Granting of the M.Ed. degree requires elementary or secondary Michigan teacher certification, additional M.Ed. coursework, and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

The M.Ed. degree with elementary certification requires a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours. This includes the 45 credit hours required for teacher certification and EN 510: Research Methods, Design and Analysis (3 credit hours); EN 510 must be completed after receipt of the Michigan provisional teaching certificate.

The M.Ed. degree with secondary certification requires a minimum of 45 graduate credit hours. This includes the 39 credit hours required for teacher certification, as well as EN 510: Research Methods, Design and Analysis (3 credit hours), and a graduate education method elective (3 credit hours); EN 510 must be completed after receipt of the Michigan provisional teaching certificate.

Application for Degree forms are available in the School of Education. The student is required to submit an application for degree at least one semester prior to the anticipated graduate date. When the student returns the completed application to the School of Education, his/her record will be audited. Students who complete degree requirements in May or August of the graduation year, or December of the previous year, are encouraged to participate in the May commencement ceremonies.

PLEASE NOTE: The M.Ed. degree must be completed within five years of the time enrolled in the first graduate education course.

PLEASE NOTE: State requirements are continuously under review and may change.

Elementary certification through Aquinas College requires successful completion of a minimum of 48 credit hours of education coursework. Please note that students may not double count coursework toward the major, minor and education requirements. Elementary candidates must pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) test in Elementary Education in order to be certified. Elementary candidates must also pass the MTTC subject area tests in the major(s) and minor(s) in order to be certified to teach those subjects in grades sixth, seventh and eighth. Elementary candidates have the option of waiving the subject area tests in the major(s) and minor(s). Students considering waiver of the major and/or minor test(s) must discuss this option with an advisor in the School of Education prior to signing a waiver form.

Michigan elementary provisional certification allows the holder to teach:

• all subjects in kindergarten through fifth grades;
• all subjects in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades IN A SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOM ONLY;
• sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in the completed academic major(s) and minor(s) only WITH PASSING SUBJECT AREA TEST SCORES;
• students seeking an approved K-12 major may teach the subject area in kindergarten through grade twelve, with appropriate coursework and passing subject area test scores.

Early Childhood Education is a minor only. Students must select substantive major or two substantive minors to combine with the Early Childhood Education minor.

The following minimum requirements, along with successful completion of a certifiable major and minor OR a triple minor and passing scores on the elementary education test and each subject area test, must be met for elementary certification.

• EN 501 Introduction to Education (3)
• EN 507 Human Growth and Schooling (3)
• EN 509 Foundations of Education (3)
• EN 592 Multicultural Issues in Education (3)
• EN 506 Application of Learning Theories for the Elementary Classroom (3)
• EN 520 Literacy I (3)
• EN 541 Literacy II (3)
• ED 560 Mathematics for Elementary & Middle School Teachers I (3)
• ED 561 Mathematics for Elementary & Middle School Teachers II (3)
• ED 571 Mathematics Methods for Elementary and Middle School Teachers (3)
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN 595 Directed Student Teaching, Elementary School (12)

* Graduate education method elective chosen from the following:

** EN 579 is a variable method elective offered every semester. Please consult with an education advisor when selecting a graduate education method elective with this course number.

• English/Language Arts majors and minors are strongly encouraged to take EN 500 or EN 695 as the graduate education method elective.
• Foreign Language majors (Spanish, French and German):
  • Elementary candidates are required to take EN 896: Teaching Foreign Language in the Elementary School as the graduate education method.
  • Candidates for K – 12 foreign language certification are required to take EN 896 and EN 897: Teaching Foreign Language in the Secondary School as the graduate education method electives.
• Integrated Science majors are required to take EN 581 as the graduate education method elective.

The following minimum requirements, along with successful completion of a certifiable major or two additional minors and passing scores on the elementary education test and each subject area test, must be met for elementary certification. For more detailed information on the Reading minor requirements please consult the undergraduate catalog.

