Master of Arts in Education

Washington University's Department of Education offers a part-time Master of Arts degree focused on an Analysis of Practice for practicing educators in a variety of settings.  This Analysis of Practice allows educators to consider multiple and enhanced approaches for data collection, analysis, and reflection on educational issues involving educational assessment data, video microanalysis, learning sciences research, and educational foundation concepts.  We offer three strands of study, which each work to enhance the educator’s professional development in the particular focus area (Request Info).

Teacher Education Program Principles

1. Teacher Education graduates are committed to equitable and just education for all students. They act on the belief that all students can learn and use a variety of strategies to promote the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance capabilities of all students. 
2. Teacher Education graduates know the subjects they teach well and know how to teach. They have a command of content knowledge so they can co-construct learning experiences with their students. Their instructional repertoire allows them to create multiple paths to the subjects they teach, and they are adept at teaching students how to pose and solve their own problems. 
3. Teacher Education graduates enact the role of a teacher as an inquirer. They understand histories of participation and critically examine their language and practice.  As active members of learning communities, they seek to expand their repertoire, deepen their knowledge, sharpen their judgment and conduct research in their classrooms and communities in order to better support the educative experiences of their students.

Admission

Admission to the Master of Arts in Education-Instructional Process (M.A.Ed.-IP) degree program is open on a selective basis to practicing educators with strong credentials.  It is expected that applicants will have at least a "B" average in their undergraduate course work.  The applicant must submit the following:

• A completed application form
• Personal essay      
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts of all college course work     
•  $35 application fee, made payable to Washington University
• Miller Analogies Test (MAT)results

Application Deadlines

• Fall Term Admission: all materials due by July 15
• Spring Term Admission: all materials due by November 15 
• Summer Term Admission: all materials due by April 15

Information about the Miller Analogies Test can be obtained by calling 314-935-6865.  Scores from previously taken tests (within the last five years) are acceptable; GRE test scores may be substituted for the Miller’s Analogies Test. Applications for the M.A.Ed.-IP may be obtained from either the Department of Education (nakolk@wustl.edu or 314-935-6791) or University College (314-935-6700).

Once an application is complete, the Department of Education admission committee considers the application and makes a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School who makes admission decisions.Any students wishing to enroll for courses prior to admission may be able to do so with permission from the Washington University Department of Education; permission to enroll does not imply admission.  However, a student may enroll for up to 6 credits on a nondegree basis and must seek admission before enrolling in any additional courses. 

Students enrolled in the ED 6000 Hands-on Science course work are considered exceptions to this policy; however, enrollment does not imply admission to this program.  Some ED 6000 course work will be applied toward the science education strand upon acceptance.  There is no guarantee that any course work taken prior to admission will be applicable to theM.A.Ed.-IP unless permission of the Washington University Department of Education has been officially obtained.

Programs of Study

The M.A.Ed.-IP degree program offers three strands of study: Professional Development, Science Education (elementary and middle school), and Innovative Certification.  All three strands require students to complete the core coursework with a culminatingportfolio project.

Required courses

Every M.A.Ed.-IP student must complete 13 credit hours of required core courses.  The balance of the credits required to obtain the M.A.Ed.-IP (30 credits minimum) are composed of work within one of the three strands described.  Requirements may differ for those in the Innovative Certification strand.

The core coursework focuses on an Analysis of Practice from a variety of approaches to enhance educator’s reflective practice involving educational assessment data, video microanalysis, learning sciences research, and educational foundation concepts.  The program looks at the teaching practice from an individual level to the broader foundations in a variety of disciplines.

