Kansas State University’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education (P-6) helps you transition into teaching grades P-6 if you already hold a bachelor’s degree.
Whether you’re changing careers or pursuing a long-held passion for education, this program combines graduate-level coursework with practical classroom experiences to prepare you for success as an elementary teacher. You’ll earn a Kansas teaching license that may be transferred to other states, subject to individual state requirements.
The program is built for working professionals seeking a practical path to becoming a teacher. Courses are delivered fully online and asynchronously, allowing you to complete your graduate degree in as little as 12 months or at a pace that fits your schedule.
Looking for an online route to elementary teacher certification? The Elementary MAT allows you to complete your coursework online while gaining hands-on teaching experience in a school near your community.
Benefits of the Elementary MAT program include:
All students pay the same tuition regardless of residency. More than 70% of MAT students receive scholarships, such as K-State’s online scholarships and/or the Kansas Board of Regents’ Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship.
Through our Practitioner Track, Kansas students may obtain a restricted license and become full-time teachers while completing their degree requirements. Our License-Seeking Track allows you to be a full-time student or continue your current employment.
MAT students work on their online courses as their schedules allow and may complete their program in as little as 12 months or at their own pace, with student teaching in local schools.
Every MAT student is assigned a GradCat — a master teacher who serves as a mentor, coach and evaluator from the beginning to the end of each course.
K-State’s MAT program is ranked #18 (of 323) by U.S. News & World Report. The program combines research-based preparation with practical, classroom-based experiences, ensuring graduates are well-prepared.
Students in the MAT program come from across the country and around the globe, bringing talent, insight and shared purpose into every conversation.
The MAT recognizes and values your unique strengths, views teaching as a practical and individualized activity, and prepares you for success across a variety of contexts.
K-State MAT graduates have the flexibility to launch teaching careers in their own communities — or beyond — with licensure that opens doors nationwide.
The Elementary MAT offers two flexible tracks. Once you complete the MAT, you’ll be eligible to apply for a Kansas PreK-6 Initial Teaching License. Kansas licensure also requires Praxis content tests. The license will transfer to other states once you complete any additional requirements in those states.
If you pursue the MAT while teaching full-time, K-State will partner with you and your hiring Kansas school district to support your application for a Limited Elementary Residency Program (LERP) License.
Pursue the MAT as a full-time student or while continuing your current employment.
There are several scholarship and financial aid opportunities available to you, including:
Provides $3,400 per semester for fall and spring. Apply before June 1 to be placed in the priority pool.
Multiple opportunities providing $1,000–$1,500 per semester. Deadlines are April 1 (summer), June 1 (fall) and Nov. 1 (spring).
Available if you’re willing to teach in a low-income school for five consecutive years, up to $17,500.
Completing the FAFSA is required for eligibility for several of the assistance programs above.
If you’re a military veteran, spouse or actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, you may earn a GI Bill-eligible degree in education through this program.
You are required to meet the general university admission requirements, plus the following program-specific documentation:
[note: supplied from the live Elementary program page (online.k-state.edu) per your direction to pull existing-page content — confirm it's still current.]
With schools across the country seeking well-prepared P-6 educators, there has never been a better time to become an elementary teacher. Schools are looking for educators ready to make a lasting difference. With teacher shortages leaving classrooms unstaffed nationwide, never has a well-prepared elementary teacher mattered more. You’ll be qualified to teach P-6.
The Elementary Practitioner track provides an additional pathway to the classroom. This program allows admitted Elementary MAT students to apply for Kansas teaching positions and complete their program while serving as the teacher of record.
Elementary practitioners take the same curriculum as the License-Seeking track below, but are also required to take EDCI 886: Orientation to Teaching, to help prepare you for full-time teaching. To pursue the Limited Elementary Residency Program (LERP) License, students must have successfully completed EDCI 702, EDCI 716 and register in EDCI 886.
This track is for you if you pursue the MAT while continuing your current employment or plan to be a full-time student.
Prerequisite Core Courses (6 credits):
License-Seeking Courses (20 credits):
Culminating Courses (5 credits):
Final Project: You will complete a teaching and learning portfolio during the spring semester.
Technology Requirements: You will need a tablet (e.g., iPad) and video recording technology to complete your teaching internship.
[note: supplied from the live Elementary program page.]
Meet current students and graduates from across the U.S. and around the globe who have turned their vast experiences into a passion for teaching. Explore their K-State Elementary MAT stories.
