Pathways to Teacher Credentialing: Santa Clara Online’s MATTC Program Explained

Santa Clara University’s online Master of Arts in Teaching and Teaching Credential (MATTC) program allows you to earn your master’s degree and teaching credential through a more convenient, flexible pathway. It’s an ideal option for aspiring educators who are ready to get into a classroom. Santa Clara Online's MATTC (OMATTC) program was created to address the demand for an online program for students throughout California, and the demand for educators during persistent teacher shortages.¹

What Is the MATTC Program?

Santa Clara Online's MATTC program is an integrated master’s degree and online teaching credentialing program in one. The program aligns with state-specific credentialing requirements to prepare you to become a teacher in California.

Santa Clara’s teaching programs cultivate teachers who are passionate about serving the needs of their students and their communities. Built on a foundation of respect and dedication to social justice, the Santa Clara Online MATTC program combines the best of Santa Clara University’s traditional education with the convenience and flexibility of online learning.

The program will equip you with the option to teach in public, private, or Catholic schools in California: the choice is yours. Whether you’re looking for a part-time or full-time class schedule, you can choose the option that best fits into your life. Start in the summer to complete your elementary, secondary, or Catholic certificate with your master’s degree in as little as one year.

An elementary education certificate program will equip you with the essential skills and knowledge to teach core subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science to young learners effectively. In addition to subject-area instruction, the program emphasizes the importance of equity and inclusion in the classroom. You’ll explore strategies for supporting diverse learning needs and ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education. This preparation helps you become not only a knowledgeable educator, but also a compassionate advocate for your students’ success.

A secondary education certificate program focuses on adolescent literacy and subject-specific instruction at the middle and high school levels. You can pursue your choice of a single-subject certificate in English, math, chemistry, biological sciences, physics, geosciences, social science, or Spanish. The program emphasizes research-based instructional strategies that help you create an engaging, inclusive, and well-managed classroom environment. You’ll explore techniques for addressing diverse educational needs and promoting academic success with a wide range of learners.

A Catholic certification program is a formational experience that prepares you to meet the needs of students in Catholic schools. You can choose between two pathways: the Catholic Master of Arts in Teaching (CatMAT) program, which offers certification for current teachers in Catholic schools across California, and the ExCEL program, which is tailored specifically for those launching their Catholic school teaching career. Both programs provide a blend of theological education, pedagogical training, and practical classroom experience rooted in Catholic values.

Additionally, you have the option to enhance your credentials by adding a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish to any certificate, enabling you to teach in dual-language or Spanish-speaking classrooms—an important asset in serving diverse school communities.

Benefits of the Online MATTC Format

The online MATTC format is particularly appealing for working adults and people who want to change careers. You don’t have to give up your job to complete your degree. You can balance work, life, and education with support from staff, faculty, mentors, and classmates on your path to become a teacher in California. You’ll take a combination of interactive and asynchronous classes that allow you to collaborate with classmates and become a part of a vibrant online learning community. The on-site residency requirement includes two three-day weekends: one in the first year and one in the second year. The on-site residency is a fantastic way to interact with your peers and create relationships that will become foundational to your online learning community.

With a low student-to-teacher ratio and small class sizes, you will receive individual attention and plenty of opportunities to engage with your classmates. Our exceptional faculty and administrators combine decades of experience with current research, so you can benefit from theoretical and practical teaching models.

Practicum integration provides you with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Our support team at Santa Clara will help ensure that your fieldwork placement will help you find a qualified teacher in your local area to supervise your work so you can fulfill California’s teaching requirements.

Santa Clara University’s Jesuit values and educational mission emphasize social justice, ethical leadership, and service to others. Our dedication to Cura Personalis—care of the whole person, promoting human dignity and care for the mind, body, and spirit—is reflected in our commitment to support students with resources that can help them overcome challenges. To make a Santa Clara education more accessible, we offer a variety of scholarship options. For example, the School offers the SEMILLA Scholarship, which pays up to 50% of tuition for students who commit to work for at least two years after graduation in high-need areas that serve students from low-income families.

Career Outcomes and Support

Santa Clara Online's teaching credential program will prepare you to teach children in the age and subject area you choose, but all candidates receive a solid foundation in educational principles through classes such as Ethics, Diversity, Reflection: Intro to Teaching and Social Foundations of Education. Other courses are specific to your certification type, with elementary education candidates training in multiple subjects and secondary education candidates specializing in one subject area.

Throughout all of these programs, students receive ongoing academic advising and field placement guidance. Additionally, California’s Intern Teacher Credentialing Program is available to students who already have a bachelor’s degree. You’ll work for a school as the teacher of record,² while you complete your master’s degree. It’s the fastest option for becoming a teacher in California, which enables you to start teaching sooner.³

Begin a Rewarding Career as a Teacher

Build a career making a difference in the lives of your students. Santa Clara Online's MATTC program will help you acquire the skills and knowledge you need to create welcoming, supportive classrooms.

With 100 years of training teachers, Santa Clara University has a reputation for producing well-qualified graduates who make a difference in their communities. In 2023, we began providing online students with the same high-quality education that’s available on campus, and we plan to continue building this program for years to come.

Earn your graduate degree in a program that’s committed to strong values, social justice, transformative change, and a diverse community. Contact us today to start your application or learn more about upcoming information sessions and online education news.