December 14, 2021
Mayville State University has launched a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program. The M.Ed. program is offered online for currently licensed teachers who are looking to pursue graduate degree-level instruction as they achieve a higher educational preparation level. It also provides a degree option for professionals outside of the P12 teaching arena who wish to prepare for teaching and learning within an organization.
“We are proud to offer this new and innovative graduate degree program for current teachers, many of whom are Mayville State University teacher education program graduates,” said Dr. Pam Johnson, Dean and Chair of the MSU Division of Education. “We look forward to welcoming new students in January of 2022!”
The program is offered completely online. Courses are arranged in eight-week blocks and students may enroll in one to three courses simultaneously. Degree completion is possible in as little as one year. The courses are set in a rotation model designed to allow the graduate student to choose either a part-time or full-time plan of study.
Students may choose from three tracks in the M.Ed. degree program, the Adult Teaching and Learning track, the Innovative Teaching Practices track, or the Special Education track.
The goal of the Adult Teaching and Learning track is to provide teachers the opportunity to continue to learn after they are licensed. Schools have continual need to provide professional development for their teachers, and graduates of this track will be ready to design and lead professional development that varies with many types and styles for adults of all ages and occupations. Graduates of this track will be prepared to work in leadership roles such as that of a professional development coordinator. They may also serve in leadership roles in institutions that support P12 public schools or higher education.
Mayville State’s M.Ed. Innovative Teaching Practices track meets the need to develop leadership who can design and shape curriculum, professional development, and instructional improvement. Graduates of this track will be prepared to obtain leadership roles such as curriculum coordinator, instructional specialist, or team lead for campus learning communities. Action research projects, such as STEM activities, coding, and blended and hybrid learning, will support development and implementation of innovative and highly needed skills directly impacting P12 classrooms.
The Special Education track plan of study will be available for currently licensed teachers in Elementary Education or at the secondary level. Secondary-level educators are required to add a reading and elementary math methods course to the plan of study.
The track will include courses that will prepare teachers to seek licensure in Special Education and provide them with the professional knowledge and skills to practice safely, ethically, and effectively with a multi-categorical population of students with special needs. The Special Education track includes 14 courses aligned to Council for Exceptional Children standards, all unique to the requirements for obtaining strategist licensure.
The Mayville State M.Ed. Special Education option meets the need to develop leadership who can design and shape services for students with special needs on campuses or districts with a limited number of teachers who are licensed in special education. A graduate from the M.Ed. Special Education track at Mayville State University will be ready to apply for special education licensure in addition to his or her current teaching licensures and will be able to assist with the leadership of current special education teachers and paraprofessionals. Graduates may obtain roles such as special education coordinator. Graduate students are responsible for understanding the licensure laws and requirements in the state where they are licensed for any additional courses required.
The first classes offered in the M.Ed. program Adult Teaching and Learning and Innovative Teaching Practices tracks will begin in the spring semester of 2022, which starts January 10. Courses that will be offered in the upcoming spring semester will be taught asynchronously online.
“We welcome phone calls, visits, emails, or Zoom meetings. Please reach out to let us know of your interest so that we can help with any questions you may have,” said Dr. Pam Johnson.
For more information about the Master of Education graduate degree program at Mayville State, go to www.mayvillestate.edu/MEd, call 701-788-4710, or email education@mayvillestate.edu.