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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 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:
- Early Childhood
- Education Administration: Administration and Supervision
- Education Administration: American Indian Education Administration and Supervision
- Instruction
- Learning Disabilities
- Reading K-8
- Reading Specialist K-12
Students also have the option of pursuing an endorsement in reading, learning disabilities, educational administration, or early childhood which can ladder into a master's degree.
Each program incorporates discipline-specific national and state standards to provide the candidate with robust coursework in the foundations, research, and discipline concentration in addition to cognate courses chosen in consultation with an adviser.
Early Childhood
The masters of arts in education in early childhood is designed to prepare one to teach in pre-kindergarten through grade three classrooms (ages 0-8), as well as early childhood special education for ages birth through three in home visiting programs, and for ages three to six in early childhood special education classrooms.
In addition, this master's program also provides non-certified K-12 teachers, employed in early childhood settings, an opportunity for advanced employment in the field.
Education Administration: Administration and Supervision
The master of arts in education with a concentration in administration and supervision provides the skills for beginning principals at the elementary, middle or secondary level. Course work focuses on research and practice in governance, management, organizational structure, human behavior, supervision of instruction and leadership skills. The required internship provides an opportunity to integrate theory, research and practice under the supervision of a qualified administrator.
Upon completion of coursework, apply at www.michigan.gov/moecs for an administrator certificate for grades K-12.
Students who already possess a master's degree may choose to obtain a K-12 principal certificate by completing only the 25 credits of concentration.
Education Administration: American Indian Education Administration and Supervision
The master of arts in education with a concentration in Native American administration and supervision provides the skills for beginning principals at the elementary, middle or secondary level. Course work focuses on research and practice in governance, management, organizational structure, human behavior, supervision of instruction and leadership skills. The required internship provides an opportunity to integrate theory, research and practice under the supervision of a qualified administrator.
The internship course, ED 548, will require placement in tribal schools, schools with Title VII programs, schools with a 25% or higher Native American student population, or tribal departments of education. Placement in tribal departments of education will not fulfill requirements for principalship or superintendent certification.
Upon completion of coursework, apply at www.michigan.gov/moecs for an administrator certificate for grades K-12.
Instruction
Pedagogy Track: The entire program is available online. The program is available to individuals who hold a PK12 teaching certificate, and PK12 administrator certificate, and those who hold a non-teaching bachelor’s degree.
Advanced Subject-Area Content Track: Provides the 18-credit subject-area content required to teach college-level courses in the discipline as outlined by the Higher Learning Commission. Research and Foundations degree requirements are available online. The advanced subject-area content degree requirements are available as online or on-campus courses based on the content department’s course delivery method.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Track: Research and Foundations degree requirements available online. The TESOL degree requirements are currently available as on-campus courses.
Learning Disabilities
Certified teachers may obtain an endorsement in learning disabilities (Code SM) by pursuing a master of arts in education degree with a concentration in learning disabilities (LD). Those not seeking the master of arts in education degree may elect to pursue the endorsement only. The faculty adviser will offer direction to the student in creating a plan for each program and, if applicable, evaluate undergraduate and graduate credits to determine equivalencies of any prior work.
Students entering this preparatory program are required to have taught for at least one year.
Reading K-8
The masters of arts in education reading degree is designed to prepare certified K-8 teachers for roles as reading teachers. Completion of the degree qualifies the student for the specialized endorsement in reading on the State of Michigan teaching certificate (Code BT) contingent upon satisfactory completion of the MTTC subject area test and filing the appropriate application at www.michigan.gov/moecs.
Students not wishing to complete the MAE degree may elect to pursue the endorsement only by completing the 18 credits of concentration.
Reading Specialist K-12
The masters of arts in education reading specialist degree is designed to prepare certified K-12 teachers to be a reading specialist. Completion of the degree qualifies the student for the specialized endorsement as a reading specialist on the State of Michigan teaching certificate (Code BR) contingent upon satisfactory completion of the MTTC subject area test and filing the appropriate application at www.michigan.gov/moecs.
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.
Programs
Bulletin Year: 2023 - 2024 Graduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.