Department of Education

Department of Education Graduate Programs Website: http://www.montana.edu/wwweduc/grad/index.shtml

Department Head

Dr. Sarah Pennington, Associate Professor
213 Reid Hall
406-994-5788 Email: sarah.pennington2@montana.edu

Graduate Program Assistant

215 Reid Hall
406-994-6786 Email: edgrad@montana.edu

The Department of Education's graduate offerings are divided into three areas: Adult & Higher Education, Curriculum & Instruction, and Educational Leadership. Master's (M.Ed.), Education Specialist (Ed.S.) and Doctoral (Ed.D. and Ph.D.) programs are offered in all three areas. In addition, the Adult & Higher Education program offers the College Teaching Certificate, the Curriculum and Instruction program offers the Library Media Certificate, and the Educational Leadership program offers the School Superintendent Certificate and the Teacher Leadership Certificate. Additional degree requirements are listed in each program's section.

Adult and Higher Education

http://www.montana.edu/education/grad/ahe/index.html

The Adult and Higher Education (AHE) program offers four degrees: Master of Education, Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education. The AHE graduate program prepares students to work in and/or research both formal and informal educational opportunities beyond traditional Pre-K-12 settings. Students in the program would be specifically focused on (a) college teaching and college students and their development, (b) higher education leadership, administration, and organization, (c) postsecondary institutional and program evaluation, assessment, and accreditation, and (d) comparative international and diverse postsecondary (e.g., Tribal Colleges) institutional contexts. Special attention is directed at underrepresented student groups and diverse learners within these foci areas.

There are three specialization options for the Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) degree: Adult Education, Student Affairs, and Higher Education.

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is a scholarly practitioner's degree emphasizing doctoral level coursework to prepare students for specialized administrative positions where original research is not an expectation.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree has two specialization options: Higher Education Administration and Higher Education Academics. The Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration specialization is intended for individuals who will contribute to the administrative leadership within a range of diverse postsecondary settings. The Ed.D. Higher Education Academics specialization is intended for individuals who will teach and provide academic leadership in college teaching and learning within a diverse range of postsecondary settings. Graduates of the Ed.D. will prepare to work as leaders and innovators in educational settings, where they will generate and apply research-based solutions to specific problems of practice. For information regarding the Ph.D. in Education, please see below.

The Adult & Higher Education Program also offers the College Teaching Certificate (CTC) to develop and promote exemplary teaching among graduate students, aspiring faculty, and current faculty wanting to enhance their teaching skills. The goal of the certificate is to improve college teaching and prepare individuals to be more competitive in the job market and effective as instructors and faculty members at a range of colleges and universities.

Curriculum and Instruction

http://www.montana.edu/education/grad/ci/index.html

The program in Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) offers a Master of Education, Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Philosophy in Education, and a Library Media Certificate.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is designed to meet the needs of elementary and secondary classroom teachers, subject matter specialists, and educational scholars and researchers. The M.Ed. degree has two options: the Professional Educator and Educational Researcher. The Professional Educator option is a totally online program.

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Curriculum and Instruction is a scholarly practitioner’s degree for graduate students who have earned their Master’s degree and intend to work within school settings or other educational contexts.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree provides graduates the opportunity to develop the rich knowledge base needed to address problems of practice affecting the greater education community. The program offers multiple opportunities to impact diverse educational settings. Graduates of the Ed.D. will prepare to work as leaders and innovators in educational settings, where they will generate and apply research-based solutions to specific problems of practice. For information regarding the PhD in Education, please see below.

The Department also offers the Library Media Certificate (LMC) program. This totally online program consists of 21 semester credits (7 courses). The program is for teachers who want to add an endorsement in K-12 Library Media to an existing teaching license.

Educational Leadership

http://www.montana.edu/education/grad/edlead/index.html

The program in Educational Leadership offers a Master of Education, Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Philosophy in Education, School Superintendent Certificate and a Teacher Leadership Certificate.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree is designed to meet the needs of those who desire positions in school leadership: Curriculum Director, principal, and superintendent certification. The M.Ed. degree allows candidates to gain licensure in Montana as a K-12 Principal. Once candidates complete the M.Ed. degree and earn principal certification, they may take additional coursework to obtain superintendent licensure.

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is a practitioner’s degree. Many states require this degree for Superintendent Licensure, however, Montana does not. This degree is particularly valuable for students who see themselves as school system leaders in medium sized to larger school systems and leads to superintendent licensure.

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree prepares the scholar-practitioner where students are engaged researching problems encountered in practice related to K-20 educational organizations and educational leadership. Graduates will develop the rich knowledge base in educational theory and practice and leadership theory needed to conduct practical educational research and engage in service to the greater education community. The program offers multiple opportunities to engage in research grounded in cutting-edge educational issues and collaborative activities in diverse educational settings, including faculty from other disciplines. For information regarding the Ph.D. in Education, please see below.

The Educational Leadership Program also offers a School Superintendent Certificate program (SUPC) to prepare candidates to complete all state of Montana requirements for licensure as a School Superintendent. The certificate is designed to be completed through an intensive summer program followed by a semester long internship.

Also offered is the 15-semester credit Teacher Leadership Certificate program (ELC) providing teachers with coursework and professional growth opportunities to enhance their instructional capacity and leadership contributions to their school communities.

The Board of Public Education/Office of Public Instruction BPE/OPI Internship is designed for candidates who do not possess licensure in Montana as a K-12 Principal or Superintendent and who have been hired into a school leadership position requiring principal or superintendent licensure. The BPE/OPI Internship allows the candidate to gain a Montana Class V (provisional) license to properly hold a school leadership position while completing coursework to earn full licensure. To be eligible, a candidate must be already hired into a school leadership position and must sign an agreement between their school board trustees and MSU’s Educational Leadership Program. The agreement stipulates that MSU will supervise the candidate while he/she finishes coursework toward full licensure. There is an extra fee that the candidate or district pays to MSU for the supervision.

Ph.D. in Education

http://www.montana.edu/wwweduc/grad/index.shtml

The Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.) with an emphasis in Adult & Higher Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership is designed for graduate students seeking faculty or research positions in higher education or positions within organizations that require educational research in highly specialized disciplines.

Progress through the degree provides students with opportunities to develop specialized disciplinary content and research knowledge along with scholarly experiences that provide foundational knowledge. The program addresses topics specific to Montana including working with rural communities and Native Americans on state and other educational issues. Graduates will be well-positioned to directly and positively affect the data driven culture related to improving the K-20 educational systems and advancing the field of education through the creation and dissemination of new knowledge by specializing in research.

Programs and Degrees Offered

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure

Licensed Teacher Added Recommendation

Certificates

Master of Arts in Teaching

MEd

EdS

EdD

PhD in Education

The application process at MSU is through The Graduate School and is a fully electronic process. A $60.00 non-refundable application fee is required, and the initial application fee is valid for one (1) year from the term of the initial application. The application website is http://www.montana.edu/gradschool/admissions/apply.html. For information on our programs, please visit the department website at https://www.montana.edu/education/grad/index.html.

Contact Information

Graduate Program Assistant
PO Box 172880, Reid Hall 215
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717-2880
Phone: 406-994-6786 Email: edgrad@montana.edu