MA in Education and Licensure

Goddard's low-residency MA in Education and Licensure Program is dedicated to promoting progressive education through student-centered studies that are individualized, problem-based, inquiry-driven, and grounded in social responsibility. The MA in Education and Licensure Program is a 36-credit program designed for graduate students interested in extending their knowledge in the field of education. Goddard’s low-residency model is ideal for those who wish to advance their studies, enhance their professional status through a master’s degree, or gain state licensure but whose life situation rule out traditional college programs. Read our alumni stories.

Students can choose between many options, including individualized studies in education, a concentration in community education, and both teacher and school counselor licensure, accredited by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and the state of Vermont for preparing licensure-seeking students to receive a Vermont Initial License in one or more of seven separate endorsement areas.

Students in the program develop an individualized plan of study built around their chosen area of focus. Through their studies, students develop the ability to identify and define solutions to pressing problems and questions in education, leading to sustained inquiry within the field.

Students begin their semester with an eight-day residency on the Goddard campus in central Vermont, after which they carry out their studies within their own communities, supported by faculty advisors who offer feedback and guidance throughout the semester. During the residency, students gather within a community of like-minded peers, work with their faculty advisor to craft an individualized study plan, and attend skill- and theory-based workshops on topics that include research methods, reflective teaching, and critical studies.

Students in the low-residency MA in Education and Licensure Program work closely with their faculty advisors to design and implement unique and individual plans of study. The low-residency MA in Education and Licensure faculty members bring with them diverse backgrounds and a shared interest in progressive education, critical pedagogy, social action, and multicultural and democratic education. Faculty members join with their students in articulating a critical understanding of problems and envisioning solutions and innovations in student-centered learning.