Program requirements for K-12 students

Program requirements for higher education students

Admission.  To be admitted, the student must meet the requirements of both the Graduate Division and the Department. 

How to Apply to the M.Ed. Program

Prospective students must submit all of the following documents and materials to the appropriate office prior to March 1 (for fall admission) or September 1 (for spring admission).  Applications from foreign students have a deadline of January 15 and August 1 for fall and spring admission, respectively.  The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission.

There are two program emphases: K-12 administration and higher education administration.

Students who seek the M.Ed. degree in K-12 educational administration must have appropriate job-related experience to evidence familiarity with teaching or other student support roles (i.e., 2 years of classroom teaching or school counseling experience). The basic program is designed to prepare educational administrators and supervisors for a broad range of education-related elementary and secondary administrative positions. For applicants working in the Department of Education currently as teachers or vice principals, there are seven courses are required for principal certification (EDEA 601, EDEA 610, EDEA 630, EDEA 650, EDEA 760, EDEA 780F). Applicants should check with the Hawaii DOE for additional requirements to become an administrator in the public schools.

For students who seek the M.Ed. degree in higher education, the program is designed for those with interest in mid-level administrative and staff positions in higher education administration (e.g., admissions, housing, student activities, financial aid, placement, counseling, and health services). Experience in working in higher education is desirable.

Students are encouraged to plan an individualized program of electives to prepare them for specific educational positions.

There are two basic degree options.  Plan A requires a minimum of 36 credits, 6 of which are earned through the master's thesis.  For K-12 students, program requirements include: (1) 601, (2) 602, (3) one 700 level seminar course, (4) one course in organizations and school contexts (e.g., 610, 650, 652, 670, (5) one course in leadership and policy (e.g., 642, 645, 675, 676) (6) one course in legal/financial processes (620, 630), (7) two courses from any related graduate field of study including Educational Administration, and (8) two additional courses in educational administration.

For Higher Education, in addition to the master's thesis, program requirements include: (1) 657, (2) 602, (3) one 700 level seminar course, (4) one course in higher education organizations (e.g., 646, 662, 650), (5) two courses in leadership (642, 660, 661, 663), (6) one course in legal/fiscal processes (620HE, 630HE), (7) one additional course in research methods (604, 629), and 2 related courses from any related graduate field of study.

Plan B (non-thesis) requires a minimum of 36 credits. Program requirements are the same in each program except for the following: (1) and additional course in educational administration or related field  and (2) a directed research/evaluation project competed under the supervision of a departmental faculty member.  

Selection of specific courses in the above areas will be by the candidate with the advice and approval of the student's faculty adviser.

The department will accept a maximum of 9 transfer credits when such work is appropriate to degree requirements.  Additionally, students enrolled at the University of Hawai'i Manoa may complete approximately 15 units as unclassified students.