Ed Tech Program

Program Description
Master of Arts in Educational Technology

Opportunities for graduate study in education are available for individuals with teaching credentials who wish to design a planned program that satisfies the requirements for continuing professional certification by the State of Michigan or that leads to the Master of Arts degree.

Individuals who have earned an undergraduate degree and are interested in in obtaining a teaching certificate may contact the EHS-Center for Student Services, 204 Ronan Hall, (989)774-3309, to learn more about programs available to them which will lead to the initial teaching certificate.

Program Leading to the Master of Arts in Educational Technology

The MA in Educational Technology prepares students to provide instruction utilizing new learning technologies. The technologies addressed in this program include multimedia, telecommunications, and distance learning. The program meets the needs of classroom teachers and also prepares individuals for technology leadership roles.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for graduation, candidates for the Master of Arts in Educational Technology degree must meet a residency requirement and demonstrate significant scholarly ability

The residency requirement is fulfilled by taking at least 12 semester hours on the Mt. Pleasant campus or in a CMU off-campus course taught by a Teacher Education and Professional Development tenure or tenure-track faculty member.

The program requires a minimum of 12 semester hours of required core courses, 18 hours of required cognate courses, and 3 hours of elective courses. All candidates for the M.A. must complete the educational technology seminar which includes a terminal project. Educational technology projects must demonstrate effective uses of technology in K-12 classroom settings.

At least one-half the credits earned toward the degree must be taken at the 600 and 700 levels. All credits must be completed in the seven-year period immediately preceding the granting of the degree.

Admission Criteria

Applicants for the Master of Arts in Educational Technology program must either hold a valid K-12 teaching certificate or be employed in an educational capacity within their school, school district, community college, or profession. They also must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.

Regular or conditional admission is required for assignment to a faculty advisor. Since the advisor and student must discuss and sign the program requirements, individuals interested in obtaining a degree should seek admission to the appropriate program early in their studies. The number of prior courses and transfer credits that may be included on the program is limited. Applications for admission to this degree program are accepted throughout the year. Click here for application materials.

Other Degree Options

The Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development also offers Master of Arts degree programs in Early Childhood and Classroom Teaching, Middle Level Education, Reading & Literacy K-12, and Secondary Education. Please click on any of the links above for more information on these programs.

Non-Degree Professional Development

Eligibility for the Michigan Professional Education Certificate requires the holder of a provisional certificate to either obtain a degree at the master’s level or higher or to complete 18 semester hours in a planned course of study within the first six years of the teaching career. These programs are often called 18 hour planned programs. Other planned programs that satisfy the requirements of the Michigan Professional Certificate for teaching may emphasize study in early childhood and elementary education, effective teaching and instruction, middle level education, and secondary education.

Education professionals in Michigan have career-long needs for professional development opportunities because the professional education certificate is valid for five years. To renew a professional education certificate, individuals must complete six semester hours of credit (or the equivalent in continuing Education Units) every five years.

The Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development offers courses and workshops to help teachers meet these requirements. Educational computing and technology, cooperative learning, a whole-language approach to reading and literacy, and teaching writing and thinking are among topics of current interest. Enrollment in these courses requires admission to the College of Graduate Studies as a non-degree student.

There is no residency requirement for non-degree professional development programs, and courses are offered through the Division of Professional Education (formerly the College of Extended Learning) at locations throughout the state, including Traverse City, Petoskey, Gaylord, Cadillac, Alpena, Oscoda, Bay City, Saginaw, Mount Clemens, Port Huron, Grand Rapids, Ionia, and Lansing.

Some courses taken for professional development or to meet continuing certification requirements may later be used to satisfy the requirements of a degree program. The number of courses that can be used in this way and the length of time in which these courses are valid as part of the degree program are strictly limited. Individuals considering a degree program are encouraged to apply for admission to the specific program option early in their graduate study.

For Additional Information

Individuals with specific questions about graduate study in the Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development may write to:

Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Teacher Education & Professional Development
Central Michigan University
208 Ronan Hall
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
email: tepd@cmich.edu

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regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or other irrelevant criteria.