Courses in each program are organized into four categories: Foundations, Content Pedagogy, Clinical Practice, and Flex. While some courses may fit into more than one category, most have a distinct course type. Although each course category emphasizes specific Relay competencies, the overall progression spans across course categories. 

• Foundations courses introduce concepts that are foundational to success with learners across grades and content areas, and include specific coursework on students with disabilities and multilingual learners. These concepts are then reinforced in Content Pedagogy, Clinical Practice, and Flex courses. In these courses, Relay students broaden perspectives through collaboration across grade bands and content areas. The course prefix for many Foundations courses begins with “EDU.” Additionally, TEL-500 and CLD-501 are considered Foundations courses. 

• Content Pedagogy courses connect Relay students’ foundational understanding of learners to the content and context of their specific classrooms. Engaging in repeated cycles of planning, teaching, assessing, and reflecting, Relay students apply content knowledge to content-specific pedagogies grounded in culturally responsive and inclusive practices. The course prefix for all content pedagogy courses indicates the content area and are as follows: ECE for Early Childhood, ELEM for elementary, ELA for English language arts, MATH for mathematics, SCI for science, SS for social studies, GEN for middle grades education, TEL for Teaching Exceptional Learners, and CLD for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse learners. 

• Clinical Practice (CP) connects theory to the classroom context, focusing on the development of the knowledge, skills, and mindsets required to be a culturally responsive and inclusive educator through ongoing cycles of practice (both during class and in PK–12 schools), feedback, and reflection. Students receive observation-based feedback from faculty and peers as part of their CP coursework and learn as part of a collaborative cohort committed to continuous improvement. The course prefix for Clinical Practice courses is “CLIN.”

• Flex courses focus on more specialized topics and may vary by program and/or candidate. In some programs, students will have the opportunity to choose between several Flex course options. In others, Flex courses are preselected in order to meet state- and program-specific requirements for certification/licensure. 

For individual course descriptions see Course Descriptions. 

Specific program offerings and availability vary by location. Read more about Program Types in the Student Handbook and see Master of Arts in Teaching Program Descriptions, Advanced Certificate Program Descriptions, and Educator Preparation Program Descriptions for additional detail. A complete listing of all programs offered at Relay in academic year 2025-2026 by location can be found in AY 2025-2026 Program Offerings. 

Professional organizations, societies, states, and licensing jurisdictions have specific requirements for membership, certification, or licensure. In the states in which Relay is an approved in-state educator preparation provider, Relay works to align Relay’s program(s) offered in the state to the state’s educational requirements for educator certification/licensure. Students should be aware that the professional organizations, societies, states, and licensing jurisdictions are responsible for defining, amending, and executing approval requirements and decisions for membership, certification, or licensure. Relay can provide the public-facing information for the professional organizations’, societies’, states’, and licensing jurisdictions’ requirements for membership, certification, or licensure. Relay can provide guidance regarding a state’s licensure requirements for states in which Relay is an approved in-state provider and to the students who seek licensure in the same state. Relay may not be able to provide assistance to a student regarding the interpretation or understanding of a state’s licensure requirements for states in which Relay is not an approved, in-state education preparation provider. Students intending to seek licensure of any type must take full responsibility for ensuring that their degree program at Relay meets the licensing requirements of their local states, school districts, professional associations, or agencies. See Relay’s Licensure Disclosures webpage for more information. Details about each of Relay’s state-approved educator preparation programs can be found in Educator Preparation Program Descriptions. 

Students who wish to pursue teacher certification/licensure through their Relay program must meet all applicable admissions and completion requirements to be eligible for certification/licensure recommendation. It is the responsibility of the student to know and understand all requirements including their respective state’s and Relay’s admissions and completion requirements. State- and program-specific information on educator preparation program admission and completion requirements are detailed in the program’s Transition Points Guide and corresponding EPP Handbook.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education regulations [§ 668.14(b)(32)(i) and (ii)] effective July 1, 2024, Relay may not be able to provide the certification/licensure MAT and the Advanced Certificate academic offerings to potential applicants residing in states in which Relay is not an approved, in-state education preparation provider. U.S. Department of Education regulations [§ 668.14(b)(32)(i) and (ii)] require all programs leading to licensure/certification must meet the licensure/certification requirements in the state the potential applicant resides. Exceptions to these regulations are possible in specific situations. Potential applicants may qualify for an exception to this regulation if 1) the potential applicant resides in a state in which Relay maintains a licensure/certification reciprocity agreement; OR 2) the potential applicant resides in a state where Relay is not an approved education preparation provider but the potential applicant will attest to their plan to work and seek licensure/certification in a state where Relay is an approved education preparation provider; OR 3) the potential applicant resides in a state where Relay is not an approved education preparation provider but the potential applicant will attest to their plan to relocate to, work in, and seek licensure/certification in a state where Relay is an approved education preparation provider. Representatives of Relay’s Admissions team can advise prospective applicants regarding eligibility for exceptions to the regulations. 

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education regulations [§ 668.43(a)(5)(v) and § 668.43(c)], Relay published determinations about whether its programs meet the educational requirements for educator certification/licensure in each state. These determinations are published on Relay’s Licensure Disclosures webpage.