Why I’m a unique teacher: I am starting out teaching at an older age. I think this is an advantage as my own children are now teenagers and I have more time to devote to my classroom students. I also graduated from the KSU MAT program when COVID first started. I started teaching online my first year with Kansas Connections Academy.
Bonnie Burkland | Elementary
Elliott City, Maryland
Why I’m a unique teacher: My experiences. I have worked on factory floors, in high-rise offices, on college campuses and in district courtrooms. I have been lucky enough to travel across the world and encounter some of Earth’s great treasures. I think it grants me a neat perspective to share with students!
Aram Kokuzian | Secondary
Naperville, Illinois
Meet the faculty behind K-State’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) programs. Learn about the experienced educators and scholars who bring their expertise and passion for teaching to the classroom. (More information coming soon.)
What advice do you give incoming MAT students? Expect ambiguity in teaching. Answers are not black-and-white, yes-or-no, right-or-wrong. There are good and bad ways to proceed as a teacher. It’s their job to figure out what’s right in the context. Teaching is not following a script. Really good teaching is dynamic; it’s ever-changing and it’s reacting and responding to different variables and contexts. It makes teaching challenging and rewarding. The fundamental teaching decisions are about gray areas.
Thomas Vontz | Professor
Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and Center for Social Studies Education
What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming MAT students? My biggest piece of advice will vary depending on the student and their situation, but everyone should come in open-minded. Teaching methods are always changing, and how you were taught in grade school won’t be the same way to teach elementary, middle or high schoolers now.
Lotta Larson | Professor
Associate Director, Master of Arts in Teaching
What continues to keep you passionate about helping future educators? It’s the students. It’s the passion that I see in them. That’s what keeps me going through the MAT program. They are typically students who have done something else. They have a degree, and they’re coming in for an initial license, or it could be a career change for some of them. They’ve got a passion, and they’re coming in here for a reason.
Beth Pesnell | Teaching Assistant Professor
Elementary Science and Mathematics Education/STEM Education
How would your students describe you as a teacher? Authentic, human and meaningful. It’s less about my teaching experience and more about the students’ experiences in my courses. I want my students to see their humanity at the center of what we’re doing. I want their voices to feel heard in what we’re doing. I want them to feel challenged in appropriate and meaningful ways.
Eileen Wertzberger | Assistant Professor
Director, Office of Field Experience
Elementary MAT FAQs
What are the degree and GPA requirements?
To be admitted to the MAT Elementary program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree (in any field) with a 3.0 GPA overall or in the final two years. If your GPA is below 3.0, contact Dr. Vontz (tvontz@ksu.edu) to explore options.
What tests are required?
No tests are required to be admitted to the elementary MAT. To become certified in Kansas, however, you’ll need to complete a background check and pass the content test — the Praxis Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (7001). K-State recommends taking the test during the semester in which you are student teaching.
What are the admission requirements?
All students applying to the graduate school are required to meet the general university admission requirements.
How do students complete field experiences in the MAT Elementary program?
You’ll complete field experiences (student teaching) in accredited schools near where you currently live. You’ll need a device that can record video, such as a tablet or video-enabled phone. This allows your classroom work to be observed and evaluated both in real time and on video.
Questions about field experiences should be directed to Dr. Wertzberger (ejm7777@ksu.edu).
Will the degree transfer to other states?
Yes, your degree and elementary teaching license transfer to other states. Kansas has reciprocal licensing agreements with all other states; however, you may be required to complete an additional test or other state-specific requirements (e.g., state history and/or constitution).
Can I continue to work in my current position?
Yes. However, during the semester you enroll in EDCI 800, you’re required to arrange, with your assigned cooperating teacher/school, 64 hours of teaching experience. During EDCI 801, you’ll complete 12 weeks of full-time student teaching and won’t be able to continue full-time employment.
I am a para-educator. Will my job “count” for my field experiences?
No. Although we might be able to place you in the school in which you work, your work as a para does not count toward field experiences. Your field experiences require you to demonstrate additional skills beyond your excellent experience as a para.
Is an online MAT degree respected by school districts?
Yes. K-State’s Master of Arts in Teaching program is well-respected by school districts. Many of the program’s recent graduates have been recognized through the Kansas Horizon Award for early-career teachers for excellence in the classroom, including two recent Elementary MAT students whose journeys you can learn more about in our MAT Students Spotlight.
