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Online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Programs

Arkansas State University offers five online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) concentrations — Special Education K-12, Business Technology, Middle Level 4-8, Elementary K-6, and Art K-12 — each a CAEP-accredited alternative-licensure master's degree, completed in as few as 12 to 24 months for $12,600–$13,650. Built for career changers with a non-education bachelor's degree, MAT programs provide an alternate route to K-12 teaching licensure, and with no prior teaching experience required.

Why Choose an A-State Online MAT?

24/7 access to flexible, 100% online coursework
An alternate route to K-12 teaching licensure if you hold a non-education degree
No teaching experience required. The MAT is A-State's primary initial-licensure pathway for career changers
A provisional teaching license is possible early in some tracks, letting you start teaching while you finish coursework
CAEP-accredited coursework recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education for initial licensure

Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 online

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12

As few as 12-16 months Duration

36 Credit Hours

$12,600 Total Tuition

Play a key role in the developmental growth of students with special needs with the Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12 online program. In this MAT online program, you will learn how to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments for all students. No teaching experience is required for admission into this program.

This online program offers an alternative route to teaching licensure in K-12 public schools for individuals who hold a non-education degree. You can earn a provisional license, enabling you to start teaching while you continue your coursework. Curricula for this program provides you with a comprehensive foundation for assessing and teaching students on a broad spectrum of exceptional needs.

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Business Technology online

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Business Technology

As few as 18-24 months Duration

36 Credit Hours

$12,600 Total Tuition

If you're ready to teach and have a background in business, the online Master of Arts in Teaching – Business Technology at Arkansas State University is a great fit. Designed especially for working adults, this 100% online program offers in-depth teaching methodology for coursework related to business. Coursework includes theories and strategies of classroom management, using technology as a valuable tool for instruction. Also covered is curriculum development for teaching in the middle-level and high school level.

Whether your area of expertise is in accounting, management, marketing or another business function, this program will give you the knowledge and skills to successfully teach students in grades 4-12.

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Middle Level Education 4-8 online

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Middle Level Education 4-8

As few as 18-24 months Duration

39 Credit Hours

$13,650 Total Tuition

Gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the unique challenges of middle school grades with the Master of Arts in Teaching – Middle Level Education 4-8 online program from Arkansas State University. Advance your students to their next level abilities by learning the best practices in individual content areas and increasing literacy skills through cross-curricular instruction.

Whether you are a practicing teacher or want to pivot into a teaching career, the A-State master in middle level education program will equip you with the instructional strategies to help teen and pre-teen students succeed in the classroom. As part of the online graduate curriculum, you will focus on the development and educational needs of students ages 9 through 15.

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary Education K-6 online

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary Education K-6

As few as 18-24 months Duration

39 Credit Hours

$13,650 Total Tuition

Help mold young minds with the Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary Education K-6 online program from Arkansas State University. As an elementary education graduate, you will broaden and deepen your knowledge and instructional skills while specializing in foundational coursework across a range of subject areas.

The A-State MAT – Elementary Education K-6 is designed to help you hone your classroom skills, advance your career in the teaching profession, and refine your pedagogies whether you are a new or experienced teacher. Gain an understanding of how the various areas of child development interact in young children while exploring the most up-to-date advancements in technology, theory and methodology in the field of education.

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Master of Arts in Teaching – Art K-12 online

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Master of Arts in Teaching – Art K-12

As few as 18-24 months Duration

39 Credit Hours

$13,650 Total Tuition

Turn your love of art into a teaching career with an online Master of Arts in Teaching – Art K-12 at Arkansas State University. This program is ideal if you do not have a traditional education background. In this online MAT program, you will learn the intricacies of teaching art in grade school, middle school or high school.

Coursework includes theories and strategies of classroom management, using technology as a valuable tool for instruction, and curriculum development and application of art-infused contemporary models to integrate the visual arts with other subject area content. A supervised internship focused on educational practice and performance is also part of the curriculum.

