your career opportunities, you also have the option to pursue a dual endorsement. By taking a few extra courses, you can graduate with licensure in both middle school education and another endorsement area, such as elementary education or special education. That way, you’ll have the flexibility to teach at various grade levels and stand out to employers.
For more information about dual endorsements, please contact one of our admissions counselors at (800) 424-9596.
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under Liberty’s School of Education.
- View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).
- This program requires a background check.
- This program prepares students for initial teaching licensure.
- You will complete a semester of student teaching, giving you on-the-job experience that can equip you for the future.
- Our MAT – Middle Grades Education degree can help you become eligible to pursue certification through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
- Review state-specific approval disclosures.
- Additional program details are available in the Online Graduate Advising Guide.
Degree Completion Plan (PDF)
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Pursuing our online Master of Arts in Teaching may make you eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant.
Graduate Education Full Time | $415/Credit |
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Graduate Education Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Liberty’s MAT Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Please note: Guidelines are subject to change in federal or state regulations for the licensure of school personnel.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
*Not applicable to certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liberty’s School of Education accredited?
Liberty University’s School of Education meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
What is the difference between a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Education?
If you’re wondering what the best master’s degree is for teachers, you’ll want to understand how a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and a Master of Education (MEd) can each impact your career prospects.
An MAT is designed to train students for a career in the classroom. With our MAT program, you can pursue initial teaching licensure and gain the practical, hands-on skills needed to be a middle school teacher. In contrast, an MEd can help you prepare for educational leadership roles outside the classroom if you already have your teaching license but want to earn a master’s degree. By pursuing Liberty’s MEd, you could work in school administration or in curriculum and instruction development.
Does this program offer hands-on learning?
Yes, students in this program obtain hands-on experience with in-person practicums and 1 semester of student teaching.
Can I pursue my EdS in conjunction with my MAT?
If you’re interested in earning an Education Specialist degree as well as your MAT in Middle Grades Education, our online Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Education Curriculum to Education Specialist (EdS) in School Curriculum and Instructional Planning is a great option. Offering a blend of graduate and postgraduate courses, this program allows you to earn both an MAT in Middle Education as well as an EdS in School Curriculum and Instructional Planning.
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