Master of Arts in Teaching
The Relay Master of Arts in Teaching gives you the tools to build your skills and teach with confidence, whether you're a beginner or a veteran.
Program Overview
Relay’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program allows educators to expand their pedagogical knowledge and skills regardless of where they are in their careers. This program provides options for new teachers joining the profession for the first time and experienced educators who wish to expand their education and career.
“Relay is a hands-on program that aligns perfectly to teaching. I love attending Relay classes because I feel that they help me improve the way I teach, and my students benefit from it as a result.”
Kai Lee
Master of Arts in Teaching
Through the MAT program, you will:
- Work with expert faculty who have vast experience in education practice and theory.
- Get targeted, personal feedback from professors and peers.
- Experience authentic practice to develop your skills and confidence in the classroom.
- Learn proven teaching skills to improve student outcomes.
- Further develop your educator’s mindset to build a vibrant, learning-filled classroom.
- Develop pedagogical expertise in your chosen subject area.
- Learn strategies to support and educate the whole child.
Ready to get started?
Fill out our interest form to get details on te application process and requirements for your situation.
Or schedule a 1:1 appointment with an Admissions Liaison – we’re here for you!
Program Options
The Master of Arts in Teaching program at Relay has several options offered across the country. Most Relay MAT programs include prerequisites for earning a teaching certification or licensure. Learn more about our programs by location here.
MAT + Teaching Residency
Those new to the teaching profession find Relay’s flagship MAT with a Teaching Residency program incredibly helpful. Not only will you learn from seasoned professionals as you complete your graduate degree coursework, but you will also earn a teaching certification and have an apprentice year where you will get hands-on classroom experience. This gradual on-ramp towards teaching and managing your classroom will give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to excel as a teacher of record.
What you'll get
- Master of Arts in Teaching
- Apprentice Year
- Teaching Certification
MAT - Degree Only
If you’re already a teacher and are not seeking certification, this track will allow you to complete your MAT with a combination of in-person and online courses. This degree program will bolster your pedagogical knowledge and skills needed to advance your career and improve student outcomes.
What you'll get
- Master of Arts in Teaching
- Teaching Certification (as-needed)
Ready to get started?
Fill out our interest form to get details on te application process and requirements for your situation.
Or schedule a 1:1 appointment with an Admissions Liaison – we’re here for you!
Curriculum Highlights
Relay’s curriculum combines theory and experience, so you’ll not only have the foundational knowledge to transform your students’ lives, but also the practical skills you’ll need to build a strong classroom culture.Relay’s curriculum combines theory and experience, so you’ll not only have the foundational knowledge to contribute to your students’ path to a fulfilling life, but also the practical skills you’ll need to positively impact student outcomes in your classroom.
MAT Program Structure and Assignments
Relay’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program allows educators to expand their pedagogical knowledge and skills regardless of where they are in their careers. This program provides options for new teachers joining the profession for the first time and experienced educators who wish to expand their education and career.
Our MAT curriculum is delivered in a hybrid format. The majority of assignments consist of video submissions of your teaching in action and your work samples (e.g., lesson plans) to give your professors an authentic representation of your classroom. This structure is designed to provide you with the opportunities for practice and individualized feedback you’ll need to nurture your skillset over time.
Elements of Effective Teaching
Our curriculum focuses on four elements of teaching that support strong student outcomes :
- Knowledge of the content and curriculum
- Building a classroom environment that is responsive to your students and inclusive of all learners
- Implementing evidence-based teaching practices that drive student learning
- Examining beliefs and mindsets about students, families, and communities
Year 1: Positive Culture, Foundational Skills, Supporting all learners, and State Certification
The first year in Relay’s MAT program focuses on fundamental skills every teacher needs, building positive classroom culture, and completing state certification (as needed). In your first year, you will learn:
- To build relationships with students, their families, and your colleagues
- To cultivate a positive classroom culture
- Teaching strategies specific to your chosen grade level and subject area
- Data-driven instruction techniques and methods to measure student progress and outcomes
Year 2: Application of Advanced Skills, Partnering with Stakeholders, and Teacher Inquiry
The MAT program’s second year provides an in-depth exploration of lesson and unit planning and culminates in a capstone project and Masters’ Defense. Some highlights of your second year will include:
- Learning specific, proven techniques to build rigorous and joyful classrooms
- Planning to partner with families, communities, and colleagues to support learning goals
- Completing your capstone project, where you will investigate a question about the impact of your teaching practice on student outcomes
- Opportunities to reflect on your development as an educator.
Ready to get started?
Fill out our interest form to get details on te application process and requirements for your situation.
Or schedule a 1:1 appointment with an Admissions Liaison – we’re here for you!
Locations
Explore the locations throughout the US where we offer our Graduate & Certificate programs.
Get Started
Complete our interest form to learn more about this program and the application process.