Social studies education
Master of education/professional studies
Program
The master of education (M.Ed.)/professional studies program in social studies education is designed for experienced social studies teachers who want to acquire advanced knowledge and leadership skills in the field of social studies education. This graduate-level, practitioner-based program is offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
The program is flexible and can be tailored to accommodate individual needs. With guidance from faculty advisers, students complete at least 30 semester credits of work in three areas: a core academic program in education, coursework specific to the area of social studies education, and elective coursework that allows students to choose additional courses within or outside the College of Education and Human Development. Requirements also include a school-based project examining a problem, issue, or topic identified by the student.
Courses at the University of Minnesota are offered at a variety of times, including late afternoons. Students may also enroll in a comprehensive summer program and courses offered at off-campus school sites.
Admission
Admission requirements for this program include the following criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- A 2.80 minimum grade point average (GPA)
- A written personal statement describing your career goals and rationale for interest in the M.Ed. program (limit two pages)
- A résumé
- A completed CEHD Application for Admission to M.Ed./Professional Studies Programs [.pdf], available at the College’s office of Student Services, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu; or on the Web.
The College reviews applications on an ongoing basis. Application reviews for specific academic terms begin by the following dates. Students are encouraged to submit application materials to Student Services by these dates:
- November 1—spring semester admission
- March 1—summer session admission
- July 1—fall semester admission
Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions four to six weeks after application deadlines.
Transfer credits
A maximum of 12 graduate semester transfer credits may be applied to the M.Ed. program. Credits may include any combination of the following coursework:
- Up to six graduate semester credits from fully accredited institutions other than the University of Minnesota for students enrolled at the University’s Twin Cities campus; up to nine graduate semester credits for students enrolled at the University’s Rochester campus
- Credits completed at the University of Minnesota
before admission to the M.Ed. program
Transfer courses must be completed at the graduate level and approved by a faculty adviser and the College. Workshop credits are usually not accepted for transfer to C&I programs. Contact the program’s faculty adviser for more information.
Curriculum
Students must complete at least 30 semester credits in the following areas:
Core requirements (10-12 cr)
- CI 5155—Contemporary Approaches to Curriculum: Instruction and Assessment (3 cr)
- CI 5177—Practical Research (3 cr) (To be taken toward end of M.Ed. program; consult with faculty adviser.)
- CI 5186—School-Related Projects (1-3 cr) (To be taken after CI 5177; consult with faculty adviser.)
- CI 5351—Technology Tools for Educators (3 cr)
- or alternate courses approved by faculty adviser
Social studies education requirements (6 cr)
CI 5761—Social Studies Education for the Inservice Middle/Secondary Teacher (3 cr)
CI 5762—Developing Civic Discourse in the Social Studies (3 cr)
Social studies electives (12 cr)
- Electives may be selected from graduate-level courses (5xxx and above) at the University of Minnesota, as approved by student and advisers. Students must complete at least one course in one of the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology, or a social science-related discipline.
After completing CI 5177 and a majority of the required and elective coursework, students independently complete CI 5186 under the faculty adviser’s guidance.
Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule at the University’s One Stop student services Web site.
Registration
Currently admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students may register online for coursework.
Students who want to begin M.Ed. coursework before admission to the M.Ed. program must complete a CEHD First-Time Registration for non-degree seeking Students packet [.pdf]. Packets are also available at the College’s office of Student Services, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.
For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-5815.
Core faculty
For more program information, visit the C&I Web site or contact faculty members listed below:
Patricia G. Avery,
professor
Ph.D., Emory University
612-625-5802; e-mail: avery001@umn.edu
Benjamin M.
Jacobs,
assistant professor
Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University
612-625-7818; e-mail: bjacobs@umn.edu
Theresa Johnson,
lecturer
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
612-626-0452; e-mail: john1097@umn.edu
J.B. Mayo, Jr.,
assistant professor
Ph.D., University of South Florida
612-625-2534; e-mail: mayo@umn.edu
Updated October 2005