The University of Mary Graduate Program in Education offers a wide range of opportunities for the adult learner. Students may take courses toward educational credentials and endorsements, or may complete their Master's degrees in education. Master's candidates have the option of completing a thesis or preparing a comprehensive portfolio as their capstone project.
In order to meet the needs of adult learners, graduate classes are offered summers, weekends, and evenings.
Also offered are various endorsement and credential plans through the North Dakota Educational Standards and Practices Board and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. If you are seeking secondary teacher licensure at the master's level, select the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment link below in the "Programs of Study" section.
The Special Education Resident Teacher Program provides an exciting opportunity in special education. Graduate candidates with North Dakota teacher licensure may earn a M.Ed. or credential in special education while being paid to teach in inclusive settings serving children with mild to moderate disabilities. Tuition is waived through the statewide Resident Teacher Grant.
Programs of Study
Program Requirements, Outcomes and More
Admission Procedures
An individual holding a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution may be admitted to begin graduate study. An individual seeking a North Dakota credential or endorsement must hold a Bachelor's degree in education from an accredited institution and must have the appropriate North Dakota licensure and years of experience, as well as the required coursework, in order to be recommended for North Dakota credentialing or endorsement by the Division of Education.
In most cases, the requirements listed below must be met prior to admission for graduate study. In addition, a student must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 in order to continue in the graduate program in education:
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 overall, or 2.75 during the last two undergraduate years, or 3.00 in the undergraduate major
- Current teacher education licensure (unless the individual is seeking licensure)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Appropriate experience
In addition to the above, a graduate student seeking Master's candidate status must apply for and complete a qualifying conference after admission for graduate study and upon completion of up to six hours of coursework. At the qualifying conference, the student meets with a committee of graduate faculty members appointed by the Director of the Education Graduate Program.
This conference has a threefold purpose: to decide whether the student will be admitted to the Master's degree program, to develop a plan of study, and to determine whether any transfer credit will be accepted. A member of the qualifying conference committee is generally appointed the student's advisor during the conference. A student may request a qualifying conference by contacting the secretary of the Division
of Education.
Master of Education Degree Requirements
The Master's Degree must be completed within seven years of the completion of the earliest graduate course used in the course of study. Up to one-third of the total credits required for the course of study may be transferred from another accredited institution.
To achieve the Master's Degree, the student must complete courses within an emphasis area and must successfully complete either a thesis or a comprehensive professional portfolio.
Thesis Option
The thesis option emphasizes original research. It represents a student's capacity for detailed, in-depth research or advanced scholarship.
A thesis must demonstrate a student's ability to clearly define a worthwhile problem, to conduct a thorough investigation, to organize the findings, to draw defensible conclusions, and to give an oral presentation of the findings.
After the student has been admitted to candidacy for the degree, a research proposal is written and the thesis committee is selected. These activities are completed within EDU 551 Ð Critique and Design of Research. The research proposal must be approved by the Graduate Committee and the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Writing and presentation of the thesis totals at least six semester hours of credit (EDU 700, Research Seminar I, 1 credit; EDU 701, Research Seminar II, 1 credit; and EDU 704, Research Presentation, 3 credits). EDU 704, Research Presentation, must be completed by the date established in Edu 551, Critique and Design of Research, or the student must register for continuing credit each semester until the thesis has been completed and the research presented.
Download a copy of the thesis guideline handbook.
Portfolio Option
The portfolio option requires the student to complete courses within an emphasis area and to create an electronic portfolio demonstrating competence in the University of Mary's graduate requirements, competence in the student's emphasis area, and further demonstrating the graduate's ability to assume a leadership role in the field of education.
Creation and presentation of the graduate portfolio totals four hours of credit (EDU 705, Portfolio Preparation, 2 credits; and EDU 706, Portfolio Presentation, 2 credits).
Accreditation
The University of Mary is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with its most recent notification of accreditation occurring in 2003. The Education program is approved by the state of North Dakota. Other memberships include the North Dakota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NDACTE), the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Accreditation Status Education (AILACTE), the North Dakota Center for Leadership and Educational Administration Development (LEAD), the North Dakota Teacher Learning Center (TLC).
North Dakota Re-Education Endorsement Plans
North Dakota Re-Education Endorsement Plans
Endorsements are issued by the Education Standards and Practice Board (ESPB). Additional information may be obtained from the Education Standards and Practice Board, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 202, Bismarck, ND 58505-0080 (701) 328-2264. A student seeking an endorsement should access the
ESPB Web site for a list of required course work. The student will list courses already taken and courses that he/she intends to take on the form provided. This form must be approved by ESPB as part of obtaining each endorsement. Although education graduate faculty can assist students in planning, the student seeking an endorsement is typically a non-degree seeking student and therefore does not have an official advisor in the Division of Education. Access the ESPB Web site at
www.state.nd.us/espb.
North Dakota Endorsements appropriate to University of Mary graduate course work:
- Kindergarten
- Elementary
- Middle School
When combined with major course work, the following courses meet the requirements for the North Dakota Middle School Endorsement.
Elementary majors may teach grades 5 or 6 in a middle school after successful completion of the courses listed below.
Elementary majors may teach grades 7 or 8 in a middle school in subject areas in which they have a major or minor after successful completion of the courses listed below.
Secondary teaching majors may teach grade 7 or 8 in a middle school in subject areas in which they have a major or minor after successful completion of the courses listed below.
- (4) PSY 332 Child and Adolescent Psychology (spring - traditional delivery) or (2) PSY 555 Child and Adolescent Development (by independent study)
- (3) EDU 530 Ð Philosophy/Foundations of Middle School (every spring Ð three weekends)
- (3) EDU 573 Ð Curriculum/Methods of Middle School (every fall Ð three weekends)
Undergraduate students who have at least 114 credits and a GPA of at 3.0 or higher may take graduate course work.
- Secondary (in specific content areas)
North Dakota Credential Plans
The Graduate Program in Education offers the course work necessary to fulfill the following credentials issued by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction:
- Administrator/Principal (Level I and Level II)
- Reading
- Special Education Director
- Emotional Disturbance
- Learning Disabilities
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Superintendent
A candidate seeking a North Dakota Superintendent Credential must:
- Hold a valid North Dakota teaching license based on a bachelor's degree with a major (or other appropriate endorsement) in education at the appropriate level.
- Have three years of successful teaching and/or administrative experience in schools.
- Have a master's degree in school administration or in another approved area.
- Have completed the requirements for the elementary or secondary principalship.
- Take courses to satisfy the Department of Public Instruction requirements (http://www.legis.nd.gov/information/acdata/pdf/67-11-07.pdf)
The suggested University of Mary course sequence is:
EDU 642 Public Relations - 2 credits - Fall - Even numbered years
EDU 636 School Plant - 2 credits - Spring - Even numbered years
EDU 660 Special Ed Law - 2 credits - Spring - Even numbered years
EDU 694 Internship - 2 credits - Each summer
For more information or to register for courses contact Leona Friedig, Division of Education secretary at lfriedig@umary.edu.
Additional information may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0080 (701) 328-2260. A student seeking a credential should access the DPI Web site
www.dpi.state.nd.us for a list of required course work. The student will list courses already taken and courses that he/she intends to take on the form provided. This form must be approved by DPI as part of obtaining each credential. Although education graduate faculty can assist students in planning, the student seeking a credential only is typically a non-degree seeking student, and therefore does not have an official advisor in the Division of Education. For additional information regarding courses that meet credential or endorsement requirements, e-mail Education Graduate Director Rebecca Salveson at
rysalves@umary.edu..
Resident Teacher Program in Special Education
Faculty
