Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education Online

This flexible online master's program prepares you to teach grades 8-12—whether your background is outside the field of education or you are an educator seeking Rank II Certification in Kentucky.

Apply by 1/3/25
Start class 1/13/25 Apply Now

Program Overview

Learn more about NKU’s online secondary education master’s program

Develop your classroom teaching skills while elevating your leadership abilities by earning your Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Education online from NKU. This 100% online program is designed for both in-service teachers and students who have bachelor's degrees in non-education fields pursuing the professional development needed to teach an academic content area at the secondary level.

Graduate ready to teach science, math, social studies, or English in grades 8-12 by building on your foundation of practical, hands-on teaching skills. Core coursework surveys contemporary educational theory, behavior management, curriculum design and assessment, and current trends in education, as well as the role cultural identity plays in today's schools.

In this online teaching master’s program, you will:

  • Examine the profession of teaching and schooling as it currently functions in the U.S.
  • Explore how to use technology to enhance teaching and learning
  • Learn about critical assessment tools that enable schools to measure student learning and make improvements
  • Study theories, methods, techniques, and technologies in designing, delivering, and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school core subjects
  • Examine the profession of teaching and schooling as it currently functions in the U.S.
  • Explore how to use technology to enhance teaching and learning
  • Learn about critical assessment tools that enable schools to measure student learning and make improvements
  • Study theories, methods, techniques, and technologies in designing, delivering, and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school core subjects

In this online teaching master’s program, you will:

  • Examine the profession of teaching and schooling as it currently functions in the U.S.
  • Explore how to use technology to enhance teaching and learning
  • Learn about critical assessment tools that enable schools to measure student learning and make improvements
  • Study theories, methods, techniques, and technologies in designing, delivering, and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school core subjects
  • Examine the profession of teaching and schooling as it currently functions in the U.S.
  • Explore how to use technology to enhance teaching and learning
  • Learn about critical assessment tools that enable schools to measure student learning and make improvements
  • Study theories, methods, techniques, and technologies in designing, delivering, and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school core subjects

You will be prepared to serve in educational roles, such as:

  • Grades 8-12 Teacher
  • Department Head
  • Teacher Coach
  • Grades 8-12 Teacher
  • Department Head
  • Teacher Coach

Online education programs also available:

Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of graduate education programs online. Check out our other quality online education programs.

Some programs may be TEACH Grant eligible. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information.*

Total Tuition $15,408
Program Duration As few as 18 months
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

CAEP Accredited

The Northern Kentucky University College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

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Need More Information?

Call 800-985-7215

Call 800-985-7215

Tuition

Discover the value of our low-cost tuition

Our affordable M.A.T. – Secondary Education online program features the same pay-by-the-course tuition for all students, no matter where you live.

Tuition Breakdown:

Total Tuition $15,408
Per Credit Hour $412
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“Top Public College”

Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022

Calendar

Milestones to guide your student journey

The M.A.T. – Secondary Education online program offers an accelerated course schedule with multiple start dates so you can balance your studies with work and life. View the calendar to find the best start date for you.

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Fall 210/16/2410/3/2410/8/2410/11/2410/16/24
Spring 11/13/251/3/251/7/251/10/251/13/25
Spring 23/17/253/5/253/10/253/14/253/17/25
Summer 15/12/254/30/255/5/255/9/255/12/25
Summer 26/30/256/18/256/23/256/27/256/30/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 1/3/25
Class Starts 1/13/25
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Admissions

Know the requirements for the secondary education online master’s program

The admission process is the first step to earning your M.A.T. – Secondary Education from NKU online.

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts of all coursework from accredited institutions
  • Current resume that includes work experience and prior education
  • 2.75 GPA minimum or GPA of at least 3.0 in last 30 hours of coursework

M.A.T. – Secondary Education Online Admission Requirements


Students interested in applying to the M.A.T. program are strongly recommended to schedule a pre-advising appointment with the program director to ensure prerequisite courses for content-area certification have been taken prior to admission.

  • Complete online application for admission
  • Pay $40 non-refundable application fee
    • If you are an NKU alumni or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from accredited institution(s), with a minimum 2.75 GPA or a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 30 semester hours of coursework
  • Submit official notification of appropriate Praxis 2 content exam(s) in the area in which you are seeking certification with the minimum score required by the state of Kentucky
  • Current resume that includes work experience and prior education; include experience working with children outside of a family setting, whether through work or volunteerism, if applicable
  • A Statement of Professional Purpose which states your reasons for pursuing teacher certification at this point in your life, as well as in the chosen content area
  • Submit a criminal and federal background check

Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:

NKU Office of Graduate Education
302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099

[email protected]

Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.

Courses

The topics you'll study in our online secondary education classes

In order to earn the M.A.T. – Secondary Education online, students must complete 13 courses for a total of 36 credit hours, which includes 19 core hours, 3 methods courses hours, and 14 field and clinical experiences hours. Clinical experience will vary depending on if the student is teaching or not.

Students must take the following courses:
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Examination of teaching as a profession and of schooling as it currently functions in the U.S.; inquiry into contemporary educational theory and practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Life-span development: physical, cognitive, social and personal development, especially as these relate to children in school and to adults who influence them; individual study focusing on student development at specific levels of instruction.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Recent research and theory related to planning, organizing and managing student learning and behavior in the classroom.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Characteristics of students with exceptional learning needs and legal issues; adaptations to the general curriculum, adaptive teaching strategies, behavior management and collaboration skills.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Role cultural identity plays in students’ experiences in schools; how theories of prejudice assimilation, feminism and cultural reproduction explain patterns of behavior in schools; curricular changes to address the inclusion of all students in today’s schools.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles and strategies for effective middle/secondary teaching; teaming for faculty and students, curriculum planning, general teaching methods, assessment strategies, and classroom management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Introduce students to the utilization of computers in the educational process; focus on technological solutions necessary for a professional career as a teacher.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5-3
Principles and procedures related to reading and literacy in grades 5-12; reading theory, reading skills and strategies, and study skills across content fields.

Candidates seeking certification in any certification area must take one 3-credit hour methods course, chosen from the following below.

Secondary English candidates are required to take two methods courses (ENG 535 and ENG 537).

Students pursuing two content areas are required to take a methods course in each content area and may require additional semesters in the program.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5-3
Theories, methods, techniques and technologies in designing, delivering and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school science.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5-3
Theories, methods/techniques and technologies in designing, delivering and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school mathematics.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5-3
Theories, methods/techniques and technologies in designing, delivering and evaluating instruction in middle school and high school social studies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This online course for current and future leaders introduces themes and practices in mindfulness. Self-paced modules help learners explore and incorporate mindfulness characteristics in oneself, others, and in leadership. Prerequisite: Junior standing or higher
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Application of instructional theory to middle/secondary grade classroom settings
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1-2
Practice in planning and implementing instructional strategies with middle/secondary grade school students. Students will complete this course three times for a total of 5 credit hours.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Practice in planning and implementing instructional strategies with middle/secondary grade students.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4.5
Classroom experiences through observation, planning, teaching, and assessing under supervision of an experienced teacher.

*The maximum grant amount can vary by year. TEACH Grants are available to qualified applicants and require approved recipients to sign a service agreement for certain teaching service obligations for four academic years. If obligations are not met within eight years after graduation, the grant will turn into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with all accrued interest from the date of disbursement. For more information, please visit: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach or contact the NKU Financial Aid Office.

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