Master of Arts in Teaching | Elementary Education

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Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Take Your First Step Toward a Career in Elementary Education with a Master of Arts in Teaching

Do you want to have a career in education and become a licensed elementary school teacher? Your career path may have always been for elementary education, or maybe you are looking to make a career change. Conferring Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Elementary Education degree can help you achieve your career goals. Our program can help you set a clear path to earning your initial teaching licensure and getting the teacher training you need.

With core courses in learning theory and behavior management, you can have a foundation of education expertise. Through this program, you will also study math, natural sciences, language acquisition, and reading skills. These important elements can all work toward your goal of gaining initial teaching licensure with an elementary education focus. Our online teaching degree can help give you the tools you need to help children be successful in their educational journeys. Our goal is to support you as both a student and as a teaching professional.

Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

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Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s MAT in Elementary Education Online Degree?

Are you looking for a career that can help you influence today’s students and have a positive impact on their lives? Liberty University’s online teaching degree is designed to help integrate your faith into your professional life. At Liberty University, we strive to live out Christ-like characteristics in an academic setting. We want to use the power of faith and education to transform people and the world.

You can rest assured knowing the degree you earn from Liberty has gone through rigorous reviews by accrediting bodies. 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 Will You Study in Liberty’s Online MAT in Elementary Education?

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 made a master’s degree that’s 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.

This program includes studies in the following areas:

Current trends in the education field
Educational behavior and development
Methods of teaching and classroom management
Theories and methodologies of education

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

This program falls under the School of Education.
This program requires a background check.
Students will complete a semester of student teaching.
This program can help you achieve your initial teaching licensure.
Our program is eligible for certification through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
View all of the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).

Degree Completion Plan

State Licensure Requirements

Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Education Full Time	$430/Credit
Graduate Education Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our Online MAT Graduate 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.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

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

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

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 – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
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.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you teach elementary school with a master’s degree in elementary education?

For students pursuing licensure to teach elementary school, a Master of Arts in Teaching can be a great option. However, many states offer alternative pathways to licensure that may not require a new degree. You can view your state’s Department of Education website for details.

If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, you may be interested in Liberty’s licensure track Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). The B.Ed. provides a more thorough study of the fundamentals of teaching while also providing opportunities to help fulfill state student teaching requirements.

What is the difference between the Bachelor of Education vs. the Master of Teaching for licensure?

If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to teach elementary school students, then a Liberty University online elementary education degree is the best next step for you to take. While the B.Ed. is designed to meet licensure requirements, it is not usually recommended to earn more than one bachelor’s degree.

You can most often benefit from a new degree at a higher level of education rather than earning a new degree of the same level. A Liberty MAT degree can give you the licensure requirements and expertise you need to excel in the field of elementary education.

Are there any special financial benefits for this program?

While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we offer a lower graduate tuition rate for our Master of Arts in Teaching programs. At $430 per credit hour for full-time students, Liberty University’s MAT online is available at one of the lowest tuition rates for this degree in the country.

Additionally, pursuing our online Master of Arts in Teaching may make you eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant.

Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

Is this program recognized by any additional accrediting bodies?

What are the benefits of pursuing a program like this online?

Are you ready to change your future?

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Elementary Education Be A Role Model For The Next Generation

Take Your First Step Toward a Career in Elementary Education with a Master of Arts in Teaching

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s MAT in Elementary Education Online Degree?

What Will You Study in Liberty’s Online MAT in Elementary Education?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

State Licensure Requirements

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online MAT Graduate Program

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you teach elementary school with a master’s degree in elementary education?

What is the difference between the Bachelor of Education vs. the Master of Teaching for licensure?

Are there any special financial benefits for this program?

Is this program recognized by any additional accrediting bodies?

What are the benefits of pursuing a program like this online?

Are you ready to change your future?

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