University of Wisconsin - Stout

In today's world of rapid technological change and global competition; technical, occupational and vocational education have an increasingly important role in preparing people for rewarding careers and helping them make transitions to new jobs. Business and industry are rapidly changing towards knowledge-based production and service systems. People who work with these systems must be able to integrate academic and technical knowledge. As professionals who focus on preparing people for successful careers, we have a responsibility to provide our students with appropriate and relevant competencies, knowledge and skills. To do this, we must be able to translate the assignments, work and tasks people do in business and industry into meaningful and effective instruction. In addition, there is a growing need to take career related instruction out of the traditional school setting and into new settings in business, industry and the home.

With more than 800 degrees awarded since 1973, the UW-Stout's Master of Science Degree in Career and Technical Education program (formerly Vocational and Technical Education) provides the opportunity to gain a comprehensive knowledge base that will enhance your understanding and leadership skills in areas of education, and business and industry. This degree can help you grow personally and professionally, develop new competencies, and position you for further opportunities and career advancement in your chosen field.

 

Program Design

Designed for teachers, coordinators and administrators in programs that prepare people for the world of work, this program prepares individuals for leadership positions in secondary, postsecondary community or technical colleges, higher education, and business and industry.

Individual programs are planned jointly by the student and the graduate program director to emphasize both theory and application. Skills, knowledge and aptitudes required to achieve the students' individual career 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 self-paced courses.

The program requires core courses in preparation for research with an additional 10-24 credits in a chosen emphasis. Some of these emphases are:

Teaching -- Course work for a teaching concentration focuses on topics such as learning styles, authentic evaluation methods, curriculum development, and teaching methods and strategies. Technical and occupationally oriented coursework can also be selected to update and expand knowledge and skills in these areas.

Career and Technical Education Coordinator -- This DPI approved concentration provides the background typically needed to work with administration on the secondary level and replaces the Local Vocational Education Coordinator (LVEC), School-to-Work Coordinator and Tech Prep Coordinator.

Administration -- Students receive a background in supervision, quality principles, staff development, group leadership, and team based management in preparation to be department head coordinators or administrators.

Marketing Education -- Teacher-coordinators in marketing education can both update and expand their knowledge of teaching strategies and marketing-related concepts.

Special Needs -- Both vocational and special needs teachers may use this emphasis to learn how to integrate special needs students into vocational programs.

 

Employment Opportunities

Career and Technical Education graduates get jobs. Program graduates hold positions such as:

 

Degree Requirements

The degree requires the completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credits with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better. A minimum of 15 credits must be in courses open only to graduate students (700-800 level). To earn a degree, the student must present evidence of the necessary amount and kind of occupational experience as specified by the appropriate state certification agency.

 

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program with full status, an applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college and have an overall grade point average of at least 2.75. Generally an applicant's bachelor degree is in Industrial or Technology Education, Marketing Education, Vocational Education, or an equivalent in agriculture, business, home economics, or health.

The undergraduate degree program and work experience of each applicant are evaluated by the program director. Applicants lacking necessary educational, scientific, or technical backgrounds, or having a grade point average of 2.25, may be admitted on probation. A deficiency in these admission requirements does not preclude admission, but may require completion of additional undergraduate work or increase the amount of graduate credit required to earn the degree.

 

Credit Transfer

Ten graduate level credits may be transferred into the program with the approval of the program director. This approval should be obtained in advance to determine applicability of the proposed work from another university. Transfer of credits is made only after admission to the degree program and is always based upon receipt of official graduate transcripts showing completion of the credit requested.