Career Guide: How the NYU Teacher Residency Prepares Educators for Success

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
—Malala Yousafzai

Embarking on an education career is a noble goal—one that will change the lives of your students, your community, and you. As a teacher, you will be an educator, a role model, a leader, and a force for positive social change. 

Where you begin this journey matters. Start by choosing a master’s-level teaching program that reflects your purpose and can expand your understanding of the diverse challenges impacting all types of learners. 

NYU’s award-winning Teacher Residency program offers a different type of teacher preparation program. The Master of Art in Teaching (MAT) degree delivers on the core beliefs that every child deserves an excellent education and that our schools need teachers who reflect the diversity of the local communities. The one-year immersive program combines hands-on classroom experience at a partner school with synchronous and asynchronous online studies. 

With two specialization options – inclusive childhood education and secondary education – your NYU MAT degree can open doors to a rewarding education career. 

What Can I Do With a Master’s in Teaching? 

After you have received your degree and certification, you will qualify to educate and inspire children, young adults, and your community in various capacities.

Focus on Childhood Education 

An MAT in inclusive childhood education prepares educators for dual certification in childhood education for grades 1 through 6 and in teaching students with disabilities for all grades (Pre-K through grade 12). NYU’s coursework embeds special education pedagogy and multilingual learning in the curriculum, preparing you to teach confidently in an inclusive elementary school classroom.

Pursue Secondary Education Positions

Teacher residents who pursue an MAT in secondary education prepare to teach a subject in the secondary classroom. At the successful completion of the program, they will be recommended for licensure in English, mathematics, science, or social studies for grades 7 through 12 or in special education for students with disabilities in grades 7 through 12 as a generalist. 

Teach Multilingual Learners 

In the United States, 21.3 percent of school-age children speak a language other than English at home. Only 13 percent of k-12 teachers do so.

While more multilingual teachers are needed in the classroom, serving emergent bilingual learners is every teacher’s responsibility. NYU’s teacher residency program instructs future teachers on how to work collaboratively with diverse communities and develop lessons that are inclusive and accessible to all learners.

In the past, not speaking English was considered a barrier to success. Today, teacher residents in NYU’s MAT program are upending previous educational norms by replacing negative attitudes towards multiculturalism with a student-centered approach that embraces the unique assets each student brings to the classroom.

Become a Special Education Generalist Teacher

According to Pew Research, 15 percent of the US public school population – 7.3 million students – were identified as having a disability in the 2021-22 school year. That number has risen since the 2010-11 school year, when it was 13 percent.

As the number of students needing specialized services rises, school districts struggle to fill special education vacancies. In the 2020-21 school year, 40 percent of public schools reported at least one unfilled special education teaching position.

The NYU MAT program intentionally integrates special education into the curriculum. Teacher residents learn about individualized education plans (IEP) and how to apply an asset-based approach to ensure special education students achieve their full potential in the classroom and in the community. Residency directors, teacher mentors, and NYU Steinhardt faculty support teacher residents, helping them connect what they are learning in the program to the success of special education students in the classroom.

Explore More Career Opportunities 

In addition to teaching, an MAT from NYU opens doors to many exciting career opportunities in the education field.

• The work of education consultants varies with their area of expertise. Consultants can work with entire school systems or individual schools – with teachers and students – to address education-related challenges such as training teachers, addressing safety issues, and consulting about curriculum.
• Education policy analysts can work on a national or local level to develop policies to mitigate challenges affecting student and teacher performance. These factors could include teacher compensation and absentee rates.
• Instructional designers, experts in learning theory, design, and technology, work to create effective learning materials. 
• Curriculum developers write lesson plans, class activities, and learning objectives, often for a specific grade or subject area. They may train teachers, track student outcomes, and amend the curriculum if necessary.  
• Literacy specialists train teachers in teaching reading, writing, and comprehension strategies. Their work can include creating lesson plans, providing teaching feedback, and pinpointing areas of improvement. 
• Academic advisors work directly with students at the secondary and college levels on education-related decisions. They manage current educational requirements, evaluate progress against goals, and inform future education decisions.  
• Gifted and talented program directors oversee programs for advanced students who would benefit from extra instruction and enrichment. 
• Museum educators create programs to help visitors learn from exhibits. Their work may include school field trips, guided tours, events, and community outreach.
• Private tutors provide one-on-one support for students needing extra help with schoolwork or with exam preparation, such as the ACT or SAT. 

