Education: Graduate Programs

Chair: Dr. Matt Lonn

The University of Mary’s Graduate Programs in Education offer a wide range of opportunities for the adult learner. Students may take courses towards educational credentials and endorsements, or may complete their Master’s or Doctoral degree in education. Master’s candidates have the option of completing a thesis or preparing a comprehensive capstone project. In order to meet the needs of adult learners, graduate classes are offered online or face-to-face during summers.

Graduate Education Mission Statement

Innovative educational leaders addressing problems of practice with moral courage, for life.

Graduate Education Vision Statement

University of Mary for Life: Cultivating morally courageous educational leaders

Accreditation

The University of Mary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its most recent reaffirmation of accreditation occurring in 2023. The Education program is approved by the state of North Dakota. Other memberships include the North Dakota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NDACTE), the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders (NDCEL), and the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED).

Master of Education Programs

Faculty: Dr. Rod Jonas (Dean), Dr. Brenda Tufte (Associate Dean), Dr. Matt Lonn (Graduate Chair), Dr. Wade Kooiman, Dr. Carmen Cain, Dr. Kimberly Marman, Dr. Loni Miller, Dr. Meghan Salyers, Dr. Manisha Sawhney, Dr. Michael Taylor, Dr. Jeff Lind, Dr. Brian Duchscherer, Dr. Jaylia Prussing, Dr. Rod Hair.

Degree Requirements (M.Ed.)

The Master’s degree must be completed within seven years of the completion of the earliest graduate course used in the course of study. Up to one-third of the total credits required for the course of study may be transferred from another accredited institution. To achieve the Master’s Degree, the student must complete courses within an emphasis area (listed following) and must successfully complete either a thesis or a comprehensive capstone.

Thesis Option

The thesis option emphasizes original research. It represents a student’s capacity for detailed, in-depth research or advanced scholarship. A thesis must demonstrate a student’s ability to clearly define a worthwhile problem, to conduct a thorough investigation, to organize the findings, to draw defensible conclusions, and to give an oral presentation of the findings. After the student has been admitted to candidacy for the degree, a research proposal is written and the thesis committee is selected. These activities are completed within EDU 701 - Research Seminar II  and EDU 704 - Research Presentation . The research proposal must be approved by the Graduate Committee and Program Director. Writing and presentation of the thesis totals at least five semester credits (EDU 701 , EDU 704 , and EDU 708 ). EDU 704  must be completed by the date established with the student’s advisor, or the student must register for continuing credit each semester until the thesis has been completed and the research presented.

Research Analysis Capstone Option

The research analysis capstone option requires the student to complete courses within an emphasis area and to conduct an in-depth research analysis, demonstrating competence in the University of Mary’s graduate requirements, competence in the student’s emphasis area, and further demonstrating the graduate’s ability to assume a leadership role in the field of education. Creation and presentation of the research analysis capstone totals four hours of credit (EDU 705 - Research Analysis Capstone Prep  and EDU 706 - Research Analysis Capstone Pres ).

Admission Procedures

An individual holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution may be admitted to begin graduate study. An individual seeking a North Dakota credential or endorsement must hold a Bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited institution and must have the appropriate North Dakota licensure and years of experience, as well as the required coursework, in order to be recommended for North Dakota credentialing or endorsement by the Graduate Program in Education. In most cases, the requirements listed below must be met prior to admission for graduate study. In addition, a student must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 in order to continue in graduate programs in education.

• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Two letters of professional recommendation
• Goal Statement
• Resume
• Appropriate experience
  • Applicants to K-12 graduate programs (except for licensure track initial programs and special education) must have professional school experience.  

North Dakota Reeducation Endorsement Plans

Endorsements are issued by the Education Standards and Practice Board (ESPB). Additional information may be obtained from the Education Standards and Practice Board, 2718 Gateway Avenue, Suite 308, Bismarck ND 58503 (701) 328-9641. A student seeking an endorsement should access the ESPB website for a list of required coursework. The student will list courses already taken and courses that he/she intends to take on the form provided. This form must be approved by ESPB as part of obtaining each endorsement. Although education graduate faculty can assist students in planning, the student seeking an endorsement is typically a non-degree seeking student, and therefore does not have an official advisor in the Department of Education. Access the ESPB web site at www. state.nd.us/espb.

North Dakota Endorsements appropriate to University of Mary graduate coursework:

• Secondary
• Special Education

North Dakota Credential Plans

The Graduate Program in Education offers the coursework necessary to fulfill the following credentials issued by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction:

• Superintendent Credential  
• Elementary/Secondary Principal Credential  

Additional information may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck ND 58505-0080 (701) 328-2260. A student seeking a credential should access the DPI website www.dpi.state.nd.us for a list of required coursework. The student will list courses already taken and courses that he/she intends to take on the form provided.

This form must be approved by DPI as part of obtaining each credential. Although Education Graduate Faculty can assist students in planning, the student seeking a credential only is typically a non-degree seeking student, and therefore does not have an official advisor in the Department of Education. For additional information regarding courses that meet credential or endorsement requirements, access the Education pages of the University of Mary website: www.umary.edu.

Doctor of Education Program

Program Direcor: Dr. Brenda Tufte

Faculty: Dr. Rod Jonas (Dean), Dr. Brenda Tufte (Associate Dean), Dr. Matt Lonn (Graduate Chair), Dr. Wade Kooiman, Dr. Mike Taylor, Dr. Rod Hair, Dr. Carmen Cain

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the Ed.D. can be found on the degree program page, here .

Programs

• Catholic Educators Concentration
• Catholic Studies for Educators Concentration
• High School Chaplaincy for Priests Concentration
• Higher Education Concentration
• K-12 Education Concentration
• Special Education Leadership Concentration
• Virtue and Sport Concentration

• Elementary/Secondary Principal Credential
• Reading Credential
• Superintendent Credential

• Education, Catholic Montessori, M.Ed.
• Education, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, M.Ed.
• Education, Physical Education & Athletic Administration, M.Ed.
• Education, Reading Emphasis, M.Ed.
• Education, School Administration, M.Ed.
• Education, Special Education Leadership, M.Ed.
• Education, Special Education Strategist, M.Ed.
• Education, Teacher Leadership, M.Ed.
• Educational Leadership and Administration, Ed.D.

• Catholic Educators Certificate
• Catholic Studies for Educators Certificate
• High School Chaplaincy for Priests Certificate
• Virtue and Sport Certificate