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Student & Professional Services Collge of Education & Human Development Student Services

Getting started

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Academic departments

The M.Ed. program

Program advisers

Preparing for a program planning session

Conditions and policies of the M.Ed. program

Where to go for help

Handbook contents

Getting started

Registration

Program in progress

Preparing to graduate

M.Ed. checklist

Campus resources

Important U of M phone numbers and student resources

U of M policy statements

M.Ed. Handbook [download as a .pdf]

Academic departments

The College of Education and Human Development is comprised of six academic units as well as numerous research and service centers or institutes. Each department offers courses and resources within a specialized area and we encourage you to look across the College when seeking to fulfill electives in your program.

The College has 130 faculty and more than 4,000 students. Consistently ranked as one of the most productive professional schools of education in the country, the College is a state, national, and international leader in teaching, research, and outreach. Several of the College’s academic units are ranked in the top five nationally. Our primary academic units include:

Curriculum and Instruction (C&I)
145 Peik Hall
159 Pillsbury Drive S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-4006
Department chair: Ruth Thomas

Educational Policy and Administration (EdPA)
330 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-1006
Department chair: R. Michael Paige

Educational Psychology (EdPsy)
250 Education Sciences Building
56 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-6083
Department chair: John Romano

Institute of Child Development (ICD)
180 Child Development Building
51 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-0526
Director: Nicki Crick

School of Kinesiology
111 Cooke Hall
1900 University Ave. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-5300
Director: Mary Jo Kane

Work and Human Resource Education (WHRE)
210A Vocational and Technical Education Building
1954 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
612-625-3757
Department chair: Ken Bartlett

The M.Ed. program

The M.Ed. is a professional, graduate-level degree that emphasizes applied coursework and usually requires completion of a field-based experience. The M.Ed. is available in two tracks: initial licensure or professional studies.

Program advisers

Your advisers play an important role in your graduate studies, from initial notification of your admission to the College to the completion of your M.Ed. degree. Although the approach to advising may differ among departments, these general principles apply to all departments:

M.Ed. students may work with the following advisers:

Faculty adviser: Students work with a faculty adviser throughout their M.Ed. program. The faculty adviser assists students with planning for required and elective coursework, and offers guidance and direction for the student’s plan of studies.

Rochester campus adviser: Students completing C&I programs at the University’s Rochester campus will work with the on-site adviser at 507-280-2819.

College M.Ed. adviser: Your College M.Ed. adviser at Student Services assists with registration, petitions, degree clearance, College policies and procedures, and professional development support.

Project adviser: Some M.Ed. programs include a final project completed with consultation and guidance of a faculty member other than the faculty adviser. Students are assigned to a project adviser by their faculty adviser. The project adviser is available throughout the M.Ed. project.

Preparing for a program planning session

A faculty adviser has been assigned to you based on your program and/or focus area. Contact your department or faculty adviser after you have been admitted to the program. Your adviser’s name and phone number were provided in your admission letter. For more information, contact the College’s office of Student Services, 612-625-6501.

Before meeting with your adviser, give careful thought to possible course selections, program schedules, and short-term and long-term education and career goals. It is helpful to bring applicable academic records to your sessions including all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. If you plan to transfer credits to your M.Ed. program, be prepared to submit course descriptions and/or college bulletins if requested. Become familiar with the Student Services Web site. Contact your College M.Ed. adviser in Student Services if you have any questions.

Grad note
Check the M.Ed. Handbook and Student Services Web site before contacting an adviser about policy or procedures. Much of the information you need is contained in the handbook or on the Web site and it will save you (and your adviser) time and effort.

Conditions and policies of the M.Ed. program

M.Ed. credit requirements
All M.Ed. students must complete at least 30 graduate-level semester credits to qualify for the degree; some programs may require more than 30 credits. Graduate credits at the University of Minnesota are designated as 5xxx level or above. A limited number of 4xxx-level courses may be applied to M.Ed. programs. Check with your faculty, department, or College M.Ed. adviser about specific credit requirements for your program.

