The Master of Arts in Teaching in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Learners is a 38-credit-hour program designed to prepare and support general educators in serving multilingual learners. The program develops Relay students to become culturally and linguistically responsive educators through an intentional, yet flexible, pathway composed of Foundations courses, Content Pedagogy courses, Clinical Practice courses, and courses focused specifically on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners. 

In their Foundations courses, Relay students will learn to establish culturally responsive and inclusive classrooms through systems for instructional planning, teaching multilingual learners, teaching exceptional learners, and community engagement. 

Relay students in the MAT in CLD Learners will take grade and/or content-specific Content Pedagogy courses in elementary education or secondary English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies, integrating learning from Foundations courses with a content focus on standards, curriculum, instructional methods, and assessment in the subject area(s) Relay students teach. Relay students will also develop systems for data-informed cycles of assessing, planning, teaching, and reflecting to meet the diverse needs of all students. Students will also take a selection of courses that include specific inquiries into systems for instructional planning and implementation of instructional strategies for culturally and linguistically diverse students. 

The program culminates in a capstone project in which Relay students share findings from an action research project that explores a problem of practice in their classroom and advocacy for a practice that has a positive impact on their students’ academic growth, social-emotional development, and/or experience.

Academic Plans
Relay’s programs are tailored to local contexts and are designed to meet educational requirements for educator certification/licensure in multiple states; therefore, academic plans for each program vary by state and clinical experience pathway (e.g., Resident/non-Resident). State- and program-specific academic plans for all program offerings described in this catalog may be accessed on the Academic Plans site.