To receive financial aid students must take at least a part-time class schedule, which consists of 6 credits (2 classes) in the Fall and Spring semester, and 3 credits (1 class) in the Summer semester.

Yes! Many students continue to teach full-time throughout their MAT program. Students employed as full-time teachers in their area of certification can use their job to fulfill the practicum and student teaching requirements.

Practicum takes place in the second-to-last semester of the MAT program, and student teaching takes place the semester after practicum. Depending on your planned graduation date, this could be either the fall or the spring semester.

It may be possible to maintain employment during the teaching practicum, which requires two weekdays of your time. Student teaching is a full-time commitment for 14 weeks. Many of our student teachers will continue at a school in a long-term substitute position until the summer.

The MAT program offers a Spring, Summer, and Fall start. The classes are conveniently offered in the evening, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Thursday.

Online Elementary Education courses are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 p.m.- 9:20 p.m.

Praxis CORE (or equivalencies) is not required for admission. 

All admitted students are required to take Praxis CORE (or equivalencies) by graduation with the strong recommendation to take by end of first semester. The DC teacher licensing agency sets passing scores as: Reading 156, Writing 162, and Math 150. To submit Praxis, use school code: 5007 (no department code). Praxis scores can take up to six weeks to arrive after the test date. See Educator Testing Flyer here or visit the OSSE website for additional test types.

Please go to www.ets.org/praxis to create an account and register for the exam.

If you qualify for a fee waiver, please use this link to register for the fee waiver.

ETS Praxis has partnered with Khan Academy to provide free math tutoring and support.

Teacher candidates living in NJ: Please note that a MOA Partnership Agreement must be in place with a school district for clinical field placements. Not all school districts in NJ will enter into a MOA agreement with American University, therefore please contact the Field Placement Coordinator Caryn Ash at ash@american.edu to determine if the public school districts near you can serve as a clinical field placements. Alternatively, you can complete your practicum and/or student teaching in a charter school or private school. If you are a paid employee of a school, please contact Caryn Ash at ash@american.edu to determine if your paid position can be used as your practicum and/or student teaching.

Teacher candidates living in New York City and Chicago: Please note that a MOA Partnership Agreement must be in place with a school district for clinical field placements. American University’s School of Education does not currently have a MOA partnership agreement with New York City Public Schools or Chicago Public Schools; therefore, you will not be able to complete your clinical field placement in one of these school districts. Alternatively, you can complete your practicum and/or student teaching in a charter school or private school. If you are a paid employee of a school, please contact the Field Placement Coordinator Caryn Ash at ash@american.edu to determine if your paid position can be used as your practicum and/or student teaching. For all questions regarding your field placement, please contact the Field Placement Coordinator Caryn Ash at ash@american.edu.