M.A. in Education

Choose Your Specialty

This Saint Mary’s M.A. in Education program is designed for educators who want to advance their careers and build their skills in one of three areas of specialty: curriculum and instruction, mental health, and culturally responsive teaching. There are also master's degree completion options for students in the Graduate Certificate in K-12 Reading program and Wisconsin educators enrolling in eduCATE-WI. Successful completion of the program will increase your professional competencies and make you more marketable as you advance your career in education.

While Saint Mary’s M.A. in Education program is intended to provide teachers with in-depth knowledge in a particular area of specialty, all students will be challenged through the core curriculum to do the following:

• Better integrate technology in the classroom to enhance their teaching
• Make practical changes to their classroom instruction to align with current educational theory
• Apply modern knowledge in child growth and development to improve classroom instruction
   

Customized Specialization for eduCATE-WI students

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota partners with eduCATE-WI to offer graduate level courses. EduCATE-WI is a private, non-profit organization that offers coursework for alternate pathways to teacher and administrative licensure in Wisconsin. It is approved to do so by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Students are eligible to apply up to 12 eduCATE Wisconsin credits to the 33-credit M.A. in Education degree from Saint Mary's. You can select additional designated courses to complete a 15-credit specialization before completing the 18 core credits for the M.A. in Education degree.

Curriculum and Instruction Specialization

Hone your teaching skills to create a more engaging learning environment. You will receive guidance on developing curriculum and instruction methods that promote increased achievement while learning to implement corresponding assessments that more accurately monitor student performance.

In addition to the intentional focus this area of specialty places on curriculum and instruction, you will also learn techniques to further develop your communication skills so you can improve collaboration, resolve conflicts, and better connect with multiple stakeholders.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Specialization

Develop skills to improve students’ classroom experiences. You will be encouraged to consider multiple racial and cultural perspectives as you develop a culturally responsive teaching approach.

Mental Health in Education Specialization

Develop skills to examine social and emotional development and learn how mental health concerns present themselves throughout the developmental stages of students. This is a mental health focus for educators, school building or district staff, classroom teachers, or those impacting students' learning. Courses provide those on the front lines with the tools to recognize how and when to refer to mental health professionals for services or community resources. This program does not lead to professional licensure or certification for any mental health position, such as a school counselor, school psychologist, or child psychologist, in any state or U.S. territory.