Frequently Asked Questions

What credentials will I have after I complete MBC's MAT program?
Depending on your choice of courses, you will earn both the Master of Arts in Teaching and licensure to teach elementary grades PK-6, middle school 6-8, or PK-8 in Virginia. Licensure is also available for special education, K-12, in the following areas: learning disabilities, mental retardation, and emotional disturbance. An add-on endorsement in gifted education is also available to those who have a valid teaching license in Virginia.

What about licensure in other states?
Virginia has reciprocity arrangements with most other states; you automatically meet licensure requirements in the state where you will be teaching. Check the state for any professional competence tests that may be required.

How long will it take to complete the program?
The MAT degree requires 39 semester hours for PK-6 or 6-8. For those seeking PK-8, credit hours must total 45. For those seeking K-12 licensure in one of the areas of special education, 42 credits are required. Many students are part time and complete their work over several years. Typically, full-time students allow a minimum of four full-time semesters. The minimum time to finish the program is 15 months of full-time work, including summers.

Who are the students in this program?
The MAT program was designed to meet the needs of both those seeking teaching credentials for the first time and experienced teachers desiring a master's degree. Students range in age from early 20s to mid 50s. Some are recent college graduates. Others are changing careers.

How are classes scheduled?
Because most of our students are adults who are balancing jobs and family responsibilities with graduate study, our classes are scheduled in the evenings, on weekends, and in intensive formats during the summer.

Who teaches the courses?
Courses in the MAT program are team taught by members of the graduate faculty and seasoned classroom teachers who bring real-world professional experiences into the graduate courses.

Are MAT Graduates successful in finding teaching jobs?
Our graduates have been very successful in getting jobs wherever their lives take them. Recent graduates have hired in many Virginia school divisions (including highly competitive areas such as Albemarle County and Charlottesville) and in California, Utah, Georgia, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.