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 Master of Education, Secondary Education - Certification programs.
The Master of Education in Career and Technical Education 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 |
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
Purpose Statement
The Master of Education, Career and Technical Education 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
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.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This Master's degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 30 units:
Career and Technical Education Course Requirements (15 units)
Areas from which you may select a concentration include but aren't restricted to curriculum and instruction, higher education, educational technology, human resource development, and CTE Administration. Note that a concentration in CTE Administration does not lead to any type of administration certification. Consult with your plan advisor for the courses suggested in these areas of concentration.
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 courses (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.
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.