University of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

Through the Master of Education and the Certificate of Advanced Study, experienced teachers are prepared to become more competent and better informed practitioners who serve as leaders for educational reform in local schools and school districts.

Also offered are master's degree programs leading to teacher licensure for individuals who have a degree in a field other than education and wish to become teachers. The three majors leading to licensure are Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2), Elementary Education (Grades 1 - 6), and Secondary Education (Grades 9 - 12). In addition to completing the courses required for an Ed.M. degree, students in these programs follow the same sequence of professional education courses as undergraduate students.

Only master’s students wishing to become licensed teachers in one of these three areas should apply to the Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education majors. Master’s candidates who do not wish to become teachers, or are already teachers, should apply to the major in Curriculum and Instruction.

Two doctoral degree programs are offered. The Ph.D. program prepares degree candidates for careers involving research and scholarship, including those in colleges and universities where research is generally combined with teacher education. The Ed.D. Program prepares scholarly practitioners for leadership positions in teacher training institutions, state education agencies, and public school districts.

Length of time for a degree: an Ed.M. program can be completed in a calendar year, while the M.S. or M.A. often takes longer. The Ed.M. with licensure typically takes two years to complete. Doctoral programs usually require four to five years of full time study.