Introduction
Both education and industry need leaders who not only relate well with people, but who also are experts in their technical or educational specialty. The Education Specialist Degree in Career and Technical Education at UW-Stout is intended to provide leaders for secondary and postsecondary schools, and in business and industry with further expertise in teaching, mentoring, coordination, training, and supervision.
Program Description
The program is designed for teachers and administrators in secondary and postsecondary technical or community colleges, and instructors in business and industry. Theory and application are emphasized through learning by involvement with real life problems of education, business and industry. Program flexibility permits each student to pursue an individual career emphasis.
Degree coursework and experiences fall into three general areas of study: professional education, applied research, and business and industry. Individual programs covering these categories are planned jointly by the student and the program director. Skills, knowledge and aptitudes required to achieve students' goals are matched with graduate level learning experiences including coursework and seminars that utilize UW-Stout's state-of-the-art facilities. Off-campus learning may be facilitated through internships, outreach courses, independent study, distance education and a field study.
Program Emphases
Several special emphases are available in the Education Specialist Degree program. Each is built on a central core of 16 required credits out of the minimum 36 credits for a degree program. Each emphasis will involve 10 to 15 credits of coursework.
Leadership and Supervision -- This emphasis will allow the graduate student to develop competencies in the areas of organizational leadership, team work, and organizational development. There are also opportunities to acquire competencies in the areas of supervision and administration.
Technology Applications -- Graduate students in this emphasis will develop a general conceptual structure of technology and how technology impacts our lives. New technology and technological trends will be explored. In addition, students will gain expertise in using various techniques to monitor technological trends. They will develop competency in technology forecasting and identifying the implications of technological change for their curriculums.
Safety and Environmental Control -- Course work in this emphasis develops competency in identifying environmental, health, and safety risks; developing controls; and implementing programs.
Manufacturing -- This emphasis will allow the graduate student to develop an up-to-date knowledge of the latest manufacturing systems and technology. The technology includes the latest in CAD software, computer integrated manufacturing systems, and technology transfer processes.
Program Development and Evaluation -- The coursework in this emphasis will develop the ability to design a new program from the original needs assessment to develop the courses needed for the program. Students will learn how to use cross-disciplinary teams to develop applied and integrated curricula. Also, they will develop competency in the design of program evaluations.
Diversity -- Students will acquire a knowledge of how to work effectively with people from different cultural, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Curriculum and Instruction -- This emphasis provides an opportunity to develop advanced competencies in designing instructional methods, learning activities, and courses. Alternative delivery systems will be explored. Students will develop competency in using new technology and techniques including computer assisted instruction in teaching students a variety of competencies.
Training -- Students in this emphasis will develop competency in developing and implementing training programs in business and industry. Students will be introduced to the nature of training in business and industry and effective techniques for developing training programs and instructing adults. Students will also acquire a knowledge of how to evaluate these programs.
Degree Requirements
The degree requires the completion of at least 36 semester hours of graduate credits beyond the master's degree. An overall grade point of 3.25 or higher must be maintained. A minimum of 18 credits must be in courses open only to graduate students (700-800 level).
Employment
Education Specialist Degree graduates get jobs. The current Employment Summary Report shows that 100 percent of program graduates obtained positions in or related to their major. Stout offers employment services through the Career Services Office.
Admission Requirements
For admission with full status, applicants must have a master's degree and an overall grade point average of 3.25. Applicants may be admitted on probation with an overall grade point of 3.00. Generally an applicant's master's degree is in Technology Education, Industrial Education, Marketing Education, Training, Vocational Education or an equivalent in agriculture, home economics, or health. A deficiency in these requirements does not preclude admission, but may require completion of additional graduate work, or increase the amount of graduate credits required to earn a degree.
Transfer of Credits
Twelve graduate level credits may be transferred into the program with approval of the program director. This approval should be obtained in advance to determine applicability of proposed work from another university. Transfer of credits is made only after admission to degree program and is always based upon receipt of official graduate transcripts showing completion of the credit requested.