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.
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
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.*
Accreditation
The Northern Kentucky University College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
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.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Required Fees | Total Program with Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.A.T. – Secondary Education | $412 | $576 | $15,408 |
Tuition and fees subject to change at any time.
Tuition Breakdown:
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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.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/5/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/12/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/18/25 | 8/6/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/15/25 | 8/18/25 |
Now enrolling:
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 Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
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.
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.
*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.
