Expand Your Career Options with a Master's in Teaching.

UMass Global offers three main types of California teaching credentials, each designed to prepare you for a specific educational role:

1. Multiple Subject Credential: This credential is ideal for those interested in teaching elementary school students. It equips you with the knowledge and skills to effectively deliver instruction across a broad range of subjects in grades 1-8. You'll learn how to create engaging lessons, manage classroom dynamics, and support students' academic and social development.
2. Single Subject Credential: If you have a passion for a particular subject area, such as mathematics, science, English, or history, the Single Subject Credential is the right choice. This credential prepares you to teach your specialized subject in secondary schools (grades 7-12). You'll gain a deep understanding of your chosen field and develop strategies for teaching complex concepts to older students.
3. Preliminary Education Specialist Credential (Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs): For individuals who want to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special needs, the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential is a valuable option. This credential enables you to work with students who require additional support due to mild to moderate or extensive disabilities. You'll learn about various special education methodologies, assessment tools, and strategies for creating inclusive learning environments.

Yes, you can pursue an online Masters degree plus California teaching credential at UMass Global. While most of the coursework is delivered online, there are in-person requirements such as classroom observations, teacher interviews, and student tutoring. Additionally, you'll need to complete an in-person internship or student teaching. However, the 24 credits leading up to your internship can be completed online, making it possible to balance your studies with your current job.

Earning a master’s in teaching has numerous benefits for an educator. Here are a few key benefits:

• Expertise — You’ll expand your skills as an educator through the additional courses needed to earn your MAT, which all focus on broader issues in education. Adding your master’s degree allows you to delve more deeply into what’s happening in today’s classrooms.
• Increased salary potential — Most school districts offer higher pay tiers depending on the level of education.
• Career options — Having a master’s degree expands career options into areas such as curriculum coordinator, department head, assessment director, and various administrative roles.
• Expanded teaching — With a Master of Arts in Teaching, you can also move beyond the K-12 realm, should you desire, teaching at community colleges, doing educational consulting, working at education nonprofits, and other options.

To earn the credential portion, you will need to complete 33 credit hours — 24 introductory block and content area block course hours, along with nine hours of internship teaching or student teaching. From there, earning your Master of Arts in Teaching will require an additional nine credit hours (three courses).

This timeframe assumes you take two courses per eight-week session, and it may vary depending upon the session in which you start. The credential can be earned as quickly as 10 months, with the MAT adding two to four extra months.