This flexible Master's degree offers you an opportunity to design a customized program of study, in consultation with an advisor, to meet your individual educational needs. This degree program is designed to prepare you for a career in career and technical education. Our graduates are CTE administrators, educators, and training and development personnel in secondary, post-secondary, and business and industry settings. The diverse course options can be chosen to meet the future goals of many diverse students. Your advisor can assist you putting together (and approving) a customized program of study that will prepare you for your growth in your current career or to meet your future goals.
Please note that this is not a secondary education certification program. If you are interested in secondary education certification in CTE, please explore the Masters in Secondary Education, Certification Emphasis programs.
This degree is approved by the Western Regional Graduate Program.
The Master's in Education, Career and Technical Education degree program is designed to prepare you for a career in career and technical education. Our graduates are CTE administrators, educators, and training and development personnel in secondary, post-secondary, and business and industry settings. You will take coursework in five core areas: Career and Technical Education, Research, Education Foundations, Curriculum or Administration, and Education Psychology. You will also take coursework in a selected emphasis area. Three emphasis areas are offered: Administration, Teaching, or Educational Technology. There are many course options to allow the degree to be flexible to meet the future goals of many diverse students. Your advisor can assist you putting together (and approving) a customized program of study that will prepare you for your growth in your current career or to meet your future goals.
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University Requirements:
| Minimum Units for Completion | 30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Thesis | Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Comprehensive Exam | Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Oral Defense | Oral Defense may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
Purpose Statement
The Masters in Education, Career and Technical Education program is distinctive, and addresses the emerging need for practitioners and occupational trainers with knowledge specifically in Career and Technical Education; especially as it relates to the latest educational teaching and occupational training practices. The program is designed to prepare professionals in education and business including community college employees, corporate trainers and others in corporate educational positions for growth in their current positions or to meet future goals in career and technical education. CTE graduates will have the knowledge and ability to (a) be advocates for the important role career and technical education has in society, (b) identify and creatively solve critical issues in the field, and (c) be catalysts for evolutionary growth.
Student Learning Outcomes
Career and Technical Education M.Ed.
CTE graduates will have the knowledge and ability to (a) be advocates for the important role career and technical education has in society, (b) identify and creatively solve critical issues in the field, and (c) be catalysts for evolutionary growth.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
Admission requirements include the following:
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.
International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Take the following 30 units:
If you choose the thesis plan, you can only count 6 units of thesis credit toward your degree. However, you may end up taking more units because you must enroll for CTE 699 each term while you are working on your thesis.
If you choose the extended coursework plan rather than the thesis plan, you must pass a final oral exam administered by the faculty, in addition to the coursework listed here. The exit oral exam covers content in the four core CTE classes (CTE 591, CTE 691, CTE 692, and CTE 696).
We offer courses for this plan via web-based delivery only. There are no other delivery methods for this program.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan. Accelerated Programs provide the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates working on their bachelor’s degree to simultaneously begin work on a master’s degree. Departments may allow students to complete both degrees in an accelerated manner by approving up to 12 units applicable toward both degrees. Students must apply to the accelerated program and the master’s program by the application deadline, and meet all requirements as listed on the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year. Be sure to speak with your advisor regarding your interest in Accelerated Programs.