Transform Lives Every Day

Teaching, M.A.


Educators are change-makers, and highly qualified educators are needed in every locality. A degree in teaching will provide you the opportunity to foster the love of learning, mentor youth and contribute to your community.

The 21st-century classroom demands inspiring and innovative teachers, like you, who are passionate about helping students learn. We offer engaging and rigorous 12-month or 18-month program tracks and a learning experience that will prepare you to enrich the lives of students.

For a non-teaching professional, this program can help you earn a certified teaching license and master’s degree in as little as 12 months, or, if you are a teacher, it can help take your skills to the next level earning A-level certification in English, math, physical education, music, science and social studies.

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Take the next step toward completing your Master of Arts degree in Teaching.

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Take the next step toward completing your Master of Arts degree in Teaching.

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This is not one of those programs where you are completing "modules." Our program is comprised of live, interactive classes. You work in groups and pairs as well as share your work as you would do in a regular classroom.

Classes are small so that you can build important relationships with your professors and get the kind of personalized education that Lenoir-Rhyne University encourages.

Full-time faculty mentors are located on both LR’s Hickory and Asheville campuses, providing students greater face-to-face access when needed. Any practicum experiences, including student teaching requirements, can be completed close to home at your convenience.

Attend a Virtual Information Session


Join us for a virtual information session to learn more about the admission process, financial aid, the teaching program and outcomes. Talk with program coordinator Stephanie Thomas, Ph.D., along with enrollment counselor Jan Wolff. This is a great opportunity to have your questions answered about our program.

Rated Among the Best in the U.S.


The teaching programs at LR are among the best in the nation, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality, in terms of clinical service requirements and in reading instruction.

Professors in the Master of Arts in Teaching program have many years of experience as teachers and administrators, which results in instruction that is targeted and based on the needs of today's classroom. With the hands-on, practical and best practice tools that you will learn to utilize in the program, you will be equipped to make the most of your opportunities to inspire and instruct students.

MAT graduates have a distinctive advantage in hiring for teachers because you will have produced graduate work specifically in the craft of teaching and very likely have additional content preparation in your chosen areas of undergraduate study.

Accelerated Master's Degrees Program


Complete your master's and bachelor's degrees at the same time and save money in the process.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Accelerated Master's Degrees program is designed for academically talented students to complete the requirements for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace, saving you time and money.

View Accelerated Master's Degrees

Accreditation


Teacher observes high school students using microscope in biology class

Our educator preparation programs are accredited through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Financial Aid & Costs


A top-quality graduate education is both accessible and affordable at Lenoir-Rhyne. Among comparable universities, we’re one of the more affordable options. With our array of loans and financial aid options, you can make this exceptional value even better.

The Forgivable Education Loans for Service program offered through the College Foundation of North Carolina offers students in graduate programs up to $5,000 per semester in forgivable loans as long as you remain in the classroom. Application opens January 4 and is due by March 1.

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Degree Requirements

Lenoir-Rhyne University's online Master's of Art in Teaching (MAT) program provides students the opportunity to earn both a graduate degree and, for students who have earned a non-education undergraduate degree, an opportunity to be licensed as a secondary teacher or certain K-12 teacher licensure areas.  Students gain the skills, training and secondary certification they need to be highly qualified English, math, social studies and science teachers. Students gain a K-12 certification in physical education and music.

The MAT program emphasizes applying theory to best practice.  As a non-cohort program, students can complete the curriculum at their own pace-full time or part-time.  Students are in the classroom observing and working with teachers and administrators, and the program culminates with a semester of full-time student teaching.  This can be completed in the fall or the spring as well as a capstone seminar in which students begin the transition to their own classrooms.  Students must be successful on the Praxis II and edTPA in order to graduate from the program. 

The MAT Program at Lenoir-Rhyne is a fully online program that helps our students in their work/life balance, as 90% of them work full-time while in the program.  It also means that students can complete the program in as little as 12 months

In addition to successfully completing the MAT program of study, candidates must achieve passing scores on the appropriate Praxis II test(s) for their licensure area in order to be eligible for the NC Standard Professional I teaching license.

Grade Level Discipline Test Information Test Code Qualifying Score
Secondary Science General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) Test #5435 Passing Score: 151
Secondary English English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038) Test #: 5038 Passing Score:167
Secondary Social Studies Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) Test #:5081 Passing Score: 158
Secondary Mathematics Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161) Calculator Use Test #:5161 Passing Score: 160
Middle Grades English Middle School English Language Arts (5047) Test #:5047 Passing Score: 164
Middle Grades Mathematics Middle School Mathematics (5169) Calculator Use Test #:5169 Passing Score: 165
Middle Grades Science Middle School Science (5440) Test #: 5440 Passing Score: 150
Middle Grades Social Studies Middle School Social Studies (5089) Test #: 5089 Passing Score: 149
K-12 Music Music: Content and Instruction (5114) Test #:5114 Passing Score: 162
K-12 Physical Education Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5857) Test #: 5857 Passing Score: 160

NOTE: All MAT students must pass the edTPA performance assessment for their respective discipline in order to gain eligibility for NC teacher licensure.

Program Admission Requirements

Visit Graduate Admission for the most current Program Admission Requirements.

News & Events

The Bear community came together for the seventh-annual Bears Give Back event and raised a record-setting $847,320 to support current and future students.

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As a child, Carly Godfrey '23, MBA '24, learned to swim at LR. Years later, a spot on the swim team would bring her back to learn so much more and make way for a bright future.

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