The School of Education (SOE) comprises a community of educators dedicated to improving the quality of education. The mission of the School of Education is to prepare high-quality educators and support the lifelong learning of professionals to embrace diversity and to be intellectually and ethically strong, resilient, and passionate as they serve Alaska’s learners, families, educators, and communities. The school offers undergraduate and graduate courses and programs designed to prepare personnel for various professional roles related to education in any learning environment.
SOE programs emphasize the power of learning to transform people’s lives. The school offers high-quality coursework to improve access for rural students and provide flexible scheduling for practicing educators. In each of the school’s programs, students engage with fundamental education issues in the contemporary world through courses designed to develop perspective and understanding of the relationship of education to society. Faculty provide integrated theory and practice in developing instructional materials and methods of instruction. All graduate courses are offered through distance delivery methods.
The School of Education promotes the following core values in their collegial interactions to ensure that program graduates exhibit:
- Intellectual vitality: Professional educators employ diverse perspectives, engage in research and scholarship, build knowledge and practice, and apply innovative technologies.
- Collaborative spirit: Professional educators generate, welcome, and support collaborative relationships and partnerships to enrich people’s lives.
- Inclusiveness and equity: Professional educators advocate for and create learning communities that advance knowledge and ensure the development, support, and inclusion of people’s abilities, values, ideas, languages, and expressions.
- Leadership: Professional educators are committed to exhibiting the highest standards of ethical behavior in their roles, using professional expertise to improve the communities in which they live and work, and demonstrating the ability to translate theories and principles into transformative educational practice.
SOE professional preparation programs, which include Educational Leadership, Special Education, and Language Education, are approved by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. These advanced licensure programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) issues certificates and endorsements under the “approved program” process for certification. UAA recommends individuals to the Commissioner of DEED for certification or endorsement after successfully completing one or more of the approved programs. Only the Dean of the School of Education is authorized to recommend candidates for the appropriate certificate or endorsement. Candidates who seek Alaska state licensure must successfully complete a School of Education “approved program,” as well as any additional requirements initiated by DEED. Only courses with a grade of C or higher will be applied to meet certification or endorsement requirements. In addition, candidates must demonstrate professional behaviors and dispositions consistent with the School of Education’s Core Values and the Specialized Professional Associations as well as abide by the UAA Student Code of Conduct and the Code of Ethics and Professional Teaching Standards adopted by the Alaska Professional Teaching Practices Commission. Candidates should be advised that total credits may exceed minimums because of prerequisite requirements, knowledge and skill enhancement, individually selected majors, and areas of specialization and/or emphasis.
Interested individuals must apply for admission to the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and to the School of Education. Students are formally admitted to an appropriate program based on multiple criteria, including their ability to positively contribute to educational professions. Once admitted, students work with an academic advisor to develop a graduate studies plan with each candidate based on transfer credits, program requirements, professional interests, and elective courses. The program may or may not include certification or endorsement requirements.
Master of Education
There are several options for students to obtain a Master of Education (MEd) degree. MEd options are:
- Educational Leadership
- Special Education
- Teaching and Learning
Graduate Certificates
The School of Education offers three graduate certificate programs:
- Educational Leadership: Principal
- Language and Literacy Education: English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Special Education
Coursework applied to graduate certificates may also apply to the MEd with faculty advisor approval.
Admission Requirements
In some cases, applicants may be contacted about scheduling personal interviews with the school after their completed files are received. When all documents are received and reviewed by the school, the applicant will be notified of the school's decision.
Applicant files are reviewed throughout the year. However, applications for admission need to be submitted by specific dates (July 1, November 1, and May 1) to qualify for financial aid.
Applicants must:
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Graduate Degrees and Certificates.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 point scale).
- Complete the admission requirements as specified by the appropriate program. In general, programs require submission of a resume documenting professional experience, goal statements, writing samples, and professional references. Some programs may require teacher certification. The college may request interviews as part of the admission process.
Applicants who meet the above criteria are considered for program admission on a competitive basis.
