You can choose a degree focus that plays to your academic strengths and interests, whether it?s early childhood education, enhanced teaching practices or reading and literacy instruction. If you want to choose a specialty area, you can choose from six other focus areas: autism, computer education for teachers, gifted and talented education, human development and learning, middle school education, or response to intervention.

When you complete the Ball State master of arts in education (MAE) program, you will be eligible to have a graduate-level certificate awarded for the focus area you have selected as a part of your degree program. You will receive a certificate verifying your completion of work in the specific focus area of your degree, and the certificate will be placed in your official university transcript.

If you wish to obtain only a specialized certificate and not complete the entire MAE degree, you'll learn more in each of the three focus areas.