Because of the College of Education's strong commitment to scholarship and research, these practitioner preparation concentrations have a special character which is reflected in their solid grounding in current educational theory and research, in their consistency with national standards for exemplary practitioner preparation, and in their commitment to innovation and experimentation. The College is committed to preparing practitioners who will be leaders in educational improvement and reform.?

The M.Ed. degree program is designed to further the professional development of elementary and secondary school teachers and other school-based practitioners in the various fields of education, and to train educational specialists in a variety of the College's areas of concentration. Within the framework of the requirements and with the guidance of a faculty adviser, M.Ed. candidates must complete a minimum of 33 graduate credits. Eighteen of these must be graded, 12 must be at or above the 600 level, and a minimum of 21 must be taken in the College of Education. Students admitted to the School Counselor Education and School Psychology concentrations are an exception to the 33-credit requirement; they must complete a 48-credit program of study.