Academic Requirements
Graduate students must demonstrate continuous progress toward program completion. School of Education candidates must complete at least one approved program course during any 24-month consecutive period to maintain active status in their programs. Candidates not making continuous progress and not on an approved leave of absence (see Leave of Absence in Graduate Degree Policies) may be removed from master’s degree-seeking status.
Graduate Studies Plan
An official graduate studies plan (GSP) must be approved before completion of more than 12 credits of coursework.
Graduation Requirements
Candidates completing a graduate degree or certificate must complete the following requirements:
- Satisfy the General University Requirements for Graduate Degrees or the General University Requirements for Graduate Certificates as appropriate to the program of admission.
- Specific programs may require more than 30 credits. See appropriate program for credit requirements.
- Satisfy the requirement of a comprehensive examination, comprehensive portfolio or other scholarly work as specified by the program.
Graduate courses completed prior to being admitted as a graduate student will not necessarily be applicable toward a specific graduate degree program.
State-Approved Program Verification
Following are the requirements for a state-approved program verification for those programs approved for certification or endorsement:
- For endorsements, all requirements for a current teacher certificate must be successfully met.
- For Principal Type B Administrative Certificates, candidates must have three years of successful certificated contract experience as a teacher or special services provider (Type C). In addition, a minimum of a master’s degree is required.
- For the Principal Type B Certificate, the MEd or graduate certificate must be conferred. For language education and special education, the graduate certificate must be conferred.
- For the special education endorsement, candidates must pass the required Praxis II exam.
- Demonstration of technology skills appropriate to the field.
Certification is awarded by the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (EED) in Juneau. Graduates must meet all requirements specified by EED at the time of application for the certificate.
Professional Field Experience
Prior to entering the final stage of preparation, which is characterized in most options by participation in a practicum or internship, a faculty committee will evaluate each candidate’s performance in the program. Admission into this final professional preparation phase is a faculty decision and is separate from entry into the graduate program. Dispositional challenges, including inadequate academic performance, unprofessional behavior, unsatisfactory field reports, or other factors, may result in denial of entry to the professional field experience. Performance in practicum and internship is closely monitored, with stated minimum competencies and the development of individual objectives. Since this is the practice and application phase of professional development, it is assumed that candidates will demonstrate appropriate professional dispositions with respect to their professional actions, attitude, and performance.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development issues certificates/endorsements as a result of successful program completion, as verified by the School of Education Dean.
Field Placements
Most School of Education graduate programs require field experiences in school or agency settings. The School of Education works with Alaska school districts to offer diverse placements for students. Diversity of placements refers to grade levels and types of schools. It is our policy to, whenever possible, ensure students receive diverse placements in schools and grade levels. Students who live in rural districts will be placed in the most diverse placements possible in their location.
Criminal History Background Clearance
The School of Education requires compliance with specific background clearance policies and procedures for candidates participating in university-sponsored fieldwork. In some cases, criminal history background clearance is required for admission to a program. In addition to self-disclosure of criminal history to the School of Education and its partners, a check of the Alaska and national sex offender registries, a fingerprint-based check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a name-based check through the Alaska Public Safety Information Network may be required. Various agencies and centers may have additional requirements.
Failure to comply with the School of Education background check requirements will result in denial of access to field placement settings. Failure to pass the criminal history background check will result in removal from the program. More information is available on the School of Education website.
Cooperating School/Agency
Practica, internships, and other field experiences are only coordinated in cooperation with participating school districts and agencies. School of Education clinical partners reserve the right to request additional information and/or preparation from candidates in accordance with their established policies/practices. Partner districts and agencies also determine the number of available spaces and placements for candidates. Placements may become competitive if the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces. Districts and agencies also reserve the right to refuse or terminate placements when candidates do not meet an acceptable standard of performance. Thus, while the university makes every effort to find appropriate field placements for candidates, admittance to a degree/certificate/endorsement program does not guarantee acceptance by cooperating school districts or agencies. Unacceptable academic performance, an unprofessional attitude, unsatisfactory field reports, violation of professional ethics, or other factors may result in removal from the field placement.
Transfer
Candidates who have taken all or part of an approved program at another university must take at least 9 credits of approved education courses at the University of Alaska prior to being admitted to an advanced practicum or internship.