The Graduate College
Masters Degrees (page 2 of 3)
Masters Degrees (page 2 of 3)
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Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development
The Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development
provides a comprehensive professional development program with four
distinct areas of concentration:
1. Early Childhood Education
2. Elementary School Teaching and Learning
3. Reading
4. Teaching in the Middle School
The Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development is designed to enhance the knowledge and skill of reflective practitioners for a variety of educational settings. It is our belief that teachers ought to be developed as leaders, change agents, intellectuals, researchers, and learners. They should be passionate learners who embrace diversity, actively inquire and reflect upon their own practice, nurture the development of new knowledge and skills, and weave the complexities of modern society into the learning process. This is accomplished through a process of continuous professional, intellectual, and social growth within an interrelated spiral of academic content preparation, professional knowledge, pedagogical skill, and guided practice. The Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development is predicated on the assumption that theory, research, policy, and practice must be integrated on an equal plane to provide innovative models that lead to the improvement of teaching, learning, and reflective process.
Reflective practice suggests that teachers should be able to demonstrate professional expertise appropriate for their level of experience. They need to have the ability to analyze their own teaching, inquire into how teaching can be improved, and develop strategies to improve teaching that build on individual strengths. Reflective practitioners must also be able to situate their practice within the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of relationships among schooling, society, and the natural environment. It requires teachers to examine, interpret, and evaluate the teaching-learning process using the best practices described by research and experience as the referent for reflection.
Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
The Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership offers a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with concentrations in five areas:
1) K-12 School Principal Leadership;
2) K-12 Central Office Administration Leadership
3) K-12 School Business Official Leadership
4) K-12 Curriculum and Instruction Leadership
5) Organizational Analysis Leadership
The master’s program prepares leaders for a variety of roles in private and public settings. Each concentration includes a leadership core, a specialty core, and a capstone experience. A Performance-Driven Leadership model is used within this program that emphasizes the transfer of theory into practice. Students actively engage in a number of activities while exploring effective leadership constructs. Persons who wish to apply to the Educational Leadership master’s program must apply directly to the Office of Admissions. Applicants who seek information prior to admission are urged to contact the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership office. Satisfactory completion of courses prior to admission to a Department program does not guarantee admission.
Master of Arts in Educational Technology
The Master of Arts in Educational Technology is designed to prepare educators for the integration of educational technology into academic programs of kindergarten through 12th grade schools. The degree program prepares educators for various school-based technology roles, including technology coordinators, technology instructional consultants/teachers, and special education technology consultants/teachers.
A majority of the courses in the Master of Arts in Educational Technology are offered via Extended University Program’s distance education program means that include two-way video classes, Internet conferencing, and other online teaching/learning methods. Other courses will be offered as residential courses taught in traditional computer labs and classrooms at Western’s Kalamazoo campus as well as at various regional centers located in southwestern Michigan. Students should be prepared to handle distance education instruction that often requires more independent work, self-direction, and the meeting of course deadlines outside of regular classroom meetings. Students will also need to have mastered basic computer communications systems, including email, use of listservs, web browsing, and submission of assignments via fi le transfer procedures. An online application and additional information can be found at http: //www.wmich.edu/Edtech .
Master of Science in Engineering (Electrical/Computer)
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers graduate programs leading to a Master of Science in Engineering (Computer) and to a Master of Science in Engineering (Electrical).
These programs are designed to prepare students for advanced-level graduate study in electrical and computer engineering or professional practice. They provide opportunities for engineering graduates to enhance their background in engineering science analysis and design. Courses are offered in the areas of computer engineering, control systems and signal processing, real-time embedded systems, instrumentation, communications, computer architecture, electromagnetics, and power electronics.
Master of Science in Engineering Management
The Master of Science in Engineering Management was developed to meet the need for professional leaders in manufacturing and service operations. Its objectives are:
1. To enhance the capabilities to deal with resources available in commerce and industry to managing people, money, and projects.
2. To develop the leadership capabilities based on the student’s strong technical background and significant managerial skills.
3. To allow students to develop analytical and managerial skills and to acquire knowledge in related fields.
4. To develop their ability to integrate technical, managerial and systems skills to improve the performance of the enterprise.
