Education Degrees Available Through Ferris State University
Ferris State University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Nursing Education Master’s Degrees.
Ferris State University offers the School of Education for all students who wish to pursue degrees in the education field. The Ferris State University School of Education is the home base for those pursuing undergraduate degrees, post-baccalaureate programs including teacher certification.
Students interested in elementary education can receive undergraduate degrees in language arts, math, integrated science or early childhood. Those with the desire to teach older students can pursue a secondary degree in technical, social studies, political science, math, history, geography, English, chemistry, biology or business, management, marketing and technology. Most of these secondary majors are available as minors as well. In addition, students can choose to minor in physical education or speech communication.
Teacher certification courses can be attended by those who already possess an undergraduate or graduate degree. Teacher certification is obtained by taking the appropriate classes depending on the level that student seeks. Students can take classes to earn the following certifications:
- Elementary Endorsement to Secondary Provisional Certificate
- Secondary Endorsement to Elementary Professional Certificate
- Special Education Endorsement
- Total Quality Management in Education Certificate
Ferris State University also offers associate degrees in areas like early childhood education and pre-teaching.
All students at Ferris State University must complete core education requirements. These courses must include those that focus on communication, literacy, sciences, cultural learning, diversity and problem-solving. Students must also complete electives along with the requirements of their specific education degrees. The electives that are allowed for students vary depending upon degree program but can include courses in accounting, theatre, Spanish, history, psychology, philosophy or even welding.
In order to graduate from an undergraduate program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the end of their senior year. Students should also plan to take part in student teaching endeavors in order to earn real-world experience in preparation for completing teacher certification.
About Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public research university located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school was founded in 1884 as an industrial institution. It remained largely unchanged in scope until the mid-twentieth century. At that time, the formerly private college became a state university that served both men and women.
The home campus in Big Rapids is the central hub for Ferris State University’s statewide reach. The school has 19 satellite campuses throughout Michigan. Students may attend Ferris State University in Traverse City, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Flint, among other locations.
Ferris State University has a reputation for supplying its students with personal and professional education. Class sizes remain small, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1. Professors, rather than teaching assistants, lead all classrooms. This model has allowed this small school to nurture students who have gone on to become leaders in politics, respected journalists, professional athletes, and artists.
A student body of about 14,000 allows Ferris State University to offer numerous programs to complement the educational experience. The school has 27 Greek organizations, a highly respected student newspaper and a variety of sports. Some of the sports offered at Ferris State University include basketball, cheer, cross country, football, golf, soccer, ice hockey, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball.
Students in the School of Education have the opportunity to study abroad. The school offers an extensive program that allows travel to a number of other schools while continuing to pay the Ferris State University tuition. Affiliate programs incur an additional fee, but this can be offset with scholarships that are geared specifically toward study abroad. Students can choose between semester programs or short-term programs that are led by Ferris State University faculty. These short-term programs generally take place in the summer, from mid-May through mid-June. They may involve travel to such locations as China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Italy or Scotland.
Ferris State University offers online programs in a limited number of areas. Education courses available online are limited to an undergraduate degree in technical education or a graduate-level degree in nursing education.
Ferris State University Accreditation Details
All School of Education programs at Ferris State University are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation allows the university to provide associate, baccalaureate and certificate degrees to students. These education programs are also approved by the Michigan Department of Education.
Ferris State University Application Requirements
Students interested in studying at Ferris State University can apply online. Along with the application, prospective students must complete a medical clearance request. In addition, students must complete criminal background check paperwork and pass the extensive criminal history check.
All students, regardless of their field of study, are offered a free application. These students must supply official transcripts from their high school and any college courses that may have been taken. Students should offer college entrance test scores. However, any student who prefers to apply without having taken the SAT or ACT is free to do so.
Those students interested in enrolling at the graduate level, including courses to aid with earning teaching certificates, must provide proof of the completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Tuition and Financial Aid
A typical student at Ferris State University has expenses of about $24,000 per year. This figure includes tuition, room and board, books and other fees. The cost of tuition on its own is roughly $12,000 per year for a full-time student.
All students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid regardless of their financial background. The FAFSA provides information that qualifies or disqualifies students for need-based grants and scholarships. Likewise, the FAFSA is used for many loans and university work-study positions.
The College of Education and Human Services at Ferris State University offers a number of scholarships for incoming freshmen. The amount of awards greatly varies. Likewise, the qualifications for scholarships may be based on need, merit or both.
To learn more about earning an education degree from Ferris State University, visit the School of Education website.