Prior coursework
Policies on prior coursework vary by program. Undergraduate-level credits may not be applied toward an M.Ed. degree. This policy applies to any courses completed as part of a B.A. or B.S. program, or coursework designated as undergraduate level by the institution (e.g., 1xxx- or 3xxx-level coursework). For more information, refer to paper or Web material for individual programs or check with the Student Services program adviser.

Transfer credits
With adviser approval, students may apply graduate-level coursework completed at an accredited institution other than the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities toward their M.Ed. program. Transfer credit policies vary by program. For more information, refer to paper or Web material for individual programs or check with the Student Services program adviser.

Pass/fail coursework
The College strictly limits the use of pass/fail (S-N) grading. All major coursework must be taken A-F. No more than one-third (1/3) of the credits for the M.Ed. degree may be taken S-N. Students are not permitted to change the grading option for a course after the second week of class.

GPA requirement
Students must maintain a 2.80 grade point average (GPA) throughout their program. All GPA requirements for student teaching, internships, and graduation are computed using University of Minnesota-Twin Cities coursework only.

D grades
Courses in which students receive a “D” grade or lower may not be applied toward the M.Ed. degree. (This applies to students admitted to an M.Ed. program spring 2002 and later.) Students with “D” grades should discuss make-up or substitution options with their faculty adviser.

Independent study
Independent study courses are generally not accepted for an M.Ed. unless approved by the faculty adviser.

Add or change of major
The M.Ed. program area is called a major. While it is not possible to complete two M.Ed. degrees, students may complete a major (program) in two different areas with adviser approval. Students cannot apply more than one-third (1/3) of the credits (10 credits) earned in the first major towards the second major. Those credits may only be considered for the second major if they meet the criteria for completion of the second major, e.g., completed within seven years; taken as a part of the first major after formal admission; meeting content requirements of the second major as determined by the program area faculty. Students who wish to change or add a major must submit the Master of Education (M.Ed.) Request for Record Change form [.pdf], also available from Student Services. For more information, contact the College M.Ed. adviser at Student Services.

Final project, paper, or examination
Each M.Ed. program involves a culminating experience in the form of a project, paper, or examination. Check with your faculty adviser to learn about program requirements.

Length of program
Students have seven years to complete their degree, beginning with the first coursework used in the program. (This includes any non-degree or transfer work applied to the program.)

Change of faculty adviser
If students find that a different faculty member would better suit their advising needs, they may request to change faculty advisers. This change must be approved by the new faculty adviser and by the College. The Master of Education (M.Ed.) Request for Record Change form [.pdf]. For more information, contact the College M.Ed. adviser at Student Services.

Continuous enrollment
Continuous enrollment is not required. Students enrolled in an M.Ed./professional studies program have seven years from the oldest work used toward the degree to complete all program requirements.

The M.Ed./initial licensure program presents a different scenario. Because most M.Ed./initial licensure programs admit a cohort of students annually and offer curriculum on an annual cycle, students are expected to complete licensure requirements in 12-15 months from the term of enrollment. However, once licensure requirements are completed, students have seven years from the oldest work used toward the degree to complete all M.Ed. degree requirements. If you have questions about your enrollment status, contact your College M.Ed. adviser at Student Services.

Student Scholastic Standing Committee
Overall academic performance and professional skills are evaluated by the faculty from the program area and the College’s Student Scholastic Standing Committee (SSSC). When student performance is unsatisfactory, SSSC helps students assess their academic status and advises them about their academic
progress. Students not making satisfactory academic progress will be contacted by their College adviser and may need to make an appointment to discuss their academic plan for completion before receiving registration approval.

Where to go for help

1. Student Services
Student Services is the College’s centralized admissions and student services office. Professional advisers and support staff at Student Services collaborate with faculty to advise students on application for admission, registration, scholarships and fellowships, issues related to student progress and academic standing, degree clearance and licensure, commencement, and credential file services.

Contact information
110 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-625-6501
Fax: 612-626-1580
E-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu

2. Browse the Web

3. Consult paper publications

Answers to most frequently asked questions about processes and procedures can be found in the following publications:

Note: Information in these and other University catalogs, publications, or announcements is subject to change without notice. Check with a Student Services adviser for the most current program information.

Revised May 2007