Online Master’s in Teaching Elementary Education

Apply Now Next start date: Jan 19 Request Information

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

A Master’s Degree in Elementary Education that Prepares You for Licensure and Lifelong Influence on the Next Generation

Your desire to impact people’s lives is what motivates you. And with the demand for teachers on the rise in the U.S., your passion can fill a much-needed role for tomorrow’s students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of students enrolling in kindergarten and elementary school is expected to grow over the next decade, increasing the number of teachers needed to accommodate the higher volume.**

But students need more than just a teacher — they need a role model who inspires them to be the best version of themselves. Your presence in the classroom can make a positive difference in the lives of your students. To prepare yourself for this incredible opportunity, you’ll want the proper training — that’s where we can help.

An online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education can provide you with the requirements for licensure to teach in both public and private schools. Most importantly, you will be earning your teaching degree from a nonprofit Christian university committed to seeing you succeed with excellence and integrity.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education.

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.

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Kindergarten and elementary school teachers, 2019 (viewed online August 20, 2019). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
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 45-hour Master’s in Elementary Education Degree?

If you’re interested in turning your current career into a teaching career, Liberty’s Master of Arts in Teaching can help you become a licensed teacher — even if your bachelor’s degree is not an education degree.

The elementary education’s 45-credit hour option can provide you with the content competencies you’ll need in order to become a teacher. These core competencies are in history, lab sciences, social science, arts, and English.

No matter which direction you go with the 45-hour MAT in Elementary Education, our courses are designed to equip you to feel as prepared as possible for your students and for your role in the classroom. At Liberty University, we don’t just train educators — we train educators who want to make a positive impact on the next generation.

Liberty University’s School of Education meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This standard of excellence means you can graduate from Liberty with an online graduate degree recognized and respected by colleges and employers across the nation.

What Will You Study in Our MAT in Elementary Education Online?

As an online MAT student, you will complete a semester of student teaching at the end of the program. By working hands-on in the classroom under an experienced, licensed elementary school teacher, you will not only be meeting licensure requirements, but you will be developing your own unique teaching style. This is an important opportunity to develop your passion for education into practical skills and increase your marketability to employers.

With an online MAT in Elementary Education, you can gain teacher licensure, broaden your professional capacity, and make a bigger impact on your students. Throughout this program, you will study:

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.
View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).
This program requires a background check.
Students will complete a semester of student teaching.
This program will help you achieve your initial teaching licensure.
Our program may be eligible for certification through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Review state-specific state requirements.
Additional program details are available in the Online Graduate Advising Guide.

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.

Request Information

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 Graduate MAT Online Degree

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 2.0 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.

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

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?

Apply Now

App Fee Waived This Week*

Request Information

*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.

Choose a Program Level

Choose a program level

Associate

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Doctorate

Certificate

Select a Field of Study

Select a field of study

Select a Program

Select a program

Change

Legal First Name

Enter legal first name

Legal Last Name

Enter legal last name

Email

Enter an email address

Phone

Enter a phone number

Full Address

Enter an address

Apt., P.O. Box, or can’t find your address?Enter it manually instead.

Country

Select a Country

Street Address

Enter Street Address

City

Enter City

State

Enter State

ZIP/Postal Code

Enter Zip Code

Back to automated address search

Start my application now for FREE

You will be automatically taken to the application once you submit your request for information

By submitting contact information through this form, I agree that Liberty University and its affiliates may call and/or text me about its offerings by any phone number I have provided and may provide in the future, including any wireless number, using automated technology.

Message and data rates may apply. For additional information, text HELP to 49595 or 49596. You may opt-out at any time by sending STOP to 49595 or 49596. Visit for Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Chat Request Info Apply

MAT in Elementary Education – 45 Hours Teach with Excellence and Integrity

A Master’s Degree in Elementary Education that Prepares You for Licensure and Lifelong Influence on the Next Generation

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s 45-hour Master’s in Elementary Education Degree?

What Will You Study in Our MAT in Elementary Education Online?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

State Licensure Requirements

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Graduate MAT Online Degree

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions

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?

Request Information About a Program

Request Info About Liberty University Online

Choose a Program Level

Select a Field of Study

Select a Program

Next: Contact Info

Legal First Name

Legal Last Name

Email

Phone

Full Address

Country

Street Address

City

State

ZIP/Postal Code

Request Information