University of Southern California Online MA in Teaching (USC MAT)

The University of Southern California (USC) offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with multi-subject or single-subject concentrations and opportunities to earn additional certificates or credentials such as the California Education Specialist Credential, the California Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, and the Gifted Education Certificate. The MAT program equips students with the teaching knowledge, field experience, and teaching methods necessary to improve their students’ learning experiences and outcomes and create positive classroom environments.

The multi-subject teaching concentration prepares students for a multiple subject teaching credential, allowing them to teach various elementary school subjects in grades K-6. The single-subject teaching concentration prepares students for a single-subject teaching credential in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science in secondary schools. Graduates of the MAT will be eligible to earn a California teaching credential.

Online students outside of California must complete all program requirements to earn “program completer” status, which is necessary for licensure in other states. Out-of-state students are not required to apply for a California teaching credential and should verify credentialing requirements with their states. The USC student support team will provide credentialing direction and support to out-of-state MAT graduates.

The California Education Specialist Credential prepares MAT students to work with elementary or secondary students with mild to moderate learning disabilities. This pathway does not add additional credits to the program; however, students must complete additional exams and fieldwork. The California Bilingual Authorization in Spanish prepares MAT students to teach in bilingual or English-dominant settings with language learners whose primary language is Spanish. Those pursuing the bilingual authorization must be fluent in Spanish and complete additional exams and fieldwork.

The Gifted Education Certificate prepares educators to work with high-ability students in the regular classroom and understand and recognize the misconceptions related to gifted students. The certificate requires four credits of additional coursework. In addition to classroom teaching, other MAT career paths may include Online Instructor, Tutor, Substitute Teacher, Athletic Coach, or English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructor.

The online MAT program comprises 28 credits and can be completed in 12 to 17 months full-time or 17 to 36 months part-time. USC offers fall, spring, and summer start dates. The program courses are delivered online, with no campus visits required. Local field experiences are woven into the curriculum, and the USC placement services team secures fieldwork experiences for students. USC has over 4,800 placement partners globally, ensuring students in a variety of locations can access high-quality field experiences.

Live, face-to-face, weekly class sessions are delivered through Blackboard, to foster collaborative learning and relationship building. The sessions include online chat and breakout rooms. Students complete self-paced coursework throughout the week, including case studies, readings, documentary-style videos, and assignments. The Rossier School of Education faculty develops the online coursework in collaboration with highly skilled instructional designers. Online students can access one-on-one sessions with faculty, social networking, peer groups, organizational tools, and all regular USC resources.

Core courses for the Master of Arts in Teaching include Introduction to Curriculum and Pedagogy in Urban Schools; Contexts for Educational Equity, Access, and Agency; Integrated Language Development Across the Curriculum; Applications of Curriculum and Pedagogy I-II; Identifying and Teaching to Student Differences; Applying Knowledge and Strategies for Teaching All Students; and Blended Learning Experiences for Students in Urban Schools.

Multi-subject concentration students also take Literacy Development and Instruction in Elementary Education. Single subject concentration students also take Literacy Development and Instruction in Secondary Education. To earn the Gifted Education Certificate, students also take Responding to Gifted Students.

The University of Southern California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The MAT program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).