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Graduate Degrees

Doctor of Education

The doctor of education degree is designed to prepare students for administrative leadership, academic or clinical positions in educational disciplines. The degree requires 72 semester credits of graduate study, at least 60% of which will be met through coursework designated as doctoral only, those numbered 800-899.

Specialist

The specialist degree is designed to serve a qualitative need for highly trained specialists in various fields. The emphasis in a specialist degree program is placed on the development of competencies needed for a specific job category. The program is designed to meet the needs of students in professional areas where a master's degree is not sufficient. The program requires 30 semester credits of graduate study beyond a master's degree.

The specialist degree program is offered by the Department of Educational Leadership. The specialist degree program offered by the Department of Educational Leadership is designed for three distinct groups: the K-12 school principal, the superintendent of schools, and the director of special education.

Master of Arts

The master of arts degree offers the candidate the opportunity to specialize in a particular subject matter field. It is open to students with undergraduate liberal arts backgrounds as well as students who have completed teacher education programs. Programs of study leading to the master of arts degree have been approved for the following majors: art; biology: cell and molecular biology, biology: ecology and natural resources biology; English, English: college teaching, English: rhetoric and applied writing, English: teaching English as a second language; history, history: public history, and special studies. The degree requires a range of 30 - 54 graduate credits as noted in the program requirements, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level. All master of arts programs require a thesis, creative work, starred paper(s), or final written comprehensive examination. Information concerning the program requirements for a particular major may be found with the course offerings for the department.

Master of Business Administration

The master of business administration degree develops professional managers for public and private sectors. It stresses conceptual, analytical and behavioral skills relevant to organization and leadership, provides students the opportunity to develop specialized competencies reflecting individual aptitudes and interests, and explores the relationships between organizations and their environment. The degree requires a range of 30 - 54 graduate credits as noted in the program requirements, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level.

Master of Engineering Management

The master of engineering management degree prepares graduates for taking on managerial roles in technical and scientific organizations.  The master of engineering management is for engineers, technologists and scientists who are looking for managerial skills to advance to executive positions in technology based business.  The degree requires a range of 30 - 54 graduate credits as noted in the program requirements, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level.

Master of Music

The master of music degree allows the student to pursue a degree in music with an emphasis in music education, piano pedagogy, or conducting.  The degree requires a range of 30 - 54 graduate credits as noted in the program requirements, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level.

Master of Science

The master of science degree is designed to provide preparation in a variety of professional fields.  The degree requires a range of 30 - 60 graduate credits as noted in the program requirements, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level.

Eligibility for programs in teacher education is limited to students whose undergraduate preparation qualifies them for teacher licensure.

Master of Social Work

The master of social work degree is considered a terminal practice degree in the field of social work and prepares professionals to think critically, and work effectively and collaboratively in social services.  The degree requires a range of 30 - 54 graduate credits as noted in the program requirements, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level.

Special Studies

Special studies programs (M.A. or M.S.) are intended to meet the specialized needs of students whose educational or career goals can be best served by carefully designed programs which provide advanced study in two or three related academic disciplines. To be considered for approval, special studies programs must provide a clear focus on a field of study which combines the contributions of these academic disciplines in a multi-disciplinary major.

To request consideration of a special studies program, the student must prepare a written proposal which contains the following elements: proposed title for the multidisciplinary program, a discussion of the contributions of the disciplines which would comprise the program, a preliminary list of potentially applicable courses, and a summary of the student's educational and career objectives, philosophy and background. Each special studies applicant is interviewed by a four-member committee chaired and appointed by the graduate dean. The committee reviews the program proposal and makes a recommendation based upon the appropriateness of the proposal as a field for graduate study, the availability of adequate curricular and other resources to insure a strong program, and the qualifications of the individual applicant.  A special studies degree requires a range of 30 - 54 graduate credits as approved by the admission committee, 50% of which must be completed at the graduate only (600) level.  For further information concerning application procedures and program requirements, contact the School of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Certificates

A graduate certificate is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 9 graduate credits in a focused area of study at St. Cloud State University.  A graduate certificate requires 9 - 42 credits completed at the graduate level (500/600) as noted in the individual program requirements.o