Graduate Programs

WDPI Approval

School of Education licensing programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI).

Candidate Assessments

Licensure Endorsement is required for program completion and recommendation for licensure by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Assessment activities related to this transition occur during the final student teaching or graduate internship semester. In support of the commitment to developing reflective practitioners for effective schools, license endorsement requires completion of the edTPA Teacher Performance Assessment, initial educator development statement, and other artifacts that the candidate prepares during passage through the program. Candidates pursuing teaching licensure in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Reading (Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist) must also take and pass the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test (FORT).

Details of the assessment requirements are published in the appropriate licensure program candidate handbook.

Program Offerings

Students entering the graduate program in Education may seek a Master of Arts in Education degree; a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI) certification and license; or both the Master of Arts in Education degree and a WDPI license. Alternatively, students may enroll as a non-degree seeking student, taking courses that match individual educational needs for professional development.

Initial educators should consider ways the master’s degree and licensing programs may be used to advance their professional development plans. Professional educators should consider ways in which degree and licensing programs may be used to enhance their professional and career options.

In each concentration, candidates will develop skills in curriculum, instruction, and research. Coursework is specialized for teaching and administrative licensing, promotion, and leadership development. Students will develop their skills in the areas of connecting theory and practice, instructional effectiveness, creative use of research findings, promoting educational achievement, and school improvement. Programs leading to licensure are guided by the appropriate InTASC Standards/Wisconsin Educator Standards or Wisconsin Administrator Standards.

Background Check

All School of Education students seeking WDPI licensure must comply with the State of Wisconsin requirement for a Criminal Background Check. This background check is required prior to official admission to graduate licensure programs. Edgewood College uses the CastleBranch background check site, accessible at: https://portal.castlebranch.com/ED22. Please use the code R1202 to identify Edgewood College as the location to receive the completed Background Check.

Advising

All students will be assigned an advisor in their program(s). Students seeking a license in cross-categorical special education, elementary education (ACE), secondary education (ASP), or Educational Leadership must participate in a transcript review with the program advisor. Students wishing to take any field experience course must have an advisor’s signature.

Students in the doctoral program receive advising with their cohort group.

Research Requirements

All students pursuing a Master of Arts in Education must complete their research course requirements at Edgewood College, including: ED 603 - Introduction to Educational Research and ED 692 - Research Capstone Project.

Admission Requirements

License-only seeking students are classified as non-degree. Applicants for any of the student classifications except non-degree must meet all of the requirements for admission to the graduate programs. Please see Graduate Admissions for additional international student requirements. Admission requirements for the doctoral program can be found in the School of Education - Doctoral Program section.

School of Education: Master of Arts in Education Admission Requirements

Provide evidence of a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from a United States regionally accredited or equivalent post-secondary institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission status. The cumulative grade point average is computed on the highest degree held at the time of application to the Edgewood College graduate program.
Complete and submit graduate application and application fee via the Graduate Application webpage.
Request that official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate academic credits received from each post-secondary institution attended be sent directly to the Admissions Office.
Provide two letters of recommendation from college or university professors, supervisors, and/or professional colleagues addressing the applicant’s probability of success in graduate school.
Submit a written personal statement listing the reasons why the applicant will be successful in graduate school, citing specific background experiences and how they would aid in the success of the applicant as a student.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Master of Arts in Education: Elementary Education Program

Applicants must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Accelerated Secondary Program (ASP) Licensing Sequence and/or the Master of Arts in Education: Secondary Education Program

Applicants must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following items:

The ASP program requires a minimum cumulative degree GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally-accredited postsecondary institution.
The ASP program requires a total of three letters of recommendation from college or university professors, supervisors, and/or professional colleagues addressing the probability of your success in graduate school and as a teacher.
The ASP program requires that your personal statement also speaks to your interest in becoming a teacher and how your previous experiences have guided your decision to pursue a teaching license.
Additional entrance exams in desired content area may be required. Consult the ASP program manager for more information about content proficiency exams.

The priority application deadline for the ASP program is December 1.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Bilingual Education Program

Applicants to the Bilingual Education Program must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following items:

Provide proof of a WDPI initial educator, professional educator or master educator license (or the equivalent).
Bilingual proficiency at an Advanced-Low level in oral and written language through the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) exam (or equivalent).

Admission Requirements Specific to the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program

Applicants to the ESL program must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following item:

Provide evidence of a WDPI initial educator, professional educator, or master educator license (or the equivalent).

Admission Requirements Specific to the Educational Leadership Program

Applicants to the Educational Leadership Program must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following item:

Hold or be eligible to hold any WDPI Professional Educator License to teach at the early childhood through adolescence level or any WDPI Pupil Services License as a school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker.
Provide evidence of three years full-time relevant professional work experience.
Applicants to the School of Business Administration program must provide evidence of successfully completed coursework in accounting fundamentals, information management, and risk management.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Professional Educator Program

Applicants must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above.

Admission Requirements Specific To The Reading Teacher Program

Applicants to the Reading Teacher Program must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following items:

Provide evidence of a WDPI initial educator, professional educator or master educator license (or the equivalent).
Provide evidence of two years full-time regular classroom teaching experience by the completion of the program.

Admission Requirements Specific to The Reading Specialist Program

Applicants to the Reading Specialist Program must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following items:

Provide evidence of a WDPI initial educator, professional educator or master educator license (or the equivalent).
Provide evidence of a Reading Teacher License (316).
Provide evidence of three years full-time regular classroom teaching experience by the completion of the program.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Cross-Categorical Special Education License Program and/or the Master of Arts in Education: Special Education Concentration

Applicants must meet the School of Education, Master of Arts in Education admission requirements, items 1-5 listed above, as well as the following items:

The Special Education program requires that your personal statement also speaks to what passion drives your choice to become a special education teacher.
Interview with Director.
Transcript Audit for Requirements:
- GPA 3.0 in identified BA Major
- Oral and Written Communication Competencies GPA 3.0
- Documentation of Specific General Education Content Competencies (PI 34.022 Statutory Requirements: Equity, Conflict Resolution, Teacher Responsibilities, Reading and Language Arts, Children with Disabilities, and Professional Responsibilities) as required by the WDPI.
Pass certified background check upon entry.

Licensing Sequences

Specific requirements for licensing sequences are provided in each candidate’s program plan. Each plan is tailored to the candidate’s background and goals to meet licensing requirements. Sample plans are available upon request. Licensing program sequences may also be the foundation for a Master of Arts in Education degree when paired with one of the concentration areas noted later in this section. Licensure coursework in the planned program includes successful practicums, a passing edTPA score, a passing Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test score (in applicable programs), and an acceptable e-portfolio (in applicable programs) leading to a licensure recommendation to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Early Adolescence-Adolescence: Regular Education

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensure to teach children and youth ages 10-21 in regular education populations complete the 22-credit accelerated secondary education licensing program (ASP) with an emphasis in one of the following content areas: English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. An ASP candidate may also secure combined licensure in the content area with the English as a Second Language add-on license or a Bilingual Education add-on license.

Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence: Regular Education

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensure to teach children and youth ages 6 through 13 in regular education populations complete the graduate program in elementary education.

Bilingual Education

Candidates pursuing professional goals and add-on licensure to teach bilingual students within the grade range of their initial regular education license complete the Bilingual licensing program.

English as a Second Language

Candidates pursuing professional goals and add-on licensure to teach English language learners within the grade range of their initial, regular education license complete the ESL licensing program.

Cross-Categorical Special Education

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensure to teach children and youth ages 4 through 21 (grades K-12) in special education populations complete the graduate program in cross-categorical special education. The graduate special education program is based in culturally-relevant socially just pedagogies with restorative justice practices to ensure Special Education teachers are prepared to meet the needs of today’s learners. The School of Education Special Education Department consciously delineates course content using the lens of social justice focused on achievement for all learners, no matter the abilities brought to the classroom environment. Teachers who complete the Graduate Special Education program become individuals who transcend their own cultural biases and preferences to create inclusive classroom environments and develop a curriculum that engages and sustains student growth.

Reading Teacher

This program is for candidates pursuing professional goals of strengthening their teaching, becoming a reading teacher and literacy coach in K-12 settings, and pursuing the WDPI license “Reading Teacher” (316). Students may complete a master’s degree following the Reading Teacher Program.

Reading Specialist

Candidates already holding the Reading Teacher License (316) and pursuing the WDPI license “Reading Specialist “(317) complete a master’s degree (unless one is already earned in an appropriate field) following the Reading Specialist Program.

Educational Leadership: Principal

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensures for Principal P-12 complete a master’s degree (unless an approved master’s degree or equivalent qualification in the area of administration has already been earned) following the Principal required course sequence.

Educational Leadership: Director of Instruction

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensures for Director of Instruction P-12 complete a master’s degree (unless one is already earned) in educational administration following the Director of Instruction required course sequence.

Educational Leadership: Director of Special Education and Pupil Services

Candidates pursing professional goals and licensure for Director of Special Education and Pupil Services P-12 complete a master’s degree (unless one is already earned) in educational administration following the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services required course sequence.

Educational Leadership: School Business Administrator

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensure for School Administration P-12 complete a master’s degree (unless one is already earned) in educational leadership following the School Business Administrator required course sequence.

Educational Leadership: School District Administrator or Superintendent

Candidates pursuing professional goals and licensure for School District School Administrator or Superintendent P-12 enroll in the doctoral program in Educational Leadership. The coursework in the first two years of the doctoral program coupled with a successful practicum and acceptable portfolio, leads to a superintendent license. Additional administrative licenses may be added through the doctoral program as well. (See Doctoral program pages for additional information.)

Master’s Degree Prerequisites

Undergraduate study in liberal arts, education, and related fields provides the best foundation for pursuing the Master of Arts in Education. Each applicant’s academic background and professional experience are assessed in relation to graduate study goals and program requirements. An individual plan of study is developed; for some students, additional undergraduate coursework may be necessary in certain specialized fields. Students possessing a Wisconsin Teaching License may have already met many of the prerequisite requirements. Credits from other accredited post-secondary institutions may be recognized for application to licensing requirements.

Master’s Degree Requirements

Each student completes a minimum of 33 credits to receive the Master of Arts in Education degree. The curriculum includes:

Degree program requirements (including supervised field experience, as appropriate)
Core degree experiences (including research)
Specialized Professional Educator electives

Programs

Licensing

Master of Arts

Master of Arts/Licensing

Master of Science