General Information
The Degree Program
Valley City State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT), a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) with six specific areas of concentration, and a Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Business Information Systems.
Accreditation
Valley City State University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. This accreditation was extended in 2005 to include the Master of Education with concentrations in Teaching and Technology and Technology Education. In 2007 the HLC approved the concentration in Library and Information Technologies; in 2009 the Teaching English Language Learners concentration was approved; and in 2013 the Elementary Education concentration and the English Education concentration were approved. In 2021 the Master of Science degree was approved. In 2009, 2015 and again in 2022, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) granted its approval to the advanced preparation level.
Master of Arts in Teaching Degree
The Master of Arts in Teaching parallels the undergraduate Teacher Education program and Master of Education degree by employing a set of core courses required to meet North Dakota teacher certification. This degree helps meet the increasing demand for teachers in shortage areas and also provide graduate credentials for career and salary advancement. The program provides a more direct path to teacher licensure through an advanced level professional degree for individuals with a non-teaching baccalaureate degree.
Master of Education Degree
The Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) is designed for individuals who have experience in the field of education. Concentrations currently available include Library and Information Technologies, Teaching English Language Learners, Teaching and Technology, Technology Education, Elementary Education, and English Education. The concentrations each require a core of four education courses and a varying number of required credits in each concentration. Options are also available within two different concentrations. Career and Technical Education, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) elementary and secondary education are available within the Technology Education concentration. Teaching & Learning and content qualifications in Communication, History, Physical Education, and Math are available within the Teaching and Technology concentration.
Master of Science Degree
The Master of Science in Business Information Systems an interdisciplinary program that pulls from the areas of Computer Information Systems, Communication, Business, and Software Engineering to create an integrated curriculum. This program is designed to provide individuals with a bachelor's degree in computer science or business the opportunity to integrate their knowledge with advanced work in specific business processes and systems. The program offers coursework in Salesforce and SAP that prepares individuals to pursue certification in these CRM and ERP software packages; the master’s program will utilize this content and also offer advanced training as appropriate for those already initially certified.
Student Responsibility
It is the responsibility of each graduate student to understand the graduate policies and procedures and to maintain the standards for graduate study at Valley City State University.
Graduate Faculty
Membership to graduate faculty status recognizes the faculty members’ teaching and research qualifications which enable them to conduct graduate level instruction and supervise graduate student research and scholarship. The graduate faculty is expected to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the practice of teaching, and service to the institution and discipline. Graduate faculty have an appropriate terminal degree (or equivalent), successful teaching experience, and continuing evidence of scholarly achievement and professional activity in their discipline.
Graduate Council
The Graduate Council derives its powers from the Constitution of the Valley City State University Faculty Association. All matters impacting graduate education will be conducted in accordance with the policies of the Faculty Association Constitution and Graduate Council. Graduate Council is the graduate unit policy making and curriculum body. The Dean of Graduate Studies is the Chair.
Continuing Education Courses
Graduate-level professional development courses are delivered primarily to teachers for the purpose of continued licensure. VCSU offers a variety of courses and workshops that fulfill the academic needs and interests of teachers. Courses are offered in several formats, including face-to-face, online, workshops, and combined formats. These credits are not eligible to be applied to a degree program. Individuals who have not completed an undergraduate degree may not take courses dual-listed between graduate and undergraduate levels for graduate credit. Visit http://www.vcsu.edu/extend for more information.