Master of Arts in Teaching | Secondary Education

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Degree Options

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 Next Steps Toward a Career in Secondary Education with a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

Do you want to pursue a career in the education field and become a licensed secondary education teacher? Whether you have always aimed for a career in secondary education or you are looking to make a career change, we can help set a clear path for you to obtain your initial teaching licensure. Conferring Liberty University’s online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Secondary Education online degree programs could help you achieve your career goals.

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.

What Will You Study in the Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education?

The online Master of Arts in Teaching provides a balance of essential education theory and hands-on, practical teaching skills. Throughout this program, you will explore a core of learning theory, important studies in the historical and philosophical foundations of education, and the foundations of exceptionality in education. You can also explore critical assessment tools that enable schools to measure student learning and make improvements. Your secondary education degree can help prepare you to work with grades 6-12 and enhance your understanding of topics like curriculum development and behavior management.

Here are some of the specific subjects you will study throughout your program:

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

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 can help you achieve your initial teaching licensure.
Our program may make you eligible for 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.

Why Choose Liberty’s Online MAT Degree?

We don’t just train educators – we train educators who want to make a positive impact on the next generation. We care about 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.

Choosing Liberty means that you don’t have to compromise your principles to get the education you need. Liberty University’s online secondary education program is designed to train ethical and effective teachers. At Liberty University, our online teaching degree is based on a foundation of biblical principles that can help you stand out in the job market.

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. If you are interested in earning both your MAT and EdS at the same time, you may want to consider our MAT in Secondary Education Curriculum to EdS in School Curriculum and Instructional Planning.

Additionally, Liberty University’s School of Education meets rigorous national standards for educator preparation set by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). You can trust that your degree is of the highest quality.

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

Potential Career Opportunities for MAT Graduates

High school teacher
K-12 curriculum developer
K-12 curriculum manager

Licensed secondary education teacher
Middle school teacher
Teaching product developer

Degree Options for the 36-Hour Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education

Visit our Degree Completion Plan (DCP) webpage or select one of the programs below for more information.

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 Online MAT Graduate Programs

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

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 for the Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education

What is secondary education?

Secondary education is defined by most states as grades 6 through 12 in the K-12 primary school system. Depending on your state, the exact grades defined as secondary may differ or include lower grades for the purposes of teacher licensure. If you want to pursue teaching licensure for your state, you can complete our program and apply for reciprocity.

We have created our online MAT in Secondary Education degree program with your success in mind. Our goal is to support you both as a student and as a teaching professional.

Can I teach middle school with a secondary education degree?

Liberty University’s MAT programs are designed to meet licensure requirements for specified grade levels in the state of Virginia. Depending on how your state defines middle grades, the content in Liberty’s MAT program can allow you to apply for reciprocity for middle grades teaching. You can refer to your state’s Department of Education regulations for details about specific requirements for middle education licensure.

Does this program have any special financial benefits?

While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we actually lowered our tuition for our Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Education programs. At $430 per credit hour for full-time enrollment (at least 9 credit hours per semester), Liberty University’s MAT 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 accredited?

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 – Secondary Education From Classroom Theory to Real-World Impact

Take Your Next Steps Toward a Career in Secondary Education with a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree

What Will You Study in the Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education?

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Why Choose Liberty’s Online MAT Degree?

What Sets Us Apart?

Potential Career Opportunities for MAT Graduates

Degree Options for the 36-Hour Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education

State Licensure Requirements

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online MAT Graduate Programs

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Military

Frequently Asked Questions for the Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education

What is secondary education?

Can I teach middle school with a secondary education degree?

Does this program have any special financial benefits?

Is this program accredited?

Are you ready to change your future?

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