Graduate Programs

Master's Programs in Education

The College of Liberal Arts and Education offers several graduate programs leading to the master of arts degree. The thesis option (six credits) is available in every program except special education; otherwise, a master's research paper is required in conjunction with the terminal seminar. Permission to substitute for any of the required courses must be obtained in writing from the student's advisor and be approved by the dean.

All graduate programs in education may be pursued full- or part-time; courses are offered only in the late afternoon and evening. Some summer day courses are available.

Teacher Certification

Students seeking teacher certification in conjunction with the programs in Curriculum and Instruction or Special Education should consult the program advisor for special admission requirements to the certification program.

Admission

The College of Liberal Arts & Education has a comprehensive system for assessing the qualifications of candidates seeking admission to its graduate programs, including those programs in Teacher Education or related fields of Counseling, Curriculum and Instruction ,  Educational Administration, and Special Education.

Undergraduate, post-degree, and graduate students who are interested in teacher certification must have passed all three components of the Michigan Basic Skills Test (MBST) in order to be admitted to the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) as an education student. Students who have not passed all three components of the MBST prior to admission will be permitted to register for one term as "pre-education" students, but must pass the MBST in order to register for a second term.
As listed in the Graduate Catalog, applicants for entry into advanced programs are required to:

  • Submit three letters of recommendation that collectively address personal, professional, and academic competence.
  • Demonstrate a grade point average of 3.0 is the norm for regular admission, although students with GPAs between 2.7 to 3.0 may be admitted on probation. Students admitted on probation must observe the rules concerning probationary status as described in the Graduate Catalog.
  • Additionally, students seeking admission to the Master of Arts degree program in Curriculum and Instruction with initial certification are required to have completed an academic major and minor with a minimum of a 2.7 GPA. Or students must be able to complete these requirements at the graduate level such as in the Master of Arts in the Teaching of Mathematics. They are also required to pass the MBST portion of the MTTC within their first semester of study and complete the application to the Teacher Certification Program.
  • Similarly, candidates seeking admission to the Special Education graduate programs with initial certification are required to have completed an academic minor with a minimum of a 2.7 GPA, or be able to complete these requirements at the graduate level. They are also required to pass the MBST portion of the MTTC in the first 12 credit hours of the program, and be admitted to the Teacher Certification Program prior to completion of 30 credit hours.
  • Students seeking initial certification in the Master of Arts in the Teaching of Mathematics program are required to make application to the Teacher Certification Program, and to fulfill all requirements as described for the Curriculum and Instruction program.

The College of Liberal Arts & Education offers programs which lead to a: