University of Alaska Fairbanks

1996-1997 catalog

Degrees and Programs

Graduate Degree Programs

M.Ed Degree

Students may earn an M.Ed. in one of five areas of specialization: 1) Cross-Cultural Education, 2) Curriculum and Instruction, 3) Educational Leadership, 4) Language and Literacy, and 5) Guidance and Counseling. Inquiries concerning options and the specific requirements of each option should be directed to the School of Education, Coordinator of Graduate Programs.

Application Review Process

Applications are due on April 1 and October 1 and are reviewed immediately thereafter for admission in the following semester. Faculty may vote to
Admit, to Not Admit, or to Admit With Stipulations. Stipulations are specified when additional development in particular areas is needed before beginning a graduate degree program.

Admission Requirements

    Minimum requirements for admission to the M.Ed. program are:
  1. Bachelor's degree, minimum of 24 credits of education courses, and an average 3.00 GPA.
  2. One year of satisfactory teaching or administrative experience in public schools. Alternative experience may be accepted.

Application Procedures

  1. Application form, submitted to the UAF Office of Admissions.
  2. Scores on the general Graduate Record Examination.
  3. A 4-5 page essay which describes the applicant's career goals and educational philosophy, and how those goals and philosophy are relevant to the College's mission and the education graduate degree program.

Degree Requirements

  1. Complete UAF degree requirements.
  2. Complete the Education Department requirements as follows:
    1. At least 36 credits must be completed for specializations in Cross-Cultural Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Language and Literacy, and individualized programs with other emphases, and at least 42 credits for Educational Leadership with a Type B Principals Endorsement (see following section).
    2. No more than 9 credits earned before admission to an M.Ed. program may count toward that degree.
    3. At least 30 credits must be completed at the 600 level.
    4. At least 15 credits must be completed on the Fairbanks campus.
    5. A synthesizing paper, to demonstrate mastery of the student's program of study, is required in lieu of the university comprehensive examination requirement.
    6. An educational research project (or in some cases a thesis) is required.

Course requirements: (36-42 credits)

  1. Core courses (15 credit)
    ED 601 Intro. to Applied Social Science Research (3)
    ED 603 Field Study Research Methods (3)
    ED 689 Proseminar in Applied Educational Research (satisfies requirement for ED 602) (3)
    ED 690 Seminar in Cross-Cultural Studies (3)
    ED 698 Research Project (3)
  2. One of the following: (3)
    ED 610 Education & Cultural Processes (3)
    ED 612 Cultural & Philosophical Foundations of Education (3)
    ED 616 Education & Socioeconomic Change (3)
    ED 621 Cultural Aspects of Language Acquisition (3)
  3. Elective credits (to be selected in consultation with each student's advisory committee):
    Cross-Cultural; Curriculum/Instruction; or Language/Literacy (18 credits)
    Educational Leadership (24 credits)

Type B License Program

Effective Summer, 1995, a new statewide Type B License Program will be available for those seeking School Administrative Licensure (the State Type B License). Four core courses (3 credits each) will precede an academic year (2 semesters) internship for an additional 12 credits. The required coursework will be available, and is transferable across the three U.A. campuses.

Students already holding a master's degree may add the Type B License Program for Administrative Licensure. This Type B Program is credited toward a Master's in Educational Leadership for those just beginning graduate school.

Type B License Program Requirements

  • Required Courses (12 credits)
    ED 663 School Law (3)
    ED 695 Leadership: Structure and Organizational Behavior for School Administrators (3)
    ED 695 Social and Political Foundations of Education (3)
    ED 631 Small Schools Curriculum Design (3)
    ED 676 Required Administrative Internship (2 semesters, 6 credits each) 12
  • Total credits (24 credits)

Ed.S. Degree

The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is designed for teachers and other educators (1) who wish to undertake graduate study beyond the master's degree; (2) who wish to qualify for an intermediate degree between the master's and the doctorate; (3) who wish to develop further competence in one field of specialization. The focus of this degree program is cross-cultural education or educational leadership.

Admission Requirements

  1. Applicants must be experienced educators who have at least three years of professional teaching, counseling or administrative experience.
  2. Applicant should have a master's degree in an approved area of study as determined by the Education faculty's admissions committee. The committee may recommend provisional admittance subject to elimination of deficiencies.
  3. Admission will be contingent upon:
    1. A minimum GPA of 3.00 in previous graduate work.
    2. Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination general test and the advanced test in Education (or permission of admissions committee)
    3. A satisfactory review conducted by admissions committee of the education department (may include a personal interview by the committee).

Degree Requirements

  1. Complete UAF degree requirements.
  2. Minimum requirements will be the completion of 36 semester hours beyond the master's degree level. Students may transfer a maximum of 9 hours from another university into their program.
  3. At least 30 of the 36 semester hours must be at the graduate level (600).
  4. Fulfillment of the requirements of the Ed.S. degree must be completed within seven years.
  5. Satisfactory performance on a written and oral comprehensive examination is required.

Course Requirements: (36 credits)

Courses will be selected in consultation with the student's advisory committee and will depend upon the student's prior training and field of specialization. Candidates will be required to have 36 credits for this degree, and a total background of at least 60 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree as outlined in the following course requirements:

  1. Core requirements for all Educational Specialist candidates (courses completed as part of a master's programs may not be applied toward the Educational Specialist Degree).
    Core courses (12 credits)
    ED 601 Introduction to Applied Social Science Research (3)
    ED 610 Education and Cultural Processes (3)
    ED 612 Cultural and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3)
    ED 690 Seminar in Cross-Cultural Studies (to be taken upon the completion of a minimum of 24 hours of graduate study) (3)
  2. Cross-Cultural Education Specialization Courses (15 Credits)
    ED 689 Proseminar in Applied Educational Research (3)
    ED 611 Learning, Thinking and Percep in Cultural Perspective (3)
    ED 612 Cultural and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3)
    ED 615 Social Organization of Classrooms and Learning (3)
    ED 620 Language, Literacy and Learning (3)
  3. Electives: 600 level courses approved by candidate's committee
  4. Recommended courses to provide specialization depth:
    ANS 475 Alaska Native Social Change
    ED 621 Cultural Aspects of Language Acquisition
    ED 630 Curriculum Theory
    ED 660 Educational Administration in Cultural Perspective
  5. Field Study or Internship (minimum of 6 credits)
    Under the guidance of the student's graduate committee, each candidate will design a field research project. Students will submit a written report on their findings and will defend the completed project and their conclusions in an oral examination before their advisory committee.
    A research design may include the following tools of research: analysis of cumulative records, questionnaires, sociometric techniques, interviews with open-ended questions, analysis of test scores, analysis of textbooks, observation of teaching and administrative techniques, participant observation in the school and community, and rating scales.

Education Post-Baccalaureate Preparation for Teacher Licensure

UAF provides licensure preparation for baccalaureate degree holders whose baccalaureate studies did not initially prepare them for licensure. UAF education programs prepare highly qualified professionals in education who are able to teach in urban and rural Alaska and to work with multicultural and minority students, especially Alaska Native students. Post-baccalaureate students may pursue either elementary (K-8) or secondary (7-12) licensure. See the UAF Undergraduate Catalog for additional information, or contact the Office of Certification and Advising in the Education Department.