Central Michigan University Education Degrees
Central Michigan University appears in our ranking of the 19 Best Online Doctorates in Educational Technology.
The teacher education programs at Central Michigan University are designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge that are required to become accomplished educators. Students may apply for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs.
The undergraduate elementary education program prepares students to teach language arts, math, social studies, science, and reading. This program is appropriate for prospective educators who wish to teach at the kindergarten through eighth-grade levels. Participants may choose from concentration areas such as mathematics, integrated science, language arts, history, and geography.
The Bachelor of Science in Education degree with an emphasis on secondary education is appropriate for individuals who want to teach students at the high school level. Once again, participants in this program are asked to choose a focus area. The options include school health education, history, biology, chemistry, English, physics, physical education, and political science among others.
Central Michigan University students also may select the Bachelor of Science in Education with a focus on special education. The courses offered are designed to introduce students to the educational requirements of others with cognitive, physical, learning, health, and emotional needs. All students who select this program will graduate with a dual certification for general education and special education. Volunteering at the winter or summer Special Olympics and at CMU disABILITY Awareness events are a part of the program.
CMU further offers a variety of master of arts degree programs in education. Applicants to these programs generally are expected to already be trained and licensed educators. The Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis on community college is designed for those students who wish to teach adults at the community college level. Alternatively, students may choose the Curriculum and Instruction concentration, which involves courses such as Advanced Educational Psychology, Strategies and Techniques for Teaching, Theory and Practice in Curriculum Development, Methods of Educational Research and Advanced Technology in Education among others.
Yet another option at the master’s degree level is the concentration in Training and Development. This program introduces coursework in classes such as Methods and Techniques of Training and Development, Administration Within Diverse Populations, Leadership Theory and Practice and Research for Educational Leadership.
The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership allows students to choose between three emphasis areas: Charter School Leadership, Rural Education Leadership, and Supervision. Completion of one of these programs prepares the graduate to take on a leadership role in any educational setting.
Students further may select a graduate certificate in the college teaching program. Consisting of shorter, eight-week terms, the coursework involves classes such as The Academic Profession, High Impact Teaching Practices, and Course Design and Assessment.
The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership prepares graduates to serve at the highest administrative levels. Students may choose from an emphasis on either K-12 or Higher Education.
CMU additionally offers a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. Designed for students who are seeking to change educational practices in meaningful ways, this program features streamlined attendance options that include evening and weekend courses.
If students prefer to take at least some of their classes online, the Bachelor of Science in Education with an Elementary Emphasis is presented in a hybrid format. At the master’s level, the curriculum and instruction and training and development concentrations are provided wholly online. The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership similarly is offered online.
About Central Michigan University
A public research university that was established in 1892, CMU now boasts an on-campus body of 20,000 students in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. An additional 7,000 students are enrolled in the institution’s online degree programs.
Currently, more than 300 academic programs are offered at CMU at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. The student to faculty ratio is an impressive 21:1.
When it was established, the institution was called the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute. The limited academic programs available included stenography, business, and teaching. A special emphasis was placed on teaching since most teachers in the state had little formal training at the time.
CMU now has seven colleges for diverse subjects such as business administration, arts and media, health professions, liberal arts and social sciences, science and engineering, medicine and education and human services.
Central Michigan University Accreditation Details
Regional accreditation for CMU is provided by the Higher Learning Commission. The teacher education programs additionally are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Central Michigan University Application Requirements
Incoming freshmen are asked to submit on online application with an application fee. Official SAT or ACT scores are required as is an official transcript from high school.
Students who are transferring from another college follow a similar process with the addition that CMU requires the official transcript of the student’s work at the other institution. Optionally, the student may include their ACT or SAT scores, letters of reference and a personal statement with regard to leadership and extracurricular activities.
Individuals who hope to enter a graduate-level program must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Some programs may require additional materials such as official transcripts, a professional resume, letters of recommendation and a personal statement outlining the student’s goals.
Candidates for one of the doctoral programs must hold a master’s degree for which they maintained a minimum GPA of 3.5. Relevant professional experience also is required. In addition to a graduate application, students must submit three letters of recommendation, various personal statements, a GRE score, a resume and a signed Declaration of Commitment. An interview is required.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate students who are U.S. residents pay approximately $6,255 per semester. Graduate students pay approximately $630 per credit, and these programs frequently require completion of 33 credits. Doctoral programs typically cost $726 per credit. Requiring 63 credits to complete the degree, these programs can be costly.
Accordingly, CMU provides a variety of options for funding an education. Most enrollees receive some form of financial assistance through loans, scholarships or grants. Merit-based and competitive awards are offered to undergraduates while graduate students may apply for tuition awards from CMU or fulfill a graduate assistantship.
Individuals who are interested in providing quality educational experiences for future generations are encouraged to review the opportunities at Central Michigan University.