• EN 501 Introduction to Education (3)

• EN 507 Human Growth and Schooling (3)
• EN 509 Foundations of Education (3)

• EN 592 Multicultural Issues in Education (3)
• EN 506 Application of Learning Theories for the Elementary Classroom (3)
• ED 560 Mathematics for Elementary & Middle School Teachers I (3)
• ED 561 Mathematics for Elementary & Middle School Teachers II (3)
• ED 571 Mathematics Methods for Elementary and Middle School Teachers (3)
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN 595 Directed Student Teaching, Elementary School (12)

* Graduate education method elective chosen from the following:

** EN 579 is a variable method elective offered every semester. Please consult with an education advisor when selecting a graduate education method elective with this course number.

• English/Language Arts majors and minors are strongly encouraged to take EN 500 or EN 695 as the graduate education method elective.
• Elementary candidates are required to take EN 896: Teaching Foreign Language in the Elementary School as the graduate education method.
• Candidates for Spanish certification are required to take EN 896 and EN 897: Teaching Foreign Language in the Secondary School as the graduate education method electives.
• Integrated Science majors are required to take EN 581 as the graduate education method elective.

Secondary certification through Aquinas College requires successful completion of a minimum of 39 credit hours in education coursework. Please note that students may not double count coursework toward the major, minor and education requirements. Secondary candidates must pass both Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC) subject area tests in the major and minor (or double major) in order to be certified.

Michigan Secondary Provisional Certification allows the holder to teach in his or her major(s) and minor only in grades six through twelve. Students seeking an approved K-12 major may teach the subject area in kindergarten through grade twelve.

Subject areas followed by an asterisk (*) are considered electives in most secondary schools. Students are strongly encouraged to balance elective subject areas with a more marketable subject. Students should consult an education advisor regarding the marketability of the potential major/minor combination.

The following minimum requirements, along with successful completion of a certifiable major(s) and minor and passing scores on each subject area test, must be met for secondary certification.

• EN 501 Introduction to Education (3)
• EN 507 Human Growth and Schooling (3)
• EN 509 Foundations of Education (3)
• EN 592 Multicultural Issues in Education (3)

• EN 508 Application of Learning Theories for the Secondary Classroom (3)
• EN 553 Methods of Secondary Education (3)
• EN 554 Content Area Literacy (3)
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN 598 Directed Student Teaching, Secondary School (12)

*Graduate education method electives chosen from the following:

  ** EN 579 is a variable method elective offered every semester. Please consult with an education advisor when selecting a graduate education method elective with this course number.

• Biology, Chemistry and Physics majors and/or minors are required to take EN 581 as a graduate education method elective.
• English majors and minors are strongly encouraged to take EN 500 or EN 695 as a graduate education method elective.
• Spanish majors:
  • Candidates for K – 12 foreign language certification are required to take EN 896 and EN 897: Teaching Foreign Language in the Secondary School as the graduate education method elective

• Mathematics majors and minors are required to take EN 575 as a graduate education method elective.
• Music majors must consult with both the Music Department and a School of Education advisor for appropriate education requirements upon entering the program.

The following minimum requirements, along with successful completion of a certifiable major(s) and passing scores on each subject area test, must be met for secondary certification. For more detailed information on the Reading minor requirements, please consult the undergraduate catalog.

• EN 501 Introduction to Education (3)
• EN 507 Human Growth and Schooling (3)
• EN 509 Foundations of Education (3)

• EN 592 Multicultural Issues in Education (3)
• EN 508 Application of Learning Theories for the Secondary Classroom (3)
• EN 553 Methods of Secondary Education (3)
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN ___ Graduate education method elective (3)*
• EN 598 Directed Student Teaching, Secondary School (12)

*Graduate education method electives chosen from the following:

** EN 579 is a variable method elective offered every semester. Please consult with an education advisor when selecting a graduate education method elective with this course number.

• Biology, Chemistry and Physics majors and/or minors are required to take EN 581 as a graduate education method elective.
• English majors and minors are strongly encouraged to take EN 500 or EN 695 as a graduate education method elective.

• Spanish majors:
  • Candidates for K – 12 foreign language certification are required to take EN 896 and EN 897: Teaching Foreign Language in the Secondary School as the graduate education method electives.
• Mathematics majors and minors are required to take EN 575 as a graduate education method elective.
• Music majors must consult with both the Music Department and a School of Education advisor for appropriate education requirements upon entering the program.