The program is ranked No. 18 among online master’s in education programs by U.S. News & World Report. The combination of rigorous online coursework and real classroom experience ensures graduates are prepared to make an immediate impact.
Who is K-State’s MAT program designed for?
The MAT program is designed for busy adults with a bachelor’s degree who are either working in education or in another field. Coursework is offered online, making it convenient and affordable for working adults.
Do I need a background in education to apply for K-State’s MAT program?
You do not need a background in education to apply for K-State’s online MAT programs. Those looking to become licensed in secondary education should have a bachelor’s degree or significant expertise in their chosen content specialization.
Is K-State’s MAT program right for career changers?
Yes. K-State’s MAT is built for career changers. All coursework is fully online and asynchronous, so you can keep working while you earn your degree.
The Practitioner Track allows Kansas students to secure a teaching position and lead a classroom while finishing their degree on a restricted license. The License-Seeking Track lets you continue your current job while completing coursework, with student teaching arranged locally in your final semester.
Is the program 100% online?
With the exception of attendance requirements for the practicum and internship, all coursework for K-State’s MAT program is completed online and asynchronously.
Are there any in-person requirements or field experiences?
There are no requirements to attend classes in person in Manhattan, KS. MAT coursework is completed fully online; however, the program does include in-person classroom field experiences. During your practicum semester, you will need to be available to spend six hours per week in a classroom. During your internship semester, you will need to attend your placement full-time for 12+ weeks. K-State's MAT team will work with you to arrange your practicum and internship placements.
MAT students are required to obtain a recording device, such as a tablet or video-enabled phone. The combination of these technologies enables real-time and video-based classroom observations and evaluations.
Questions about field experiences should be directed to Dr. Wertzberger (ejm7777@ksu.edu).
Can I move through the program at my own pace?
Yes. MAT coursework is fully asynchronous and self-paced within each semester, so you can balance the program with work and life. Most students complete the degree within one to two years. Students on the License-seeking Track can complete the program on their timeline.
For those who are on the Practitioner Track with a temporary teaching license (LERP or a restricted license), the Kansas Department of Education requires completion of the program within 24 months.
What is the typical duration of the MAT program, and can it be completed part-time or only full-time?
You can complete the MAT program in 12 to 24 months. Students in the Lense-seeking Track may take longer to complete the program. The online coursework can be completed either full-time or part-time; however, the student-teaching portion of the program must be completed full-time in a classroom setting.
How is the balance between coursework and field experience structured?
Most coursework is completed online. However, during the semester you enroll in EDCI 800, you are required to arrange (with your cooperating teacher/school) 64 hours of teaching experience. During EDCI 801, you will complete 12 weeks of full-time student teaching and will not be able to continue full-time employment.
Can I complete the MAT while working full-time?
Yes. All MAT coursework is fully asynchronous — you complete it on your own schedule, evenings and weekends included. The Practitioner Track is specifically designed for this.
Kansas students can secure a teaching position and begin earning a salary while finishing their degree on a restricted license. The one exception is student teaching (EDCI 801) within the License-Seeking Track, which requires full-time classroom presence during the final semester.
What is a GradCat and what do they do?
A GradCat is an experienced classroom teacher assigned to every MAT student from the start of the program to the end. They serve as your personal mentor, coach and evaluator throughout every course — observing your teaching, providing feedback and supporting your growth. This kind of individualized, practitioner-to-practitioner guidance is rare in online teacher preparation programs.
What are the student teaching or job-embedded teaching requirements, and do they need to be completed in Kansas?
Students are required to complete field experiences during their final semester of the MAT program. Students complete field (student-teaching) experiences in accredited schools near where they currently live. MAT students are required to obtain a recording device, such as a tablet or a video-enabled phone. Together, these technologies enable real-time, video-based classroom observations and evaluations.
Direct questions about field experiences to Dr. Wertzberger (ejm7777@ksu.edu).
What kind of advising or mentoring support is provided throughout the program?
Every MAT student is assigned a GradCat, an experienced classroom teacher who serves as your personal mentor, coach and evaluator through every course. This kind of individualized, practitioner-to-practitioner guidance is rare in online teacher preparation programs and makes a real difference in how prepared you feel when you walk into your own classroom.
Are there opportunities to specialize (e.g., literacy, TESOL, STEM)?
