FAQs about the MAT

At Loyola we look at an applicant’s whole admission application and GPA is only one factor. We require an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.0 for unconditional admission to our program. Applicants under the 3.0 threshold may be considered for probational admission.

Applicants with an overall GPA of 3.0 and higher in their most recent degree program do NOT have to submit a test score for admission. For applicant with an overall GPA under a 3.0 must submit scores from one of the following tests below.  

A Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) qualifying scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing, and Math tests or meet the SAT®, ACT® or GRE® General Test requirements are required for all Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) applicants. 

Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators	Test Code	Minimum Score
Reading (sr - 85 min.) and	5712	156
Writing (sr & cr - 100 min.)and	5722	162
Mathematics (sr - 85 min.)	5732	150
Praxis I: PPST/CPPSTPrior to September 1, 2014 Reading Writing Mathematics	5710 5720 5730	527
SAT(prior to April, 1995) (math and verbal)	-	1000
SAT(April, 1995 - March, 2016) (math and verbal OR math and critical reading)	-	1100
SAT(after March 2016)		1180
GRE (prior to September 1, 2011) (math and verbal)	-	1000
GRE(taken as of September 1, 2011) (math and verbal)	-	297

• Elementary Education, grades 1 - 6
• Art, grades PK - 12
• French, grades PK - 12
• Music (vocal or instrumental), grades PK - 12
• Secondary Biology, grades 7 - 12
• Secondary Chemistry, grades 7 - 12
• Secondary Earth/Space Science 7-12
• Secondary English, grades 7 - 12
• Secondary Mathematics, grades 7 - 12
• Secondary Physics, grades 7 - 12
• Secondary Social Studies, grades 7 - 12
• Spanish, grades PK - 12

A Professional Growth Experience (PGE) is available for teachers who are full-time teachers of record in the certification area in which they are seeking teacher certification and who teach within a designated commuting time from the Baltimore campus. The supervised professional growth experience occurs within your current teaching position over the course of two semesters. There is a required seminar for both PGEI and PGE II. 

This program leads to initial teacher certification.  We welcome current teachers that are not MSDE elementary or secondary certified. However, due to the design of our program, we do not exempt individuals from the internship, as it is a state and program requirement.

The elementary education program requires an undergraduate major in one of the four content areas mathematics, science, English, or social studies, or closely related area) and/or a well-rounded liberal arts background. The elementary education students must have a minimum of:

• English- 9 credits which includes one English literature course
• Math- 9 credits which includes one statistics course
• Social Studies- minimum of 9 credits which includes one history course
• Science – 10 credits which includes one science with a lab course

If you would like your transcript evaluated, please email a copy of your transcripts to mat@loyola.edu.

The secondary program requires an undergraduate major (or 27-30 sufficient credits) in the content area in which the aspiring teacher is seeking certification.

If you would like your transcripts evaluated, please email a copy of your transcript to mat@loyola.edu.

Under provisional acceptance, candidates who are missing three pre-requisite courses may start the program. These courses are taken outside of Loyola with the following requirements:

• 1 course completed by the end of first semester
• 2-3 courses completed by the end of the second semester

Loyola’s Elementary Certification program requires 39 credits.

Loyola’s Secondary Certification program requires 34 credits.

Full-time MAT candidates can complete the program in 11 months.

Part-time MAT candidates can complete the program within 1.5 to 5 years.

Full-time MAT candidates are advised to not work due to the intensity of the program. Part-time MAT candidates usually work during the program. However, during Internship I, candidates must be able to attend the internship 2 days/week during the school day.

During Internship II, candidates will attend the internship full-time according to the schedule of the local school system.

Most classes are offered at 4:30 p.m. (or 4:15 p.m. in the summer) or at 7:05 p.m.

MAT classes are held online. In-person events occur at the Baltimore campus. The internship requirements are in-person. 

Yes, candidates can take this program part–time. To be eligible for federal financial aid, you must take a minimum of 2 classes (6 credits) in the fall and spring and 1 class (3 credits) in the summer.

University policy states candidates must complete the program within 5 years of enrollment date.

Yes, full-time candidates begin in the summer and complete the program in May of the following year.

• The part-time program includes two 20- hour field experiences designed to provide candidates with experience in school settings prior to internship. These experiences occur during school hours over two semesters.
• The full-time program requires some field work during the summer semester, with two semesters of clinical work in the fall and spring.

Candidates participate in a year-long internship. They attend internship 2 days per week in the fall semester and full-time in the spring semester according to the schedule of the school site.

No, you are not required to find your own field placements. Loyola’s Coordinator of Clinical Experiences will find a placement for your clinical experiences.

Teacher candidates are placed in a wide range of settings including urban, suburban, public, private, and alternative schools. We currently have partnerships in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City.

Visit our Professional Development Schools website to see a full listing of our partnership schools.

A Professional Growth Experience (PGE) is available for teachers who are full-time teachers of record in the certification area in which they are seeking teacher certification and who teach within a designated commuting time from the Baltimore campus.

The supervised professional growth experience occurs within your current teaching position over the course of two semesters. There is a required seminar for both PGEI and PGE II.

Our tuition is charged per credit; to view our current per credit cost, please visit our financial aid and tuition website. 

The state of Maryland is part of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification interstate reciprocity agreement. Which states,” Such an "acceptance" agreement means that the "receiving" state will issue some form of authorization allowing the inbound certificate holder to legally teach or provide service in the receiving state, provided the license issued by the "sending" state is acceptable under the agreement. This authorization may be limited in time by the receiving state, and the receiving state may impose additional requirements which need to be accomplished before the educator can teach or practice after the end of the time limit.”

In short, Loyola candidates can be hired in other states but may have additional requirements to complete within a year or two of your teaching career in that state. For more information, please visit the NASDTEC website.