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The educator preparation programs at Arkansas State University are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Contact CAEP at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington D.C. 20036 or by calling 202-223-0077.

Which Path Fits Your Goals?

To choose a MAT concentration that’s right for you, consider where you want your career to go next. Start with the statement below that sounds most like you.

"I want to become a teacher but don't have an education background."

"I know I want to teach young children."

"I want to teach students in the middle school years."

"I have a background in business and want to teach it."

"I have a background in art and want to teach it."

"I want to work with students with exceptional needs."

"I want to become a teacher but don't have an education background."

"I know I want to teach young children."

"I want to teach students in the middle school years."

"I have a background in business and want to teach it."

"I have a background in art and want to teach it."

"I want to work with students with exceptional needs."

Program Comparison: MAT Concentrations at a Glance

All five MAT concentrations share A-State's flat $350/credit-hour tuition and CAEP accreditation. What differs is duration, credit hours and the grade band or subject each concentration targets. Use this table to compare on that basis.

Special Education K-12	12-16 months	36	$12,600	K-12, special education

Business Technology	18-24 months	36	$12,600	Grades 4-12, business

Middle Level Education	18-24 months	39	$13,650	Grades 4-8

Elementary Education	18-24 months	39	$13,650	Grades K-6

Art K-12	18-24 months	39	$13,650	K-12, visual art

Built for Arkansas Educators

Arkansas State is a Carnegie R2 research university, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and was named Arkansas's Best Online College by BestColleges (2026). Every MAT concentration is CAEP-accredited, the standard the Arkansas Department of Education recognizes for initial teaching licensure, so career changers can pursue a new profession. All five concentrations are 100% online, and coursework is designed for adults balancing a career change with existing work and family commitments. For state program approvals, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.

Online MAT Programs FAQs

What is a Master of Arts in Teaching, and who is it for?

A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is an alternative-licensure master's degree for people who want to become K-12 teachers but don't hold an education degree. It combines graduate-level teaching coursework with a path to state licensure, making it the primary route into the classroom for career changers with a bachelor's degree in another field.

How long does an online MAT typically take?

A-State's MAT concentrations take 12 to 24 months depending on the track: MAT – Special Education K-12 can be completed in as few as 12–16 months, while Business Technology, Middle Level, Elementary and Art K-12 each run 18–24 months.

Do MAT programs prepare you for a state teaching license?

Yes. Every MAT concentration at A-State is CAEP-accredited and built as an alternative route to K-12 teaching licensure for people intending to teach in Arkansas who hold a non-education bachelor's degree. Some tracks allow a provisional license early in the program, letting you begin teaching while you finish coursework.

Is a MAT worth it for a career changer with no education background?

For career changers set on teaching, the MAT is generally the most direct path. It's specifically built as an alternative-licensure route, unlike a general master's in education. The return is strongest when your prior background lines up with a concentration (business experience into MAT – Business Technology, an art background into MAT in Art K-12), since that overlap shortens the learning curve even though it doesn't change program length.

What's the difference between a MAT and an MEd?

A-State's MAT is specifically an initial-licensure degree for career changers without an education background. An MEd (or A-State's equivalent MSE) is typically for people who already hold a teaching license and want to deepen expertise or add an endorsement rather than earn their first license. If you're not yet licensed to teach, the MAT is the relevant credential; if you're already teaching, the MSE family is the better fit.

Which MAT concentration is right for me if I want to teach elementary versus middle school versus a subject like business or art?

Match the concentration to the age group or subject you want to teach: Elementary Education K-6 for young children, Middle Level Education 4-8 for the middle-school years, Business Technology for grades 4-12 business instruction, and Art K-12 for visual art across all grade levels. Special Education K-12 is the outlier, organized by student population rather than grade band or subject.

MAT – Special Education K-12
MAT – Business Technology
MAT – Middle Level Education 4-8
MAT – Elementary Education K-6
MAT in Art K-12

Master of Arts in Teaching – Special Education K-12

Duration: 12-16 months Credit Hours: 36 Tuition: $350 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*