5. To prepare students for further study in post-master’s and doctoral programs as their interest and professional growth require.
The scope of the graduate program includes studies in the areas of engineering, technical resource management, and industrial leadership. The program requires completion of a minimum of thirty semester hours beyond the entry level prerequisites in the student’s program.
Master of Arts in English
The Master of Arts in English provides advanced study of literature, literary history, literary theory, and other literary concerns. A student desiring to enter the program should present a thirty-hour undergraduate major with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and a sample of critical writing about literature. Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examinations, both the General Test and the Subject Test in Literature in English, and forward their scores to the Department of English.
At least twenty hours of the undergraduate major must be in courses in literature; no more than fifteen of the thirty should be at the freshman-sophomore level. Applicants lacking an undergraduate major but who have at least 20 hours of work in English with a substantial number of courses in literature and who are otherwise judged eligible may be granted admission to the program on condition that they remedy perceived deficiencies in preparation by taking some undergraduate courses as prerequisites.
Required courses in the program are ENGL 6150 Literary
Criticism, ENGL 6300 Introduction to Graduate Studies, ENGL 6400 The Nature
of Poetry, and ENGL 6900 Scholarship and Writing in the Profession. The
additional courses needed to complete a coherent thirty-three hour program
are selected in consultation with the graduate director. On admission,
students should consult with the advisor at the earliest opportunity
concerning their program of study.
Master of Arts in English with an Emphasis on Teaching
The Master of Arts in English with an Emphasis on Teaching is designed to meet the needs of English teachers, most especially those teaching in secondary schools, but also those teaching English and the language arts in middle and elementary schools. (Note: The degree does not provide teachyer certification.) A student desiring to enter the program should present a thirty-hour undergraduate major with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and a sample of critical writing about literature. Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examinations, both the General test and the Subject test in Literature in English, and forward their scores to the Department of English.
At least twenty hours of the undergraduate major must be in courses in literature; no more than fifteen of the thirty should be at the freshman-sophomore level. Applicants lacking an undergraduate major but who have at least 20 hours of work in English with a substantial number of courses in literature and who are otherwise judged eligible may be granted admission to the program on condition that they remedy perceived deficiencies in preparation by taking some undergraduate courses as prerequisites.
Required courses in the program are (a) two courses chosen from ENGL 6150 Literary Criticism, ENGL 6300 Introduction to Graduate Studies, and ENGL 6400 The Nature of Poetry; (b) two courses in English pedagogy, including the pedagogy of writing; (c) one course in the study of multicultural literature; (d) one course in English language; and (e) ENGL 6910 Research and Scholarship in English Education. Of the additional graduate level courses needed to complete the thirty-three hours, at least nine hours must be in literature (exclusive of ENGL 5820 and 5830). On admission, students should consult with the advisor at the earliest opportunity concerning their program of study.
Master of Arts in Evaluation, Measurement and Research Design
The Department of Educational Studies offers the Master of Arts in Evaluation, Measurement, and Research. Students completing this degree program will be qualified to serve in a staff position in evaluation, testing, or research units in school or non-school settings, or in local, state, or federal government agencies.
Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Medicine
The Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation offers a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Medicine with concentrations in athletic training and exercise physiology.
The Masters of Science in Exercise and Sports Medicine (Athletic Training Concentration) is an NATA Accredited Graduate Curriculum designed to provide the student with advanced athletic training didactic and laboratory experiences, clinical internship opportunities in which the student will solidify their skills, and research experiences to become better clinicians and educators. Our hope is that the graduates of this program will possess skills that not only make them highly qualified professionals but also well-rounded individuals.
The Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Medicine (Exercise Physiology Concentration) is intended to provide a course of study that will enable graduates to work in the following settings: corporate, municipal, university, and commercial fitness programs, cardiac rehabilitation, gait clinics, and athletic team strength and conditioning programs. Graduates also pursue advanced degrees in exercise physiology and biomechanics or other professional programs such as physical therapy, medicine, etc. The Exercise Science Program has a thesis and non-thesis option. For the non-thesis option, students may choose to complete either an independent study or field experience (internship).
Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences
The graduate program in Family and Consumer Sciences is designed to provide a comprehensive program of studies in Family and Consumer Sciences or an in depth program of studies for the person desiring to strengthen specialized interest areas in dietetics and human nutrition, family life education, or textile and apparel technology.
The Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences is designed for the person with a Bachelor of Science or Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences or a home economics-related program of study.
Because of the diversity of the field and unique needs of those desiring graduate training, an individualized program plan is designed for each student within the parameters of the program requirements.
The degree may be used as a foundation for continued graduate work leading to a doctoral degree at another institution.
Master of Arts in Geography
The goals of the Master of Arts in Geography are: 1) to assist students in acquiring the skills needed for independent geographic research, including organizational and communication skills; and 2) to enable the student to develop a concentration in a particular aspect of the field. At the same time, each program is individually designed to suit career or personal objectives. Students may prepare for geographic career in government, business and industry, or for pursuit of a higher degree. A minimum of 30 graduate hours is required.
Master of Science in Geology
The Master of Science in Geology is designed to prepare the student for professional work in geology and for further graduate study.
Master of Arts in Health, Physical Education
The Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation offers a Master of Arts in Physical Education* which prepares teachers, coaches, supervisors, and administrators to assume leadership roles in the following: Pedagogy, Special Physical Education, Sport Management, and Sports Studies.
Master of Arts in History
The Master of Arts in History serves both as preparation for doctoral study and as a professional degree in many fields of research, teaching, and public history.
Master of Arts in Human Resources Development
The Master of Arts in Human Resources Development (HRD) provides graduate preparation for persons seeking entry into, or advancement in, a career in human resources development (also known as staff development, employee training,
etc.) in business, government, education, and healthcare settings. This program prepares leading-edge HRD practitioners who are able to provide effective direction, through leadership and consulting roles, to assure that organizational learning and development functions are linked to, produce, and can demonstrate worthwhile organizational and individual performance results.
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
The objectives of the program leading to a Master of
Science in Industrial Engineering are:
1. To prepare students who hold a baccalaureate degree in industrial
engineering or other engineering or related disciplines for advanced
level professional practice in industrial engineering.
2. To prepare students for formal post-master's and doctoral programs,
as their inclination and professional growth require.
Graduates of the program can look forward to career opportunities with higher levels of responsibility and remuneration. These include jobs at a variety of levels in manufacturing and service-related industries.
Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering
The Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering is designed to provide advanced competencies in the areas of computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided design and analysis, and integrated processing of polymers, metals, and composite materials. The program is designed for decision-makers in manufacturing engineering, engineering graphics and design, process engineering, quality assurance, and tooling design.
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy provides students with academic course work and clinical practica designed to prepare individuals for entry level positions as family therapists in medical and private practice settings, and in public, private non-profit, and private agencies. Students who complete the program will have met the academic degree requirements to be eligible to apply for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Michigan and Clinical Membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. This program is offered in collaboration with the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
This degree program is designed to provide career advancement training for engineers and scientists working in the industry, as well for recent BS and BSE degree graduates. The program is aimed at graduates of engineering or physical sciences curricula.
Master of Arts in Mathematics
The Master of Arts in Mathematics extends the student's knowledge in the areas of algebra, real and complex analysis, applied mathematics, combinatorics, geometry, number theory, and topology. The program permits specialization in preparing for advanced study, and provides additional training for teachers of mathematics and students seeking employment in industry.
Master of Arts in Mathematics Education
This program deepens and extends secondary school mathematics teachers’ understanding of mathematics and its learning and teaching. Through a focus on both theory and practice, this program enables teachers to strengthen their
classroom effectiveness, to assume leadership roles in curriculum and instruction, and, if so desired, continue with doctoral study in mathematics education.
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Graduates with the Master of Science in Engineering (Mechanical) look forward to career opportunities at higher levels of responsibility. The areas of opportunities include, but are not limited to, mechanical system and structural dynamics, system design and controls, materials, experimental stress analysis, tribology, vehicle dynamics, experimental and computational fluid dynamics, thermal and power systems, fuel cells, noise and vibrations, finite element analysis, and micro and nano-technology. Opportunities for mechanical engineers continue to develop with the rapid expansion of the knowledge base.
Class sequencing and scheduling (in the evening hours) are arranged so that a working engineer can complete the program in three years while maintaining full-time employment.