New UNI master’s program gives teachers the tools to transform education
New UNI master’s program gives teachers the tools to transform education
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A new University of Northern Iowa online master’s program in transformative education gives its graduates the tools to lead “change from within” in their roles as teachers, coaches and consultants. The Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in transformative education is a 30-credit-hour interdisciplinary, non-thesis graduate pathway for teachers committed to transforming their classrooms and schools.
The fully-online graduate program is designed for educators who want to inspire critical thinking, effective collaboration, and real-world problem-solving in their students. Through innovative teaching methods, active student engagement and practical experiences, participants will gain the tools to transform education and promote meaningful community change. Graduates will develop a deeper understanding of how to create personalized learning experiences that foster both academic success and positive social development for their students.
The program should appeal to practicing teachers seeking more responsibility and leadership who still want to stay close to classrooms and students. Instructional coaches or discipline-based consultants working with teachers from the district office or Area Education Agencies may also find this innovative program a good fit.
“Transformative education provides an action orientation for today’s teachers who want to be part of helping bring innovation and change to the classroom that goes beyond traditional approaches and structures within our current systems,” explains Robin Dada, College of Education head of curriculum and instruction and interim head of special education.
“The COVID era has demonstrated there are opportunities and necessities to do things differently while also recognizing learning has many facets, including social and emotional learning,” she says. “Graduates will be prepared to support and take part in leading initiatives in their districts and schools to revisit traditional structures and create environments that support all student learners.”
The uniqueness of this program also lies in how it’s structured. Students will earn their MAE and desired endorsements through completion of education-related stackable certificates. The foundation of the MAE is a new, 12-credit transformative education graduate certificate, which represents four courses that a collaborative team of four faculty members will teach. The courses focus on exploring, engaging, critiquing and creating transformative education.
Students in the program can then stack additional online graduate certificates leading to endorsements in their areas of specialization to fulfill the requirements for the master’s degree. This includes studies in areas such as special education, literacy, physical education, instructional design, early childhood education, computer science as well as a new AI in education certificate (available later this spring).
After earning a bachelor’s degree, teachers can earn additional Iowa endorsements by taking graduate-level courses. “With these graduate certificates, you can now earn that endorsement while positioning yourself to earn a master’s degree,” says Stephanie Huffman, dean of UNI’s College of Graduate, Research and Online Education. “And you’re making this degree work for you by combining a foundation in transformative education with a chosen area of specialization. That should benefit your career in the long term and your compensation.”
Interested educators can get a jumpstart on the program by enrolling in the first foundational course, Exploring Transformative Education, which begins January 21. The course will count toward the transformative graduate certificate, which will formally begin enrolling students in March for the summer 2025 session.
For more information on the new master’s program, visit Transformative Education (MAE) on the UNI website. Informational webinars will be held in the evenings on January 29 and February 18 for anyone interested in the master’s degree or graduate certificate. For more information and to register click here.
