MAT vs. MSEDU vs. EdD
Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) offers three distinct graduate degree programs that prepare you for different career stages and professional goals. Whether you are looking to qualify as a licensed teacher or you are a professional from any background seeking to create learning opportunities and advance as a leader, Pepperdine has an ideal online education program for your desired trajectory.
| Criteria | Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) | Master of Science in Education (MSEDU) | Doctor of Education (EdD) |
|---|---|---|---|
Purpose | This program prepares aspiring teachers to make a difference in the classroom and their communities with a balance of online learning and hands-on teaching placements. | This program is designed for professionals from all industries who want to promote and develop learning opportunities within their organizations. | This program equips experienced professionals with expertise in leadership, learning, and policy using a scholar-practitioner model of doctoral training. |
Primary Outcome | Prepare to become a licensed Pre-K to 12 teacher. | Advance in any industry with educational leadership skills. | Prepare for high-level leadership and administrative roles across diverse sectors. |
Focus | Teaching | Educational leadership | Executive leadership |
Typical Duration | 11 months | 15 months | 32 months |
Terminal Degree | Master’s degree | Master’s degree | Doctorate |
Licensure as a Teacher | Yes; the MAT program leads directly to a California teaching credential | No; earning your MSE will not prepare you for licensure as a teacher | No; earning your EdD will not prepare you for licensure as a teacher |
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): The Path to Initial Licensure
Who Is the MAT Designed For?
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is designed for aspiring K to 12 teachers who intend either to teach in elementary schools (across multiple subject areas) or in middle/high school (in a specific subject). Completing the Pepperdine MAT program online leads directly to licensure as a teacher. The program can be completed in as few as 11 months, making it an ideal option for those who are eager to enter the workforce with a teaching credential.
Key Curriculum and Focus
The program curriculum equips aspiring teachers with a robust theoretical foundation, which is complemented by hands-on classroom experiences. Key curriculum topics include learning development, instructional technology, pedagogical theory, and more. Students are empowered to tailor their education to their career goals by choosing from one of two teaching credential specializations: Elementary Teaching (Multiple Subject) or Secondary Teaching (Single Subject).
Career Paths With an MAT
The Pepperdine online MAT program prepares you for a wide variety of teaching careers in public, charter, and private educational settings. Here are some of the career outcomes you can expect after obtaining your master’s in teaching online:
- K to 12 teacher
- English teacher
- Math teacher
- Spanish teacher
- Substitute teacher
- Physical education teacher
- Science teacher
- Kindergarten teacher
- Elementary school teacher
- Middle school teacher
- High school teacher
Master of Science in Education (MSEDU): Advancing Your Career
Who Is the MSE Designed For?
The online Master of Science in Education (MSE) program is designed for professionals from any background—not just teachers—seeking expertise in learning theory and inclusive leadership to create meaningful learning opportunities and advance in their organizations. This includes any professional aspiring to step into a leadership role in their industry, be it education, healthcare, business, or technology. Because the program does not lead to licensure as a teacher, it is best suited to roles in leadership, training, and learning design, rather than classroom teaching.
Key Curriculum and Focus
Students of the online Pepperdine MSE curriculum will learn experience design, educational technology, and responsible leadership skills through an approach that combines instructional and leadership theory with real-world application. You will graduate with the ability to streamline learning processes with evidence-based approaches; design individual and group curricula; and foster inclusive learning environments in both organizational and educational settings.
In addition to seven core courses, you’ll have the option of specializing in one of four areas of leadership to prepare for your ideal role. These concentration areas are as follows:
- Leadership in Learning Design and Technology
- Leadership in Pre-K to 12 Education
- Leadership in Higher Education
- Organizational Leadership and Learning
Career Paths With an MSE
The online MSE program from Pepperdine empowers you with leadership skills that can be applied to all sectors and all learning needs, including those of employees.
After earning their MSE online, our graduates with a focus on the education sector often assume positions as:
- Instructional designers or trainers
- Curriculum designers
- General counselors
- Higher education administrators
- Research assistants
- HR managers or directors
- Program managers
- Nonprofit leaders
- Pre-K to 12 administrators
- Teaching assistants
Graduates seeking educational leadership roles outside of the education sector often find positions in:
- Private and public industries
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Non-governmental organizations
- Healthcare organizations
- Faith-based organizations
- Leadership consulting
Lead Learning in Your Organization
Doctor of Education (EdD): Executive Leadership in Practice
Who Is the EdD Designed For?
The Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (EdD) program is designed for experienced working professionals across diverse sectors seeking to deepen their leadership or organizational experience with advanced leadership, learning, and policy expertise. The program is by no means limited to teachers, and is ideal for any experienced professional looking to step into senior leadership roles within education, corporate, nonprofit, and government settings. Importantly, the program does not lead to licensure as a teacher.
Key Curriculum and Focus
The EdD program in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine employs the scholar-practitioner model of doctoral training to integrate rigorous academics, hands-on experience, and robust research, preparing you for a wide variety of career opportunities. Key curriculum topics include leadership theory, policy development, learning design, social justice, and more. In addition to completing core courses, you’ll personalize your degree experience by selecting one of three available specializations:
- Change Management: This specialization equips you with the tools and insights to effectively design and implement change in an organization, empowering you to respond directly to the rapidly evolving needs of today’s global marketplace.
- Learning Technologies: This specialization prepares you to deploy new and proven learning technologies in schools, corporations, and other public and private organizations.
- PK-12 Leadership: This specialization does not offer teaching credentials/licensure, but it does prepare Pre-K to 12 leaders in various roles to create and sustain strong learning environments within schools and school districts.
Career Paths With an EdD
The EdD in Organizational Leadership program from Pepperdine creates strong opportunities for career growth across a variety of settings, from public and higher learning institutions to businesses, nonprofit, and governmental organizations. Here are some of the career paths you can expect to pursue after obtaining your doctoral degree:
- C-level executive at a university, nonprofit organization, or business
- University administrator
- Nonprofit director
- Learning and development executive
- Human resources director
- Superintendent
- Principal or district administrator
- PK-12 instructional coordinator
- University faculty
- Director of innovation
- Director of learning
- Instructional design manager
- Training and development manager
- Educational/learning technologist
Elevate Your Leadership Career
Which Degree Is Right for Your Goals?
To select the degree program that best suits your career trajectory, you need first to determine what your primary professional goal is.
Goal A: “I want to become a K-12 classroom teacher.”
If your goal is to:
- Teach in elementary or secondary schools
- Earn your California teaching credential
- Start teaching soon, even if you’re changing careers,
Then the online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is the best fit. This is the only graduate degree program of the three offered online by Pepperdine GSEP that leads to licensure as a teacher.
Goal B: “I want to advance in educational leadership, but not necessarily as a classroom teacher.”
If your goal is to:
- Develop experience design, educational technology, and responsible leadership skills
- Design individual and group curricula
- Create inclusive learning environments beyond the classroom
- Be able to apply your educational leadership skills in both organizational and educational settings,
Then the online Master of Science in Education (MSE) may be best suited for your goals.
Goal C: “I want to lead at a high level and influence systems.”
If your goal is to:
- Deepen your established organizational experience with advanced expertise in leadership, learning, and policy
- Pursue senior leadership roles in sectors ranging from education to government
- Integrate rigorous academics with hands-on experience and robust research in an immersive learning experience,
Then the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership is the ideal path forward for you.