Program Advisors: Salveson, R., (Program Director), Ghorbani, Gutensohn, Herman, Jonas (Dean), Tengesdal, Tufte

Description of the Graduate Program in Education

The University of Mary Graduate Program in Education offers a wide range of opportunities for the adult learner. Students may take courses towards 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.

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 Graduate Program in 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

The Master of Education Degree Requirements (M.Ed.)

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 (listed following) 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 - Critique and Design of Research. The research proposal must be approved by the Graduate Committee and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Writing and presentation of the thesis totals at least six semester credits (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. Master's Programs in Education

Portfolio Option

The portfolio option requires the student to complete courses within an emphasis area (listed following) 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).

Information

For information concerning the Education Graduate Program, contact the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences secretary, Leona Friedig at lfriedig@umary.edu or at 701-355-8058. The graduate webpage may be accessed through the University of Mary website www. umary.edu.

Please note: The emphasis area courses in the following degree plans meet the North Dakota Endorsement or Credential requirements in all programs applicable.

Master of Education Emotional Disorders*

Core Courses (15-16 semester credits):

EDU 531 Ethics for Educators (2)

EDU 551 Critique and Design of Research (2)
(It is strongly suggested that EDU 551 be taken prior to EDU 565.)

EDU 565 Statistics (3)

EDU 567 Multicultural Education: Theory and Practice (2)

EDU 608 Foundations in Education (2)

Thesis Option:

EDU 700 Research Seminar I (1)

EDU 701 Research Seminar II (1)

EDU 704 Research Presentation (3)

Portfolio Option:

EDU 705 Portfolio Preparation (2)

EDU 706 Portfolio Presentation (2)

*Emphasis Area Requirements (25 semester credits):

EDU 523 Introduction to Specific Learning Disabilities (2), or

EDU 576 Advanced Methods and Materials of Learning Disabilities (2)

EDU 542 Language Development and Disorders (3)

EDU 593 Introduction to Emotional Disorders (2)

EDU 595 Behavior Management (3)

EDU 615 Consultation and Leadership Roles in Special Education (3)

EDU 621 Educational Alternatives for Students with Emotional Disorders (2)

EDU 656 Assessment of Exceptional Students (2)

EDU 657 Assessment of Exceptional Students II (2)

EDU 670 Education of Students with Emotional Disorders (2)

EDU 682 Advanced Practicum: Emotional Disorders, Mental Retardation, and Learning Disabilities (2)

EDU 690 Internship: Emotional Disorders (2)

* EDU 505 Exceptional Child (or undergraduate equivalent) is prerequisite to Emphasis Area Requirements

* If the candidate's licensure is at the secondary level, Elementary Math Methods and Elementary Reading Methods are required for ND endorsement.

Total: 40 - 41 semester credits.