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Elementary Education Master's Requirements

What's required for a master's degree in elementary education?

Master's Degree in Elementary Education Admission Requirements

Include a personal statement with one typed page per question:

  • What have you already done professionally or personally of which you are proud? Please include a chronological history of all professional teaching and administration experience, as well as academic honors or achievements you have earned.
  • What are the characteristics, attitudes, values, and/or skills that you think will make you a good candidate for your professional role?
  • Describe several personal and professional goals you would like to achieve in the next five years. Include in your description reasons why these goals are important to you.
Master of Education in Elementary Education

Admission Requirements

  1. A four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  2. A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.75 for all undergraduate work or a GPA of at least 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work (based on a 4.00 scale).
  3. Teacher Licensure
  4. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.
  5. Application Requirements. In addition to the application form and fee, the following must be submitted as part of the application process:
    1. Three letters of recommendation
    2. One official copy of all academic transcripts
    3. Statement of goals and objectives with a maximum of one typed page per question.
  • What have you already done professionally or personally of which you are proud? Please include a chronological history of all professional teaching and administration experience, as well as academic honors or achievements you have earned.
  • What are the characteristics, attitudes, values, and/or skills that you think will make you a good candidate for your professional role?

  • Describe several personal and professional goals you would like to achieve in the next five years. Include in your description reasons why these goals are important to you.

Refer to the Admissions section of the graduate catalog for additional information on admission requirements and application procedures.

Accelerated Admissions for B.S./M.Ed. in Elementary Education with a Specialization in General Elementary Education or Indigenous Teacher Education

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) 4+1 Program allows exceptional undergraduate students at UND an opportunity to complete the requirements for the B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education at an accelerated pace. This Program offers two specialization options: General Elementary Education or Indigenous Teacher Education (ITE). Students in the (ITE) Specialization must complete three additional undergraduate courses and enroll in three specific graduate courses. All requirements for both degrees must be met, and students may double count up to 12 graduate-level credits toward the requirements for both their bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. ABM students must obtain their master's degree within 12 months of completing the bachelor's degree.

Admission Requirements

  1. Students must have completed at least 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree.
  2. Must meet the admission requirements listed above.
  3. A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.00 for all undergraduate work.
  4. Must submit a combined/accelerated program of study with your application.

Degree Requirements

Licensed persons are eligible for the Master of Education degree. The major portion of the program includes coursework that addresses practical aspects of teaching at the elementary school level—literacy development, mathematics, science, social studies, curriculum development, and working with families. Available courses focus on the relationship between theories of child development and educational practices designed to foster that development. The program culminates in a final paper, project, or thesis.

Non-Thesis Option:

  1. Thirty (30) credits including credits required for the major.
  2. At least one-half of the credits must be at or above the 500-level.
  3. A maximum of one-fourth of the credit hours required for the degree may be transferred from another institution.
  4. Preparation of an Independent Study or Scholarly Project approved by the faculty advisor.

Thesis Option:

  1. A minimum of 30 credits in the major, including the additional credits granted for the thesis and the research leading to the thesis.
  2. At least one-half of the credits must be at or above the 500-level.
  3. A maximum of one-fourth of the credit hours required for the degree may be transferred from another institution.
  4. Preparation of a Thesis approved by the faculty advisor and committee members. 

Required Courses for the Master of Education

Major: Elementary Education

Course List
Code Title Credits
Required Courses
T&L 518Curriculum and Methods for Teaching STEM3
T&L 519Social Studies in the Elementary School3
T&L 522Mathematics in the Elementary School3
T&L 530Foundations of Reading Instruction3
T&L 580Practicum in Schools1
General Elementary Education Specialization
Elective Credits9
Indigenous Teacher Education Specialization
T&L 578Curriculum and Pedagogy in Indigenous Education3
OLEE 562Foundations of Environmental Education3
T&L 593Independent Projects (Culture, Land, & Practice)3
Educational Foundations Coursework (6 credits)
Choose two EFR courses from the following list:
EFR 501Psychological Foundations of Education3
EFR 503History of American Education Policy and Reform3
EFR 505Educational Equity and Social Change in Schooling3
EFR 506Multicultural Education3
EFR 525International and Comparative Education3
Required Culminating Course
T&L 995Scholarly Project (or)2
T&L 997Independent Study (or)2
T&L 998Thesis4-6

Accelerated  B.S. Elementary Education/M.Ed. in Elementary Education 

Following is a course list of all courses that will be required for the bachelor's degree with licensure, the double counted courses, and the requirements for the master's degree.

Course List
Code Title Credits
Bachelor’s courses for licensure
T&L 250Introduction to Education3
T&L 251Understanding Individuals with Different Abilities3
KIN 305Health/Physical Education for Early Childhood and Elementary Education Teachers3
T&L 324Integrating the Arts in the Elementary Classroom3
T&L 328Survey of Children's Literature3
T&L 335Foundations of Reading3
T&L 339Educational Technology3
T&L 404Assessment in the Elementary Classroom1
T&L 405Data Literacy for Teachers1
T&L 417Writing Language Arts Methods2
T&L 432Learning Environments3
T&L 433Multicultural Education3
T&L 474STEM Concepts in the Elementary Classroom3
T&L 518Curriculum and Methods for Teaching STEM (*)3
T&L 519Social Studies in the Elementary School (*)3
T&L 522Mathematics in the Elementary School (*)3
T&L 536Innovations in English Language Arts Instruction (*)3
T&L 486Field Experience2
T&L 487Student Teaching13
T&L 489Senior Capstone: Responsive Teaching3
Additional Required Undergraduate Courses for the Indigenous Teacher Education Specialization
IS 251Lakota Languages II (ITE Students)3
IS 252Lakota Languages III (ITE Students)3
IS 253Lakota Languages IV (ITE Students)3
Double Counted Courses for both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees
T&L 518Curriculum and Methods for Teaching STEM3
T&L 519Social Studies in the Elementary School3
T&L 522Mathematics in the Elementary School3
T&L 536Innovations in English Language Arts Instruction3
General Elementary Education Specialization
Electives9
Indigenous Teacher Education Specialization
T&L 578Curriculum and Pedagogy in Indigenous Education3
OLEE 562Foundations of Environmental Education3
T&L 593Independent Projects (Culture, Land, & Practice)3
Educational Foundations
Choose two EFR courses from the following list:
EFR 501Psychological Foundations of Education3
EFR 503History of American Education Policy and Reform3
EFR 505Educational Equity and Social Change in Schooling3
EFR 506Multicultural Education3
EFR 525International and Comparative Education3
Practicum
T&L 580Practicum in Schools1
Required Culminating Courses
T&L 995Scholarly Project (or)2
T&L 997Independent Study2

Master's Degree in Elementary Education Requirements Disclaimer

The requirements on this page are pulled from UND’s academic catalog and may not reflect future terms. Updates are published annually in April.

Graduate Admissions Requirements

In addition to meeting these program requirements, you must also meet the UND School of Graduate Studies admissions requirements to apply for this program.

Graduate Requirements

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