Graduate Programs
There are two main degree paths at the graduate level: (1) study for licensed teachers who wish to improve their practice, and (2) initial teacher licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in a teachable major. We also welcome candidates who wish to study pedagogy but do not have a K-12 background and plan to teach in community or higher education.
The graduate programs for practicing teachers are designed to be flexible enough to meet the unique career requirements of each candidate. Coursework is designed with the working professional in mind; all coursework offered through the Teacher Education program is available through a distance delivery format and outside of K-12 school day hours, making the program accessible to practicing educators.
The Master's of Education Teacher Licensure Option allows most coursework to be taken from a distance and during the summer, but some coursework may only be offered in face-to-face format. Please contact Ashley.Baggett@ndsu.edu for more information about these degree plans.
Admission to the Program
Please note: Teacher Education has established the following deadlines for applications:
- July 15th for Summer or Fall admittance
- October 15th for Spring admittance
The following items are required for admission:
- A statement of experiences and goals consistent with the five propositions of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS, http://www.nbpts.org) as well as reasons for applying to the program. Note: The statement of experiences and goals for the new Whole Child Approaches option should use the components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model as the framework (https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/wscc/components.htm).
The statement should:- Be 3-4 pages double-spaced;
- Explicitly connect your experiences and career goals to the framework above; and
- Explain how NDSU's Education Master's program will help you achieve your career goals.
- Official transcripts verifying all undergraduate coursework and degrees earned from accredited institutions.
- Contact information for three individuals who can provide letters of recommendation.
- GPA for post-secondary coursework must meet one of the following conditions:
- Cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- GPA for the final 30 semester credits of graded undergraduate coursework is 3.25 or higher
- GPA for 10 semester credits of graduate coursework must be 3.0 or higher
- Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.
See the Graduate Handbook p.6 for full application details.