2023-2024

Educational Technology, Master of Education

Department of Educational Specialties

College of Education

We designed this plan for graduates who are educators and would like to become educational technology leaders within their school, district, or other professional setting. Our goals are to help you develop expertise and skill integrating educational technologies within any learning environment: from pre-kindergarten to college and from in-person courses to distant-learning ones.

Candidates in this program of study move from educational technology facilitators to educational technology leaders. To successfully complete this master program of study, candidates must demonstrate their understandings of content, pedagogy, and professional knowledge and skills through their performance on key assessments-which are embedded in all ETC courses and presented within the Capstone Portfolio.  

This program is nationally recognized by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Adult Learning and Training - Emphasis
  • Assistive Technology - Emphasis
  • K-12 Teacher - Emphasis

  • 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:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Emphasis Required

An emphasis is required for this degree.

Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

Purpose Statement

The Master of Education in Education Technology provides graduate students with expertise in the use of technology tools to conduct and enhance any instructional setting. All students entering the program take core courses in curriculum, educational research, and education technology. These courses provide the foundation for students to continue on to complete terminal degrees, such a doctoral degree, or to reintegrate into the workforce in very different positions, ranging for instructional design to online instructor.

The Master of Education in Educational Technology allows students to select one of three emphases: K-12 Teacher, which is suited for schoolteachers who want to advance their technology and leadership skills to be technology administrators, technology coaches, or technology leaders in their school and district. The second emphasis, Adult Learning and Training, prepares graduate students to use technology in an efficient and effective way to instruct adult students. Teaching adults is a burgeoning field with many different job possibilities, such as corporate trainer, post-secondary education instructor, professional developer for publishing houses, etc. The third emphasis, Assistive Technologies, immerses the student in the different uses of technology to assist individual with disabilities at any age and level.

The Master of Education in Educational Technology is an online program delivered in an asynchronous way, but students should expect to have synchronous meetings with team members and, infrequently, with instructors. Because this is a graduate program, our students are busy and engaged adults that exercise self-regulation skills to complete tasks assigned in the program. This program does not require the GRE as an entrance requisite, and it does not require a thesis project to graduate from the program.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC).

For learning outcomes, see the International Society for Technology Education Standards for Education Leaders


K-12 Teacher Emphasis
For student learning outcomes for this emphasis, see the International Society for Technology Education Standards for Education Leaders
Adult Learning & Training Emphasis
  • Students will develop foundational knowledge related to adult learning theory & methods such as coaching, training, professional development, performance improvement, online and mobile learning.
  • Students will stay abreast of educational research and emerging trends regarding effective use of technology in adult education settings.
  • Students will learn how to plan, facilitate, and participate in learning communities that stimulate, nurture, support and coach adult educators in the study and use of technology related to adult learning methods.
  • Students will describe characteristics, based on research, of effective teaching and learning.
  • Students will create a syllabus for a course to be taught that includes learning objectives, appropriate instructional activities and methods, and assessment.
  • Students will discover key concepts about learning in higher education from diverse information resources.
  • Students will identify compelling issues in college teaching and learning.
  • Students will develop a teaching and learning philosophy.
Assistive Technology Emphasis
  • Students will describe and discuss applications of best practice and ethical practice within the field of assistive technology.
  • Students will be able to address individual needs for assistive technology, through assessment and implementation, using a professionally recognized assistive technology framework with a collaborative team approach.
  • Students will be prepared to consider all persons with disabilities as potential candidates for assistive technology assessment.
  • Students will be prepared to address the individual assistive technology needs of persons with disabilities through dynamic, ongoing, responsive, and data driven assessment, system procurement, and system implementation using collaborative team approaches.
  • Students will be prepared to compare, contrast, and identify necessary features of assistive technology tools and strategies to meet the individual needs of consumers considering a progression of assistive technology from light technology to high technology.
  • Students will be prepared to demonstrate professional leadership, specialty area knowledge, and serve as a resource within their individual professional discipline in the area of assistive technology.

Graduate Admission Information
  • 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:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    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.

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
    • Letter of application
Master's Requirements
  • This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:

    • Core Requirements: 12 units
    • Select an emphasis: 18 units
      • Adult Learning and Training
      • Assistive Technology
      • K-12 Teacher


    Take the following 30 units:

    Core requirements (12 units)

    * ETC 655 is required for students completing the Adult Learning and Training Emphasis, or the K-12 Teacher Emphasis. 

    Emphasis Requirements (Select One):
  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

Additional Information
  • 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.