Master of Arts with Elementary Teacher Certification
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
- High Leverage Practices
- Ethical Obligations and Justice Priorities
- Content Knowledge for Teaching
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
Core credits
Students complete the following courses:
- EDUC 401 – Literacy 1: Development of Foundational Skills (4 credits)
- EDUC 403 – Literacy 2: Development of Comprehension and Motivation PK-6 (3 credits)
- EDUC 405 – Literacy 3: Development of Language and Composition PK-6 (2 credits)
- EDUC 407 – Literacy 4: Teaching Language, Literacy and Academic Content to Diverse Learners (3 credits) (required for ELMAC and counts towards ESL Endorsement)
- EDUC 416 – Teaching with Curriculum Materials in PK-6 Mathematics and Science (4 credits)
- EDUC 417 – Imagination and the Whole Child (1 credit)
- EDUC 430 – "Teaching To Transgress:" Using Dialogic Thinking and History/Social Science Perspectives to Understand Contemporary and Historical Issues (3 credits)
- EDUC 431 – Teaching Social Studies in PK-6 (3 credits)
- EDUC 443 – Teaching Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Elementary Classroom (Module 1) (1 credit)
- EDUC 443 – Teaching Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Elementary Classroom (Module 2) (2 credits)
- EDUC 444 – Teaching with Digital Technologies (Module 1) (2 credits)
- EDUC 444 – Teaching with Digital Technologies (Module 2) (1 credits)
- EDUC 518 – Teaching PK-6 Mathematics (4 credits)
- EDUC 519 – Connecting Mathematical Practice and PK-6 Mathematical Topics (1 credit)
- EDUC 528 – Teaching PK-6 Science (3 credits)
- EDUC 594 – Education in a Multilingual Society (3 credits) (required for ELMAC and counts towards ESL Endorsement)
- EDUC 649 – Foundational Perspectives on Educational Reform (3 credits)
- EDUC 653 – Problems and Principles of Elementary Education (2 credits)
- EDUC 695 – Research and Educational Practice (3 credits)
Teaching experience credits
Students complete the following courses:
MDE ESL endorsement credits (optional)
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.
Course Sequence
- Semester 1
Summer (Year 1) Course Description Credits EDUC 401 Literacy 1: Development of Foundational Skills 4 EDUC 416 Teaching with Curriculum Materials in PK-6 Mathematics and Science 1 EDUC 430 "Teaching To Transgress:" Using Dialogic Thinking and History/Social Science Perspectives to Understand Contemporary and Historical Issues 3 EDUC 594 Education in a Multilingual Society (required for ELMAC and counts towards ESL Endorsement) 3 EDUC 650.201 Reflective Teaching Field Experience - Math 1 EDUC 650.211 Reflective Teaching Field Experience - Language Arts 1 EDUC 695 Research and Educational Practice 3 Total semester credits 16 - Semester 2
Fall (Year 1) Course Description Credits EDUC 403 Literacy 2: Development of Comprehension and Motivation PK-6 3 EDUC 405 Literacy 3: Development of Language and Composition PK-6 2 EDUC 417 Imagination and the Whole Child 1 EDUC 431 Teaching Social Studies in PK-6 3 EDUC 444 Teaching with Digital Technologies (Module 1) 2 EDUC 518 Teaching PK-6 Mathematics 4 EDUC 528 Teaching PK-6 Science 3 EDUC 649 Foundational Perspectives on Educational Reform 3 EDUC 650 Reflective Teaching Field Experience 2 Total semester credits 23 - Semester 3
Winter (Year 1) Course Description Credits EDUC 407 Literacy 4: Teaching Language, Literacy and Academic Content to Diverse Learners (required for ELMAC and counts towards ESL Endorsement) 3 EDUC 443 Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Elementary Classroom (Module 1) 1 EDUC 651 Directed Teaching in the Elementary Grades 10 EDUC 653 Problems and Principles of Elementary Education 2 Total semester credits 16 EDUC 593 Educational Lingustics (ESL endorsement only) 3 Total semester credits with ESL 19 - Semester 4
Spring (Year 2) Course Description Credits EDUC 416 Teaching with Curriculum Materials in PK-6 Mathematics and Science 3 EDUC 443 Teaching Students with Exceptionalities in the General Education Elementary Classroom (Module 2) 2 EDUC 444 Teaching with Digital Technologies (Module 2) 1 EDUC 519 Connecting Mathematical Practice and PK-6 Mathematical Topics 1 Total semester credits 7 EDUC 592 Methods for Teaching Language and Literacy to K-12 Culturally and Lingustically Diverse Learners (ESL endorsement only) 4 EDUC 595 Leadership and Advocacy Practices for Teachers of Culturally and Lingustically Diverse Learners (ESL endorsement only) 4 Total semester credits with ESL 15 - Semester 5
Summer (Year 2) ESL Endorsement - Optional Course Description Credits EDUC 590 English as a Second Language Teaching Practicum and Seminar (ESL endorsement only) 3 Total semester credits with ESL 3
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.
Application Process
- 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].
- 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
- Please review the Educator Preparation Program Mission and Vision Statements and address the following in your essay:
- 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
- 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?
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- 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
- Test scores are valid 2 years from the test date
- 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.
- 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.
- Include at the top of each document:
- 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.
- 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.
- Monitor your inbox for an email from Marsal Education containing your admissions decision
- You may accept or decline the offer of admission in your U-M Friend Account.
- For international students that accept an offer of admission, Rackham prepares immigration documents for visas.
Quick Facts
Application fee waiver
The $75 application fee is waived for all U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
GRE general exam scores
Financial aid
Part-time status
Careers
88%
78%
$50K
100%
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.