Immersive & Inclusive: NYU Teacher Residency Highlights

“Genuine learning happens only when teachers truly know and understand their students, including students’ strengths, assets, backgrounds, and previous knowledge, and then take the time to build upon these to make teaching powerful and connected.”
—Diana Turk, Director of Teacher Education at NYU Steinhardt; Chair, Department of Teaching and Learning; Co-Director, NYU Teacher Residency

NYU’s teaching degree is a powerful combination of thought-provoking and continually evolving coursework, hands-on experiential learning, and a solid support system. Teacher residents emerge from the MAT program equipped and confident in their abilities to educate all learners in their communities through an asset-based approach to teaching.

Engage with Expert NYU Steinhardt Faculty 

NYU’s Teacher Residency is a comprehensive, intensive program that equips teachers to meet the needs of diverse students and their communities. As teacher residents progress through the school year, the online curriculum works in tandem with a gradual increase of responsibility in the classroom. 

“We continually examine our practice, solicit feedback from residents, partners, and colleagues, and make decisions with intentionality and in ways that are purposely iterative and responsive to the learning needs of our residents and the communities they serve.”
—Tamara Sewell, residency director for New York, NY, inclusive childhood program directcor for the NYU Teacher Residency, and clinical assistant professor at NYU Steinhardt

The NYU Steinhardt faculty who develop the curriculum are world-renowned educators and researchers who have published widely about urban education. Topics of note include equity, access, social justice, racial segregation, restorative justice, and fiscal inequities. These education specialists instill their passions for instruction and learning into all aspects of the Teacher Residency program, sharing their expertise to nurture the next wave of engaged and socially responsible teachers.

“We are educators preparing and inspiring the passion for teaching and learning for the next generation of educators. We inspire educators to be learners as leaders who question, advocate, innovate, and keep students and families at the center. It is our job to ensure that residents learn about the latest research, teach from the heart, take an anti-racist stance, receive deep coaching and mentoring, and constantly reflect in and on practice.”
—Nada Ahmed, clinical assistant professor of master of arts in teaching at NYU Steinhardt

Collaborate on Youth Participatory Action Research (PAR) Projects 

In the classroom, teacher residents bring their training directly to their students, building a student-centered environment that supports teacher-student relationships. One way this is accomplished is through participatory action research projects, where teacher residents collaborate with students to determine a problem of practice and develop a solution together throughout the school year.

The YPAR method has significant parallels to the mission of the MAT program: focusing on social change, challenging inequality, engaging students, and empowering them to identify injustice. Successful YPAR projects identify and remediate school challenges; they also foster a student-centered environment where teachers and students advocate for positive change.

Get an NYU Education Closer to Home

During NYU’s one-year MAT program, teacher residents complete the curriculum online and an immersive residency in one of NYU’s partner schools. MAT partner schools are available in many locations: New Jersey, New York City, Upstate and Central NY, and Washington, DC. These school districts are geographically diverse, offering different perspectives and diverse teaching needs that enrich the program experience for all teacher residents.

How to Get Started: Applying to the NYU MAT Program

An NYU MAT degree empowers you to make transformative change in schools and communities and opens doors to many career opportunities. No matter how you decide to impact education, the valuable insights and skills you gain in NYU’s Master of Arts in Teaching will make learning possible for all students.

School districts need diverse educators now who are skilled in an asset-based approach to education. To learn more about how NYU’s Teacher Residency program graduates make the difference in the lives of learners and their communities, connect with an enrollment advisor, attend an upcoming admissions event, and start your application today.