Meeting the needs of today's teachers
This Urban Education Regional Program is intended to meet the graduate education and continuing certification needs of teachers who are interested in improving and deepening their professional expertise. Recognizing the complex issues faced by teachers, students, and families in urban education settings, the program focuses on:
- Cultural diversity, social justice, and socio-cultural analysis promoting the development of culturally-responsive pedagogy for K-12 curriculum and instruction
- Curriculum, instruction, assessment, and classroom management courses, emphasizing the application of the latest “research based” best practices in urban settings
- Opportunities to study multicultural and diversity issues in depth through elective courses
Our program will consist of students from three WMU campus communities: Battle Creek, Southwest (Benton Harbor/St. Joseph), and Muskegon. The regional program enables students to engage with, relate to, and learn from individuals from different school systems across West Michigan, allowing for a significant and powerful educational experience.
The format of this program includes traditional 12-week courses at local WMU branch campuses, compressed video, hybrid, and online learning. Additionally, you will participate in summer workshops exploring the socio-cultural contexts of schooling, diversity, multiculturalism, issues of race, class, gender, and social justice.
WMU’s Master of Arts in the Practice of Teaching Urban Education is an exciting and innovative program. This unique degree program will help you develop a broad understanding of complex issues that will empower and enhance your leadership in public education. The Urban Education program provides an exclusive model to:
- Support teachers in achieving their goals and objectives while embracing diversity
- Develop new knowledge and skills in urban education settings
- Incorporate proven techniques into the learning process
This Master’s degree program provides a strong foundation for the continuing growth of professional teaching practice. It is designed to develop culturally-responsive teachers who are skilled in the use of effective and engaging instructional strategies for students of diverse needs, and who are successful at building positive learning communities for their students and their schools. Specific outcomes of the program include:
- Promotion of a positive learning climate in your school and classroom
- Development of standards-based lessons and student assessments
- Construction of a culturally-responsive environment with successful urban teachers
The program begins in summer 2008, and courses will be delivered in a sequence to enable degree completion within two years and four weeks. Following the planned program of study, students will complete the 18-hr professional certification requirements at the end of the second summer.
Advising is extremely important to your success. Schedule an advising appointment by contacting your branch campus.
The Process
- Submit the online graduate application (can be found at www.wmich.edu/admi/gradapp/index.html).
- Submit a concise written “statement of purpose” (250 words or less) indicating the applicant’s reasons for seeking admission to the program and what the applicant hopes to accomplish during the program of study.
- Submit official transcripts from all schools attended.
Admissions Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- An overall grade point average of at least a 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in the last two years of undergraduate work. Applicants with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be granted a Conditional Admission. This will be converted to a regular admission if students receive a B or better in the first two graduate courses (6 credit-hours) taken.
- Experience working in a professional setting.
- A valid Michigan Teaching Certificate will be required for students seeking to obtain additional state endorsements.
The Practice of Teaching degree consists of the following areas:
- Core: Core courses touch on culture and politics, human nature and diversity, educational research, and a capstone project or thesis (12 credits).
- Area of Specialization: Students may select 12 semester hours in a student-identified specialization area, such as urban education (12 credits).
- Educational Electives: Students may select, with approval of their assigned advisor, 6 semester hours of education electives (6 credits).
Summer II 2008
ED 6980 Resolving Ed. Prblms in Schools: Social Justice & Equity
Fall 2008
ED 6010 Introduction to Research in Educational Settings
Spring 2009
ED 6760 Teaching Thinking
Summer I 2009
ED 6000 Fund. of Measurement & Eval. In Ed.
Summer II 2009
ED 6980 Resolving Ed. Problems in Schools: Issues of Diversity
ES 6340 Culture & Politics of Educational Institutions OR
ES 6330 Human Nature & Diversity
Fall 2009
ED 6020 School Curriculum
Spring 2010
ED 6700 School Climate & Discipline
Summer I 2010
Reading/Literacy Strategies Elective
Summer II 2010
ED 6790 Capstone Seminar