While the MAT program does not offer formal specialization tracks, students may choose to take additional graduate coursework in areas of interest. Additional coursework and testing may also support licensure endorsements in areas such as English as a Second Language (ESL).
How does the program prepare graduates for diverse classroom settings and cultural contexts?
The MAT program prepares future teachers to work with students from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, abilities and learning needs. Throughout the program, students learn, discuss and apply instructional strategies designed to support all learners.
Is there an option for hybrid or online learning, especially for international students?
Yes. The MAT program is delivered fully online and can be completed from anywhere with reliable internet access. Coursework is designed to be completed asynchronously, allowing flexibility for working professionals and students in different time zones. Opportunities to interact with instructors and classmates through live lectures and discussions are often available, and recordings are provided for students who cannot attend live sessions.
Will I be eligible for teacher licensure after completing the MAT program?
Upon completion of K-State’s MAT program, you will be eligible to apply for an Initial Teaching License in the state of Kansas. The license will transfer to other states upon completion of any additional requirements in those states.
To become certified in Kansas, students will need to complete a background check. Elementary teachers will need to pass the Elementary Education Praxis series (CKT 7001, 7002, 7003, 7004 and 7005) tests. K-State recommends taking the test during the semester in which you are student teaching.
Kansas Licensure for secondary teachers also requires passage of the Praxis content test, which is required for admission to the MAT program.
K-State MAT graduates have the flexibility to launch teaching careers in their own communities — or beyond, with licensure that opens doors nationwide.
In which states can I become licensed with this degree?
Once you are licensed to teach in the state of Kansas, you can transfer your license to other states upon completion of any additional requirements for that state. Learn more about how the MAT opens doors nationwide.
What grade levels can I teach after completing the program?
Those completing the elementary MAT will be licensed to teach preschool through sixth grade. Those completing the unified elementary and special education MAT programs will be licensed to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. Those completing the secondary MAT program will be licensed to teach grades 6 through 12.
Is prior teaching experience required?
Prior teaching experience is not required for entry to the MAT program.
What materials are needed for the application?
Applicants should provide a video statement of objectives that answers three questions about interest in the program, previous experiences and why they would be a successful teacher, a copy of their resume, and names and emails of three professional or academic references. International applicants or those whose primary language is not English have additional requirements.
A full list of requirements is available at K-State Online.
What is the application timeline?
Applications are encouraged and accepted year-round. Applicants may apply at any time, but applications should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester. The fall semester begins in late August, the spring semester in late January, and the summer semester offers multiple start dates.
Reach out to K-State Online (online@k-state.edu) with application questions or check with MAT student success coordinator, TJ Duntz (tduntz@k-state.edu) for course enrollment guidance.
Is financial aid available for the MAT program?
Yes, and it is substantial. All MAT students pay in-state tuition regardless of where they live.
More than 70% of MAT students receive scholarships. The Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship provides $3,300 per semester (apply by June 1 for priority consideration). K-State Online Scholarships provide $1,000–$1,500 per semester. Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness of up to $17,500 is available for graduates who teach in qualifying schools for five years. Attend a free MAT informational webinar to receive an application fee waiver.
What are the tuition costs, and are there scholarships or assistantships available?
MAT courses cost the same per credit hour, no matter where you live. See online program tuition and fees. There are scholarship and financial aid options available.
Are there tuition payment plans or financial aid options for international students?
Yes. Kansas State University offers monthly tuition payment plans and a variety of scholarship opportunities. We encourage all eligible students to submit the FAFSA, as many financial aid and scholarship programs use FAFSA information during the award process. Students should explore K-State, external and employer-sponsored scholarship opportunities.
Is there a demand for teachers? I have heard there’s a teacher shortage. Is that true?
Yes. Teacher shortages in Kansas and across the country remain significant, particularly in special education, mathematics, science and world languages. Kansas reported nearly 2,000 teacher vacancies in 2024, and national shortages affect roughly one in eight teaching positions.
Will I be able to find a job after graduating?
Due to nationwide teacher shortages, K-State MAT graduates are well-positioned to step into classrooms with strong job prospects and long-term career stability.
Where is the best place to search for teaching jobs?
Resources vary by state. In Kansas, the best place is Educate Kansas.
Are there alumni networks or career services available to support job placement?
Yes. All K-State students have access to the Career Center, which provides support with resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, job search strategies and career planning. Students can continue to utilize these resources as they prepare to enter the teaching profession.