Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) - Career and Technical Education Specialization

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus, Online

Teacher standing in front of a classroom.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Laura Hasselquist, Associate Professor
School of Education
Wenona Hall 104
605-201-5039

Program Information

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) specialization prepares students for leadership and teaching roles in secondary schools, technical colleges, and workforce development agencies. The program develops expertise in CTE pedagogy, competency-based assessment, industry-aligned curriculum design, and research methods specific to work-based learning environments.

The program offers two emphasis areas to meet the needs of diverse learners. The Professional Practice Emphasis is designed for students who hold a current teaching license and wish to deepen their knowledge and leadership capacity in career and technical education. The Teacher Licensure/Certification Emphasis is designed for students seeking to earn their teaching certification while completing the graduate program, providing the foundational coursework and clinical experiences necessary for licensure.

Graduates are prepared to serve as effective educators and leaders who bridge academic and technical learning to meet the evolving needs of students and the workforce.

Core courses are delivered online in 8-week sessions, with two distinct 8-week sessions offered each semester, with the exception of AGED 625, which is offered as a 16-week, full-semester course.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees

Master of Education

Non-Thesis: 30-33 Credit Hours

Core Requirements

AGED 625 - Future Directions for Career and Technical Education Credits: 3
EDFN 600 - Educational Theory in Practice Credits: 3
EDFN 700 - Exceptional Learners Credits: 3
EDFN 725 - Education in a Pluralistic Society Credits: 3
EDFN 750 - Educational Technology Integration Credits: 3
EPSY 740 - Educational Psychology: Cognition, Learning and Applications Credits: 3
SEED 502 - Methods in Career and Technical Education (COM) Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)

Select from the following

Select one of the two emphasis areas:

Professional Practice Emphasis

EDER 610 - Introduction to Research Credits: 3
EDFN 580 - Leadership Development in Youth Organizations Credits: 3
EDFN 730 - Current Issues in Education (COM) Credits: 3

Teacher Licensure/Certification Emphasis

AIS 511 - South Dakota Indian Studies (COM) Credits: 3
EDER 711 - Educational Assessment (COM) Credits: 3
EDFN 688 - Student Teaching (COM) Credits: 1-16 (3 credits required)
SEED 550 - Reading and Content Literacy (COM) Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)

Total Required Credits: 30-33 (Non-Thesis)

Academic Requirements

Students in the Teacher Licensure/Certification Emphasis seeking initial teaching certification must maintain certain academic requirements to be eligible for teacher certification.

maintain a 3.0 gpa or higher
pass all coursework required by the teacher preparation program
pass the state designated Praxis content exam
pass the state designated Praxis pedagogy exam
complete the required student teaching experience

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL iBT: 4
TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 110

Applicants must provide a resume, goal statement, and two letters of professional reference to the Teacher Education Program. Those seeking the certification emphasis must provide a verification of occupational competency for a CTE career area and complete a professional licensure location form. Once all material is received, it is reviewed by the program faculty. Students are assigned an admission status of “unconditional,” “conditional” or “not admitted.”

General Requirements

Graduate students should consult with their advisor before registering for graduate coursework. For additional information, refer to the Master’s Degree Requirements .