Program Core Coursework (13credits)

• ED 4610 Introduction to Educational Tests & Measurements (3 credits) or ED 4890 The Science & Politics of Testing (3 credits)
• ED 4055 Central Topics in Learning Sciences Research (3 credits) or other learning-related course (this could be in Learning Sciences, Psychology or equivalent area)
• Foundations of Education elective (3 credits), chosen among the following:

1. ED 453B Sociology of Education 
2. ED 462 Politics of Education 
3. ED 4621 Political Economy of Urban Education  
4. ED 557 Contemporary Issues in Education 
5. Or other relevant elective from Education, Social Work, Law, or Political Science (public policy concentration)

• ED 4033 Video Microanalysis: An Insightful Tool for Urban School Research (3 credits)
• ED 516 MAEd Portfolio Presentation (1 credit) 

Strands of Study

Each student must complete the designated credit hour requirement within the chosen strand of study, with a minimum of 30 total credits required to graduate.

Strand 1:  Professional Development

(17 credits or more)

If you select this strand of study you will design a course of study, in conjunction with your advisor, driven by your interests and needs identified via reflection and analysis in the core coursework.  Students in this strand may elect to do graduate level course work in their content field, education, or other appropriate areas.  University College offers strong graduate courses in American cultural studies, biology, English, history, international studies, and Applied Behavior Analysis (within Psychology).

Examples of courses may include:

• ED 4210 Developing Community Based Documentaries: Video Inquiry for Educators 
• ED 4661 Second Language Acquisition 
• Or other elective courses from relevant areas

Strand 2: Elementary/Middle Science Education

(18 credits)

This is not a complete list of Ed 6000 courses; other Ed 6000 courses may be substituted for those listed here.Possible courses include:

• Bio 4001  Teaching the Science of Nature I  (must be taken under the Biology #)
• Bio 4002  Teaching the Science of Nature II (must be taken under the Biology #)
• ED 6001  Hands-on Science K-8:  Physical Sciences, Electricity & Magnetism
• ED 6002  Hands-on Science K-8:  Life Science, Form and Function
• ED 6003  Hands-on Science K-8:  Physical Sciences, Motion
• ED 6004  Hands-On Science K-8:  Life Sciences, Genetics
• ED 6005  Scientific Inquiry for the Classroom Teacher
• ED 6009  Matter and Energy
• ED 6010  Mathematics Concepts
• ED 6011  Sound and Light
• ED 6012  Earth and Planetary Science

Strand 3:  Innovative Teacher Certification

(30-54 credits)

This strand is for classroom teachers seeking teacher certification for middle or high school.  Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree and current teaching position in a middle or high school as an uncertified teacher. 

The course work will vary based on the level of certification sought and the subject area course work to be completed.  This will be determined by Washington University after a review of transcripts.  Detailed outlines of the certification and masters degree requirements for each level are available upon request from the Department of Education (935-6791 or nakolk@wustl.edu).

Registration and Program Completion

Registration for University College courses may be completed on-line, by mail, fax, or in person at the University College office, January Hall Room 20.  Students may only enroll as an unclassified student for one semester while applying, and must obtain Washington University Department of Education permission prior to enrollment.  Tuition is payable in full at the time of registration and may be paid by cash, check, or credit card.  Once admitted to the program continuation is contingent upon satisfactory performance in all courses.  A 3.0 (B) grade point average is required to graduate.  The degree is awarded by the Graduate School of the College of Arts and Sciences.  You must file an Intent to Graduate form no later than the beginning of the semester of intended graduation. 

For further information visit the department website at http://education.wustl.edu/ or contact: Department of Education, Box 1183, Washington University, St. Louis, MO  63130; (314) 935-6791.  Basic questions about the program or the application process can be sent to Natalia Kolk, the Student Services Secretary, at nakolk@wustl.edu or at the phone number listed above.

The university must make available to the public information about the quality of our teacher education graduates. The department submits that information annually with the State of Missouri.  The current report can be found at http://education.wustl.edu/undergraduate/certification.

Contact Information

Department of Education
Campus Box 1183
Seigle Hall 107
Washington University
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone (314) 935-6791

Website: Department of Education
E-mail: Natalia Kolk, nakolk@wustl.edu, Student Services Secretary

or

University College
Campus Box 1085
Washington University
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone (314) 935-6700
Website: University College
E-mail: ucollege@artsci.wustl.edu