What You'll Learn
Affordable. Doable. Remarkable.
Calvin University’s graduate studies in education program provides plenty of high-quality options to take courses that fit into your life— take a course as a guest or a degree seeking student.
Courses are taught by a team of professional educators with years of experience in the classroom. We make it easy to enroll with flexible scheduling, affordable prices, and no hidden fees. We also offer up to nine semester hours of graduate-level classes to guests who have not been formally accepted into one of the graduate programs.
Start Dates
We accept applications on a rolling basis and offer six starts each year:
- Fall 1
- Fall 2
- Spring 1
- Spring 2
- Summer 1
- Summer 2
- Loading...
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 2.8 or above (on a 4.0 scale)
- Master's and Endorsement programs: documented professional certification and relevant work experience
- Two years of teaching experience are required for the Education Leadership concentration and recommended for the other concentrations
Approximately one hour after submitting the online application, a checklist of required documents will be visible on your status page:
- A statement explaining your interest in K-12 education and teaching
- Two professional recommendations
- Official transcripts from each college or university attended
- Additional requirements for international students:
- Proof of English proficiency
- Financial commitment (for on-campus programs only, not online)
Upload the required application items (listed above) into your online status page and request that your official college or university transcripts be sent to Calvin University Admissions, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.
Calvin's Master of Education is affordable and up-front. We want our program to empower you as a teacher and administrator, so we have worked to minimize the financial burden of getting an MEd, becoming one of the most affordable programs in west Michigan.
When you are comparing graduate programs, be sure to check all costs, such as library or lab fees, travel, or registration fees. There are no hidden costs to our program.
Overall Program Costs:
- Some courses and programs can be completed online, avoiding the need to travel to campus.
- Up to three courses may be completed as a guest before committing to the program.
- Our programs entail between 30 and 33 semester hours. View current tuition rates per credit hour.
- Check with your school whether it is able to assist with the cost of tuition.
We offer four named scholarships in order to provide financial assistant to students who have been accepted into one of the degree seeking programs.
The application forms for named scholarships are available every year beginning December 1 and must be submitted by January 31. All students who will be enrolled next academic year are encouraged to apply (including newly admitted students and international students). Complete one scholarship application, and you will be automatically considered for all scholarships that match your eligibility.
The following scholarships are not administered by Calvin University, but are relevant to graduate study at Calvin University and may be applied to study in our program. For these scholarships please apply directly to the granting organization as indicated in each case below.
GUY D. AND MARY EDITH HALLADAY GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
These grants are available for students undertaking postgraduate courses in a field of their choice at colleges and universities in Michigan. Applicants must have been residents of Kent County for a minimum of five years, have a minimum 3.0 college grade point average, and demonstrate financial need.
ROY JOHNSON TRUST SCHOLARSHIPS
Any person with visual impairment, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, or age, who has received a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, is eligible for consideration for grants from this trust. Factors taken into account in considering applicants include their financial condition and scholastic record. Other considerations include recommendations from college/university faculty and officials and the applicants' intended use of their post-graduate college education. Funds must be used to pursue graduate studies in law, education, science, music and other disciplines in an accredited college or university in the State of Michigan. Grants are made for tuition, housing, or reader services.
DOROTHY J. THURSTON SCHOLARSHIP
These grants are available for full- or part-time students pursuing graduate-level study (Master's M.D., Ph.D.) at the accredited university of their choice in Michigan. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 3.0 cumulative college grade point average and must have been Kent County residents for a minimum of two years (at time of application or prior to the beginning of their undergraduate education). The scholarship is renewable, provided the student maintains a 3.0 grade point average and there is continued financial need. Apply through The Grand Rapids Foundation office, 209-C Waters Building, 161 Ottawa NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
State or federal agencies may offer financial assistance to US citizens for graduate education. Typically, students must be enrolled in at least 4.5 semester hours to be eligible for aid and assistance for graduate students may be limited to loans.
Four Concentrations
We offer two hybrid concentrations (details below): Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership.
We offer two fully online concentrations: Inclusion and Literacy.
Curriculum and Instruction Concentration Overview
The concentration in curriculum and instruction is based on a Christian framework and meets state and national standards. Master the art of building a curriculum that not only details what students will learn, but how they will go about learning it. Provide curricular and pedagogical leadership in your school community, and integrate your faith and values into your educational practice and professional growth. Gain a thorough understanding of issues, perspectives, and values that impact curricular and instructional decisions, and promote effective and equitable educational practice in school and society.
Explore how to design, implement and evaluate transformative school and classroom practices through investigation of theory, research and Christian vision for shalom. Study fundamental questions related to education, justice, equity, and excellence. Examine and apply curricular and pedagogical perspectives. Explore appropriate practices related to assessment and technology. Search for ways to create learning communities that meet the needs of all learners.
General Courses
In addition to taking a set of core courses, candidates pursuing a curriculum and Instruction concentration will have the opportunity for advanced study in a chosen focus area. Areas of study could focus on a specific content area (for example: art education, music education, etc.) or center on topics such as culture and context, social justice pedagogy, inquiry learning, classroom research methods, learning theory, etc.
A typical program is 30 semester hours.
Advisor: John Walcott
Educational Leadership Concentration Overview
Educational leadership is a high calling requiring a complex set of skills and understandings. Graduate study in educational leadership can place you at the cutting edge of current thinking and also give you the gift of space to focus intentionally on how you need to learn and grow, so that you can achieve a better integration between your beliefs and values and your professional effectiveness.
The educational leadership concentration helps you develop the skills, knowledge base, and dispositions you need to become responsive and transformative school leaders. We seek to enable leaders at all levels of schooling, from system leaders to heads of school to teacher leaders who participate in the development of positive school environments. The program is based on a Christian framework as well as state and national leadership standards, providing you with a unique blend of leadership, organization management and educational knowledge and skills. You can go in-depth with the latest theory and research, but you will also have space to work on projects that shape your learning to needs relevant to your own context.
Successful completion of this program leads to eligibility for the Michigan K-12 Administrator Certificate.
Advisor: Albert Boerema
