Contact Information
Education at NMU
The School of Education, Leadership and Public Service designs its graduate programs to prepare professional educators and educational leaders who have effective speaking, listening, reading and writing skills; knowledge of and appreciation for the humanities, the pure and social sciences and the arts; understanding of and appreciation for education and its role in developing intellectual and ethical values in a free and pluralistic society; the general and specialized professional knowledge base required of informed practitioners of the education profession; and the ability to apply knowledge and research effectively in the education profession.
The graduate education programs extend the baccalaureate foundation to address more advanced and specialized studies, expand certifications, and augment minor concentrations or new areas that increase the potential for professional contribution.
The School of Education, Leadership and Public Service has a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of excellence in preparing education graduates. As such, graduate studies programs focus on providing mastery of professional knowledge, attitudes and skills in focused course credits beyond the baccalaureate.
All NMU School of Education, Leadership and Public Service subject areas in Education are approved by the Michigan Department of Education.
Master of Arts in Education Degree Procedures
Admission Requirements
Departmental advisers review credentials of all candidates for admission to a master of arts in education degree program. Such review commences only upon receipt of all required information.
For regular admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all completed graduate work. Applicants who do not meet the conditions for regular admission may be admitted conditionally upon a review of their credentials. Conditional students will be expected to complete 12 semester credits with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses designated by their adviser. Refer to the description of conditional admission in the Admission Policies section of this Graduate Bulletin.
Upon admission to a graduate program, the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service assigns the graduate student to an academic adviser. The academic adviser will advise the student regarding courses and degree requirements for the graduate program to which he/she has applied. The adviser must approve courses prior to enrollment.
Advancement to Candidacy
To become a candidate for an advanced degree in education, students must have:
A. Regular admission status
B. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in graduate courses
C. A minimum one year of full-time teaching experience at the level for which the certificate was issued.
D. Have a graduate plan of study approved by their advisor. Upon admission to a master's program, the student has the responsibility to make an appointment with the adviser to develop a graduate plan of study and to forecast courses necessary for the completion of the degree. Courses intended to be used for “professional development credits” (ED 900s) cannot be included in the graduate plan of study.
E. Have a state-approved background check for working in P-12 schools.
Degree Requirements
A. Complete the graduate plan of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
B. Complete a graduate research project or a thesis as part of either ED 574 or ED 599. (Guidelines for the graduate research project are available in the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service.)
C. Complete the graduate plan of study in accordance with the requirements for master’s degree in the Academic Standards and Policies section of this Graduate Bulletin as well as in accordance with the appropriate program description in the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service section of the Bulletin.
Students may be denied admission, or they may be dismissed from a graduate program or internship/practicum in education if they demonstrate a lack of professional competence and effectiveness as an educator or fail to perform course work effectively.
Students may also be denied admission or dismissed if convicted of immoral conduct contributing to the delinquency or endangering the health and well-being of a child or of felonies that include involvement with drugs or controlled substances, pornographic materials, criminal sexual conduct, wrongful entry, larceny, embezzlement, stolen property, perjury, bribery, graft, forgery, counterfeiting, smuggling or fraud.
The departmental graduate review committee reviews the qualifications of all questionable students and may require them to undergo further examination to make a final determination.
Master of Arts in Education Degree Programs
Program Design
The School of Education, Leadership and Public Service offers exemplary programs for the education of teachers and principals. Six basic curricula lead to a master of arts in education (MAE) degree:
- Education Administration: Administration and Supervision
- Education Administration: American Indian Education Administration and Supervision
- Instruction
- Learning Disabilities
- Reading K-8
- Reading Specialist K-12
- Early Childhood
Students also have the option of pursuing an endorsement in reading, learning disabilities or early childhood which can ladder into a master's degree.
These programs incorporate the philosophy and objectives of the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service and follow course requirements in some or all of the following general areas:
- Foundations of Education
- Research
- Area of Concentration
- Cognates
Foundations of Education
Courses in foundations of education provide information and skills to assist practitioners in developing instructional strategies based on sound theory. Since educational theory derives from both the humanities and the behavioral sciences, cognitive insights and methods from history, philosophy, sociology and psychology underlie the foundations component. Unless otherwise specified, the following foundation courses are required:
ED 506 Cultural Foundations of Education I (3 credits)
ED 507 Cultural Foundations of Education II (3 credits)
Research
The research component of all master of arts in education degrees consists of the following courses:
ED 500 Educational Research (3 credits)
ED 574 Seminar in Educational Research (2 credits) or
ED 599A Thesis (2-8 credits)
Area of Concentration
Courses in the area of concentration provide the specialized knowledge base and experience to facilitate informed and wise practice as professional educators and educational leaders. Courses not specifically designated will be selected in consultation with the adviser.
Cognates
Cognate courses expand the professional knowledge base of the area of concentration. Unless otherwise specified, cognate courses will be selected in consultation with the adviser.
Education Specialist - Educational Administration and Supervision
The Education Specialist - Administration and Supervision primarily serves educators who aspire to become central office or district wide school leaders. The Ed.S. serves educators who wish to advance beyond the master’s of arts degree. The degree plan requires the completion of 30 credits beyond a master’s degree from an accredited graduate institution. Ed.S. completion is defined as completion of all coursework and the thesis. Students wishing to obtain a central office certification must complete an application to the Michigan Department of Education at www.mi.gov/moecs.
The education specialist degree qualifies graduates for administrative certification in most states. The program offers enough flexibility to meet most individual needs. Leadership theory, organizational behavior and structure, management theory and practice, curriculum, supervision and evaluation all figure prominently in the course work. In addition to building a sound theoretical and technical base for the practicing administrators, the program forms a major foundation for subsequent doctoral work.
The NMU Ed.S. is delivered through a cohort model. The program is designed so students who complete the degree may transfer up to 27 credits into Central Michigan University’s doctor of education degree (Ed.D.) program. Students admitted to the NMU Ed.S. program are not guaranteed admission into CMU’s Ed.D. program.
Education Specialist - Admission and Graduation Requirements
Ed.S. degree seeking students should apply for the Education Specialist program at NMU by visiting http://www.nmu.edu/graduatestudies/node/26
- Submit a current resume or vita to ncarter@nmu.edu
- Submit a written 500 word response to each of the following questions to ncarter@nmu.edu
- What are your goals as they relate to obtaining the NMU Education Specialist with the possibility of applying and completing the Doctorate in Education at Central Michigan University?
- What experiences and skills do you possess that will contribute to your success in the Education Specialist program?
- Please save the resume/vita, the answer to question 1 and the answer to question 2 as one Word document. Please use your name in the file name. (ie. “Joe_Wellington_EdS_Application”)
- Submit transcripts to show completion of a master’s degree unless the master’s degree is from NMU
- Applications previously enrolled in a master’s program at NMU do not have to pay the $50 application fee.
Upon admission to a graduate program, the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service assigns the graduate student to an academic adviser. The academic adviser will advise the student regarding courses and degree requirements for the graduate program to which he/she has applied. The adviser must approve courses prior to enrollment.
Education Specialist - Graduation Requirements
Students need to complete 30 credit hours as approved by their adviser and all other requirements established by the Department of Graduate Education and Research as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin.
Programs
Bulletin Year: 2019 - 2020 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.