M.A. in Educational Innovation
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to all graduate programs in education, students must have
- a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a three-year degree plus a master’s degree, with a GPA of at least 3.0.
- ability to succeed in graduate school as shown in recommendations from supervisors or teaching faculty who have known them.
- for international applicants, very good communication skills in English, as demonstrated either by five or more years of instruction entirely in English or TOEFL scores of 600 or better on the written test.
Entrance requirements
- An in-depth knowledge of one’s chosen field of specialization (where one is teaching a single field), as indicated by a grade point average for courses in that subject of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale;
- Having met the coursework requirements in their field of specialization, as determined by the MUM Department of Education, based on the Iowa requirements for licensure. (Candidates for the mathematics high school teaching license, for example, will have to have taken coursework in linear algebra or in abstract (modern) algebra, post-calculus geometry, calculus, computer programming, probability and statistics, and discrete mathematics.) For coursework requirements in all fields, please consult the MUM Department of Education directly at 641-472-7000, ext. 5021. You may also consult the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners website on courses required for various teaching authorizations (“endorsements”).
- A liberal arts background, including course work in English composition, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities;
- Personal maturity, motivation, and stable judgment necessary to be a successful teacher, as shown by personal and professional recommendations, references, and, if requested, a twenty minute interview;
- Understanding of and commitment to one’s growth as an educator, as expressed in a brief personal essay.
- International applicants will be expected to have excellent communication skills in English as demonstrated either by five or more years of instruction entirely in English or TOEFL scores of 600 or better on the written test. All international applicants must also pass an English interview by phone, whether or not they have been instructed in English.
- Beginning in 2013 students who wish to pursue an M.A. in Educational Innovation Elementary Track must have a minimum of 6 semester hours in each of the following areas: science (physical science, earth/space science and biological science), mathematics (numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability), literacy (oral and written communication skills), and social science (history, geography, political science and economics).