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MASTER'S
CERTIFICATION

Master of Arts with Elementary Teacher Certification

Overview & Requirements
Applying
Careers & Field Experience

In the Master of Arts in Educational Studies with Elementary Teacher Certification program, students develop the professional and personal knowledge, dispositions, and skills required to engage diverse groups of children in thoughtful learning. The immersive full-time program begins in mid-June and finishes in mid-June the following year.

Through academic courses and supported PK-6 classroom experiences in a year-long field placement, students think deeply about teaching practices, subject matter, and social justice as they improve their skills in the company of colleagues who work together toward improving education for all children.

The elementary teacher education program aims to support teaching interns and help them become elementary teachers that meet the needs of all their students. Every semester, students participate in both academic and professional coursework, while also working in elementary classrooms. This complementary approach to learning allows students’ knowledge and confidence to grow, as the coursework and fieldwork build upon and expand what they have already learned.

Teacher Certification
The Elementary Master of Arts with Certification program prepares you for teacher certification in:

  • Grades PK-3 in self-contained, multi-subject classrooms
  • Grades 3-6 in self-contained, multi-subject classrooms

Foundational Pillars of the Elementary Education Program

Want to learn more about the program?
See our upcoming information sessions

Additional certificate and endorsement opportunities

Requirements

Admissions

To be eligible for this program, prerequisite courses must be completed before the program start date. Please submit a coursework evaluation request for personalized information on whether you have any outstanding courses that may still need to be completed.

Curriculum

Minimum credits required
62

Core credits

48

Students complete the following courses:

MDE ESL endorsement credits (optional)

20

Interns may elect the MDE English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement by completing a sequence of courses and fieldwork, focused on English Language Development (ELD), during their elementary or secondary certification programs at the undergraduate or master’s levels. Fully approved by the State of Michigan, the ELD Coursework is a 20-credit, six course and practicum sequence, which meets Michigan state standards and prepares interns to take the MTTC ESL exam.

Learn more about obtaining an MDE ESL endorsement

Course Sequence

Semester 1
Summer (Year 1)
CourseDescriptionCredits
EDUC 401Literacy 1: Development of Foundational Skills4
EDUC 416Teaching with Curriculum Materials in PK-6 Mathematics and Science1
EDUC 430"Teaching To Transgress:" Using Dialogic Thinking and History/Social Science Perspectives to Understand Contemporary and Historical Issues3
EDUC 594Education in a Multilingual Society (required for ELMAC and counts towards ESL Endorsement)3
EDUC 650.201Reflective Teaching Field Experience - Math1
EDUC 650.211Reflective Teaching Field Experience - Language Arts1
EDUC 695Research and Educational Practice3
Total semester credits16
Semester 2
Fall (Year 1)
CourseDescriptionCredits
EDUC 403Literacy 2: Development of Comprehension and Motivation PK-63
EDUC 405Literacy 3: Development of Language and Composition PK-62
EDUC 417Imagination and the Whole Child1
EDUC 431Teaching Social Studies in PK-63
EDUC 444Teaching with Digital Technologies (Module 1)2
EDUC 518Teaching PK-6 Mathematics4
EDUC 528Teaching PK-6 Science3
EDUC 649Foundational Perspectives on Educational Reform3
EDUC 650Reflective Teaching Field Experience2
Total semester credits23
Semester 3
Winter (Year 1)
CourseDescriptionCredits
EDUC 407Literacy 4: Teaching Language, Literacy and Academic Content to Diverse Learners (required for ELMAC and counts towards ESL Endorsement)3
EDUC 443Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Elementary Classroom (Module 1)1
EDUC 651Directed Teaching in the Elementary Grades10
EDUC 653Problems and Principles of Elementary Education2
Total semester credits16
EDUC 593Educational Lingustics (ESL endorsement only)3
Total semester credits with ESL19
Semester 4
Spring (Year 2)
CourseDescriptionCredits
EDUC 416Teaching with Curriculum Materials in PK-6 Mathematics and Science3
EDUC 443Teaching Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Elementary Classroom (Module 2)2
EDUC 444Teaching with Digital Technologies (Module 2)1
EDUC 519Connecting Mathematical Practice and PK-6 Mathematical Topics1
Total semester credits7
EDUC 592Methods for Teaching Language and Literacy to K-12 Culturally and Lingustically Diverse Learners (ESL endorsement only)4
EDUC 595Leadership and Advocacy Practices for Teachers of Culturally and Lingustically Diverse Learners (ESL endorsement only)4
Total semester credits with ESL15
Semester 5
Summer (Year 2) ESL Endorsement - Optional
CourseDescriptionCredits
EDUC 590English as a Second Language Teaching Practicum and Seminar (ESL endorsement only)3
Total semester credits with ESL3

Upcoming Information Sessions

There are no information sessions currently scheduled; please contact us at [email protected] to speak with a recruiter.

Application Deadlines

Apply early to receive a timely decision! Submitting an early application will give you time to engage with your program, visit campus, and have time to make an informed decision.

Summer (Jun)
March 28, 2025
Final (Extended) Deadline

Application Process

Step 2: Submit a request for coursework evaluation
  • Please submit a request for a free coursework evaluation prior to preparing application materials.
  • In order to ensure you have met the academic prerequisite requirements for the educator preparation program, your previous coursework must be evaluated by an academic advisor.
    • Unofficial transcripts are accepted for this initial evaluation, but official transcripts will be required upon admission.
    • Evaluations may take 3-4 weeks to complete once all materials are submitted.  
  • Please direct questions to the advising team at [email protected].
Step 3: Prepare application materials
  • Review Application Essay Prompts
    • Academic Statement of Purpose
      • Please review the Educator Preparation Program Mission and Vision Statements and address the following in your essay:
        • How does your experience prepare you to engage in a program with these commitments?
        • What goals do you have for your own career in light of these commitments?
      • 500 words maximum
    • Personal Statement
      • How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan?
        • Please do not repeat your Academic Statement of Purpose.
      • 500 words maximum
  • Request Letters of Recommendation
    • Academic Letter: one required letter assessing the applicant’s intellectual curiosity, preparedness for university study, receptivity to feedback, and/or perseverance. If you are applying to the secondary program, your letter must be from a professor or post-secondary instructor from the content area in which you are seeking certification.
    • Teaching Potential Letter: The teaching potential letter should come from a professional reference familiar with your experiences working with youth. This may include: personal characteristics, work ability, capacity to work with people (specifically youth), etc. Your recommender should be someone who has seen you recently work with children or someone who can speak to your potential to work with students.
    • Register your recommenders' names and contact information on the online application—recommenders will receive instructions via email for submitting letters.
      • Note: Let your recommenders know that they will need to complete the provided recommender form and will be asked to upload a letter at the end of the document. This is a requirement for each program.
    • Your recommenders can email [email protected] with any questions.
  • Prepare a Resume
    • 1-2 pages
  • Include at the top of each document:
    • The type of document (Academic Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, or Curriculum Vitae or Resume)
    • Your name
    • The name of the graduate program
    • Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)
    • Make sure margins are at least one-inch so nothing is cropped when you upload the documents to the application. Please convert your documents to PDF format & preview your files before uploading.
  • Gather Academic Transcripts
  • Submit Test Scores
    • GRE optional - scores are not utilized for admission
    • Non-native speakers of English are required to submit TOEFL, MELAB or IELTS scores (U-M code is 1839)
      • Test scores are valid 2 years from the test date
         
Step 4: Create an ApplyWeb account and complete pages 1-6 of the application
  • Create an Account with the Rackham Graduate School
    • All Marsal Family School of Education's graduate programs are administered through the University of Michigan's Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
  • Complete Pages 1-6 of the Application
    • After completing page 6 of the application, you will receive an email with your U-M ID within 5 business days. Your U-M ID number should be included on all your application materials to ensure accurate and timely processing, so we encourage you to complete this step early in the process.
    • If you need to submit your application before you receive your U-M ID number, you may still complete the application. Include your date of birth and the program’s name on your application materials.
    • Current and former U-M Ann Arbor students, alumni, and employees do not need to obtain a new U-M ID number. Use your previously obtained U-M ID number.
      • If your personal information has changed (for example, legal name, gender), make sure the personal information you submit with your application matches your previous Ann Arbor campus record. If your previous Ann Arbor campus record does not display your current personal information, contact the Registrar’s Office or the Shared Services Center to change your personal information before you apply.
Step 5: Upload application materials, test scores, and transcripts
  • Upload Academic Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, and Resume
    • Include at the top of each document:
      • The type of document (Academic Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, or Curriculum Vitae or Resume)
      • Your name
      • The name of the graduate program
      • Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)
      • Make sure margins are at least one-inch so nothing is cropped when you upload the documents to the application. Please convert your documents to PDF format & preview your files before uploading.
  • Submit Test Scores
    • Test scores must be sent directly from the testing center to the Rackham Graduate School. We recommend starting this process early as it can take up to two weeks for the scores to be received.
  • Submit Transcripts
    • Upload an electronic copy of your official transcript(s) for each Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional, or Doctoral degree earned or in progress through your ApplyWeb application account
    • Do not upload academic records printed from your school’s website or student portal.
    • Students who have studied in a country outside of the U.S. should review the required credentials from non-U.S. institutions. For all degrees obtained at non-U.S. institutions—Request that degree-granting institutions submit official transcripts/records to the Rackham Graduate School at the time of application.
Step 6: Check that letters of recommendation have been submitted
  • Check the status of your letters of recommendation, change a recommender, or resend the notification email to your recommender using the ApplyWeb Activity Page
  • Please reach out to [email protected] if there are any questions regarding the submission of the letters of recommendation.
Step 7: Create a U-M Friend Account and respond to admission offer

Quick Facts

Application fee waiver

Available

The $75 application fee is waived for all U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

GRE general exam scores

Not required

Financial aid

Available

Part-time status

Not available

Careers

88%

of known graduates found full-time employment in the field of education

78%

of known graduates were highly satisfied or satisfied with the current position

$50K

average first year salary

100%

of known graduates found jobs within 7 months
Hiring organizations and job titles

In-state

Organization Job Title Location
Garfield Elementary 4th Grade Teacher Port Huron, MI
Harvest Elementary School 2nd Grade Teacher Saline, MI
Oaktree Elementary School 5th Grade Teacher Goodrich, MI
The School at Marygrove Elementary Teacher Detroit, MI
Willow Elementary School 2nd Grade Teacher Lansing, MI

Out-of-state

Organization Job title Location
Lodge Community General Education Teacher Evansville, IN
North Mor Elementary School 4th Grade Teacher Northglenn, CO

Field Experience

The Clinical Experiences Coordinator arranges the internship placements, based on a thoughtful, well-established process, paying attention to the key variables that support a successful teaching internship. Students begin working with their cooperating teachers in late August. Students help with planning for the year and assisting in classroom set-up for the fall. Students work with the same students and mentor teacher throughout the school year. Students also work with the same field instructor who works regularly with students, observes classroom teaching, conducts seminar sessions with the cohort and assists students to become skilled professionals. We partner closely with Ann Arbor Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools in deep and carefully structured collaborations to benefit teaching interns, teachers and students.