The Master of Arts in Teaching degree program, developed in cooperation with SkyLight, combines the traditions and the rigorous standards of University of Saint Mary with the most effective tools in quality distance learning. The M.A.T. degree program is designed to meet the needs and demands of classroom practitioners by linking theory to best practices in the classroom. University of Saint Mary's M.A.T. degree program employs the Best Practices in Teaching Model developed by SkyLight and USM's foundation of Knowledge in Action.

The M.A.T. degree program takes full advantage of a user-friendly distance-learning format and is designed to be taken over five terms. Two courses, each designed as a three-semester-hour graduate credit course, comprise each term. The integrated course concepts are reinforced by combining peer interaction, best practice strategy videos, and active applications in a problem-based learning framework, culminating in a combined project for each term. The latest advances in distance education technology are used to create a productive, rigorous and enriching educational experience for each participant.

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree program is a 30-credit-hour sequential curriculum that can be completed in 18 months. The maximum time allowed to complete your degree under this program is five years. Each school-year term is 15 weeks in length and is comprised of two courses that run simultaneously. The summer term is 10 weeks in length.