Skip to main content
USC_University_Primary_Monogram_RegularUse_RGB_REV+GOLD.svg

USC Rossier Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) online

The University of Southern California Rossier online MA in Teaching is designed for K-12 teachers who want to improve and shape the lives of students in their communities, and help their students reach personal, academic, and career success. The program prepares educators for excellence.

Request more info

About the program

  • Theory focused: Gain a strong foundation in concepts, critical issues, and core theories in education.
  • Practice loaded: Apply the theory foundation you’ve gained to the classroom, through observations, action research, and teaching practice.
  • Mastery centered: Collaborate with faculty, peers, and teachers as you master the strategies of instruction.

About University of Southern California Rossier School of Education 

The USC Rossier School of Education was founded in 1909, and is located in Los Angeles. It aims to improve learning in urban education locally, nationally and globally. Its focus on policy, research, and practice — and its emphasis on marginalized groups in urban settings — prepares learners to be educational leaders who can work with students from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Online MAT learners graduate ready for a wide range of settings, such as lead leader, online instructor, substitute teacher, and tutor.

All of K–12 credential programs at USC Rossier are accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees are subject to change and may increase each academic year. Tuition does not include student fees, technology platform licensing, or support services. Learners are also responsible for travel and accommodation costs related to any in-person immersions or residentials.

Technology and services powered by 2U, Inc., the parent company of edX.

Curriculum

Online and on-campus MAT learners experience the very same curriculum and educational experience, and are taught by the same faculty members. The curriculum offers learners foundational knowledge in education, hands-on experience in the field, and a suite of teaching strategies they can use directly in class. It also prepares learners for the English Learner Authorization and for the preliminary teaching credential in California. Learners who do not reside in California are eligible to pursue their teaching certification in their own state.

  • Introduction to Curriculum and Pedagogy in Urban Schools: 4 units
  • Contexts for Educational Equity, Access and Agency: 3 units
  • Integrated Language Development Across the Curriculum: 3 units
Request more info

Admission

Learners interested in applying to the USC online program are eligible for an application fee waiver if they apply prior to early action deadlines. All learners must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its recognized equivalent from a regionally accredited institution, and must demonstrate they are proficient in the subject matter area of their intended credential and complete The Basic Skills Requirement. To complete an application, you will need to submit:

  • Personal statement

  • Résumé or CV

  • Letters of recommendation

  • Transcripts

  • The Basic Skills Requirement


Fieldwork

Edx_USC-MAT_About_Page_Flex_339.jpg

The USC Rossier MAT online program integrates fieldwork at every step of the way. Learners get plenty of hands-on opportunities to develop real-world skills and the confidence they need to one day teach their own classroom. Field placements take place during regular school hours, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with a different focus each term, as follows:

Term 1: Learners analyze video examples of others teaching in a similar sociocultural environment to their assigned school setting.

Term 2: Learners plan, rehearse, and practice pedagogy virtually and in a classroom setting.

Term 3: Learners plan, practice, and develop their pedagogical knowledge and style, and perfect it. They began teaching lessons, in a real classroom, starting mid-term.

Frequently asked questions

Courses are taught by USC Rossier clinical faculty, many of whom teach in the school’s on-campus program. A large majority of professors are practitioners in the field, and all hold advanced degrees.

USC Rossier staff finds the schools for fieldwork. Most graduate education programs place the responsibility of finding a placement school on the learner, which can be challenging. Due to the standards USC Rossier upholds to ensure learners receive the highest quality field experience, the dedicated placement services team will find a placement site in your community that meets the program’s criteria.

If you are currently teaching and are in one of the school’s non-credential programs, USC will seek approval from your school of work. If you are currently teaching and are in the credential program, you cannot be a teacher of record and complete your fieldwork simultaneously.

USC Rossier works with more than 4,800 placement partners around the world and is continually adding more to ensure its students are placed in a school that meets their needs.

Want to learn more?

Request more info