Educational Studies: Specializations
Educational Studies is a large program with a number of specializations: nine Ph.D., eleven academic Masters, two Masters with certification, and two undergraduate teacher certification specializations. These specialties are organized within four administrative units.
The Educational Studies Specialties involve three forms of understandings that work together in the improvement of education: 1) The content of schooling, including Mathematics, Science, Literacy and Social Studies; 2) The foundations of schooling (philosophy, sociology, history) and the methodologies used in studying schooling; 3) Special programs and populations (Special Education, Teacher Education and Educational Administration). Since the problems of educational practice are affected by many individual, social and foundational factors, it is important to employ expertise from diverse areas of study to provide solutions to educational problems. Thus, the organization of programs within educational studies allows students to gain deep as well as broad understandings of their field of study and its relationship to education writ large. As you will see, the organization of the specialization requirements allows for flexibility across specializations, and across the University of Michigan
campus.
Students in an Educational Studies specialization area may expect the following:
- Outstanding research and teaching resources in educational policy, research, and practice
- Breadth and depth in content areas
- A commitment to applying knowledge for the advancement of education and research
- Daily contact with nationally and internationally recognized teachers and scholars
- Conscientious mentors
- Stimulating, highly motivated peers
- A rich and varied community populated with multiple viewpoints, perspectives, interests and backgrounds
Teacher Certification Specializations
Educational Studies offers four programs in teacher certification that cater to the needs and interests of students who are wish to become members of the teaching profession. The undergraduate teacher certification programs begin during the junior year of a student’s program, and range in length from one and one-half years (secondary) to two years (elementary). The Masters of Arts with Certification programs were developed for students who have a B.A./B.S. degree in an area that is relevant for teaching, many of whom are in the process of changing careers to one of teaching in elementary or secondary schools. These two programs involve the students in an intensive 12 month program that leads to state certification and a Rackham Graduate School MA degree. To find out more about these programs, please click on one of the following:
Undergraduate Elementary Certification
Undergraduate Secondary Certification
In addition, it is possible to become certified while obtaining a regular MA degree in one of the specialty areas listed in the following section. All Students who have been accepted into an MA program are eligible for enrollment in a teacher certification program on a space available basis. If you are interested in doing this, you would first apply to the MA specialty area, and then work out, with an advisor, the courses you would need to take in order to obtain certification.
MA Specializations
Educational Studies offers MA programs that also lead to teacher certification as well as a set of academic MA specializations that are designed for the following:
- Preparation for practice in such areas as curriculum development, Special Education Coordinator, Literacy Specialist, School Principal;
- To provide the opportunity for those in teaching and administrative practice to study and improve their own practice;
- To help students begin the process of becoming an academic in the study and instruction of education.
The MA Specializations are:
Master of Arts with Certification: Elementary
Master of Arts with Certification: Secondary
English Language Learning in School Settings
Educational Administration and Policy
Educational Foundations and Policy
Literacy, Language and Culture
________
Ph.D. Specializations
The purpose of the Educational Studies Ph.D. specializations is to prepare stewards of their field who are able to generate new knowledge, understand the intellectual history of the field, use the best ideas and practices of current work, and represent that knowledge to others both within and outside the field. Stewards have a strong sense of obligation to their field and help preserve the best while promoting change and improvement.
The Educational Studies Ph.D. specializations are characterized by their flexibility such that a student may craft a program based upon his/her interests, as well as their attention to professional preparation in research, teaching and service. This program is considered to be full-time, and there are many funding sources that support the Ph.D. students .
Following graduation, Educational Studies Ph.D. graduates play a number of different roles in the improvement of education: Policy research positions in organizations dedicated to such research; academic positions in higher education; leadership positions in teaching and administration; leadership positions in state and national government organizations; curriculum development and professional development positions in local, intermediary and state organizations and firms.
The Ph.D. specializations are:
Cross-Specialization Ph.D. Option
Educational Administration and Policy
Educational Foundations and Policy
