English education

Master of education/professional studies

Program

The master of education (M.Ed.)/professional studies program in English education addresses the needs and interests of middle school, high school, and community-college English teachers.

This graduate-level, practitioner-based program of at least 30 semester credits is designed for experienced English teachers who want to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in the field of English education.

The English education program provides instruction on current developments in English/language arts curriculum theory and research, as well as methods for teaching literature, reading, composition, media, drama, and journalism. The program is offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).

The program is flexible and can be tailored to accommodate individual needs. With guidance from faculty advisers, students complete 30 semester credits of work in three areas: a core academic program in education, coursework specific to the area of English education, and elective coursework that allows students to choose additional courses within or outside the college of Education and Human Development. Requirements also include a school-based project examining a problem, issue, or topic identified by the student.

Courses at the University of Minnesota are offered at a variety of times, including late afternoons. Students may also enroll in courses offered during the summer and at off-campus school sites.

Admission

Admission requirements to this program include the following criteria:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
A 2.80 minimum grade point average (GPA)
A written personal statement describing your career goals and rationale for interest in the M.Ed. program (limit two pages)
A résumé
A completed CEHD Application for Admission to M.Ed./Professional Studies Programs, available at the college’s office of Student Services, 150 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu; or on the Web.

The college reviews applications on an ongoing basis. Application reviews for specific academic terms begin by the following dates. Students are encouraged to submit application materials to Student Services by the following dates:

November 1—spring semester admission
March 1—summer session admission
July 1—fall semester admission

Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions four to six weeks after application deadlines.

Transfer credits

A maximum of 12 graduate semester transfer credits may be applied to the M.Ed. program. Credits may include any combination of the following coursework:

Up to six graduate semester credits from fully accredited institutions other than the University of Minnesota for students enrolled at the University’s Twin Cities campus; up to nine graduate semester credits for students enrolled at the University’s Rochester campus
Credits completed at the University of Minnesota before admission to the M.Ed. program

Transfer courses must be completed at the graduate level and approved by a faculty adviser and the college. Workshop credits are usually not accepted for transfer to C&I programs. Contact the program’s faculty adviser for more information.

Curriculum

Students must complete at least 30 semester credits in the following areas:

Core requirements (6 cr)

CI 5155—Contemporary Approaches to Curriculum: Instruction and Assessment (3 cr)
CI 5351—Technology Tools for Educators (3 cr) or alternate course approved by adviser

English education requirements (18 cr)

Students select 18 credits from the following courses:
CI 5147—Language, Culture, and Education (3 cr)
CI 5404—Culturally Diverse Books for Children and Adolescents (3 cr)
CI 5410—Special Topics in the Teaching of Literacy (2-3 cr)
CI 5417—Elementary Literacy Instruction for ESL Students (3 cr)
CI 5422—Teaching Writing in Schools (3 cr)
CI 5442—Literature for Adolescents (3 cr)
CI 5451—Teaching Reading in Middle and Secondary Grades (3 cr)
CI 5462—Evaluating and Assessing Writing (3 cr)
CI 5472—Teaching Film, Television, and Media Studies (3 cr)
CI 5475—Teaching Digital Writing: Blogs, Wikis, Online Talk, Podcasting, and E-Portfolios to Teach Writing (3 cr)
CI 5647—Teaching Middle and Secondary Immigrant and Refugee Students with Limited Formal Schooling (3 cr)

Electives (6 cr)

Electives may be selected from graduate-level courses (5xxx and above) at the University of Minnesota, as approved by faculty advisers. Course lists are available from advisers. Students are advised to choose courses that reflect learning issues faced in the classroom, including special education, secondary language, or cultural diversity issues.

Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.

Registration

Currently admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students may register online for coursework.

Students who want to begin M.Ed. coursework before admission to the M.Ed. program must complete a CEHD First-Time Registration for non-degree seeking Students packet [.pdf]. Packets are also available at the college’s office of Student Services, 360 Education Sciences Building, 56 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-3339; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.

For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-5815.

Core faculty

For more program information, visit the C&I Web site or contact faculty members listed below:

Richard Beach, professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois
612-625-3893; e-mail: rbeach@umn.edu

Cynthia Lewis, professor
Ph.D., University of Iowa
612-625-6313; e-mail: lewis@umn.edu

David O’Brien, professor
Ph.D., University of Georgia
612-624-7377; e-mail: dobrien@umn.edu

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