What you will study
As you begin your CTE degree online with UCM, you’ll focus on core topics including
performance assessment, curriculum development theory and research methods. You’ll
then choose one of the following concentrations to dive into education specific to
your career goals:
- CTE Teaching Leadership Option: For certified teachers desiring new skills or for new teachers seeking public school
certification
- CTE Administration Leadership Option: For aspiring administrators or for current administrators pursuing additional leadership
coursework
- Industry Training Leadership Option: For individuals who plan or perform training within an organization and want to enhance
their skills or leadership
Meet your career goals when you complete a CTE degree online
Expect to complete your CTE master’s degree online in as little as 18 months or up
to two to three years. At UCM, we know you may also need to balance work, family or
other responsibilities, so we offer options to tailor our CTE degree to meet your
goals. Whether you wish to enhance your leadership or teaching skills, conduct research
or pursue certifications, UCM faculty will be there every step of the way to guide
you.
Excellence in Career and Technology Education
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
Unique learning opportunities in career and technology education
As you complete your master’s in CTE degree online, you’ll apply your learning in
hands-on experiences. At the University of Central Missouri, our CTE degree uses a
theory-to-practice approach, and the benefits are immediate. Plan to use today’s learning
in your classroom tomorrow or be prepared for your future role on day one. For example,
you’ll build budgets for a career center in our CTE Finance and Funding course and
plan a new CTE program — or improve your current program — in our Organization and
Administration of Career and Technical Education course.
Other learning experiences include:
- Internships: If you choose to complete an internship, you can gain experience in your desired career
field. Get insight into a new area, whether training in CTE Administration, teaching
or a new training industry. Internships are a great way to see how academic or industry
standards apply on the job.
- Outside programs for course credit: CTE Learn allows you to expand your learning with online courses that will earn you
credit toward your UCM CTE master’s degree. Two additional programs — Project Lead
the Way and Engineering by Design — are designed for UCM students focused on engineering
and technology. They provide extensive training to help UCM students teach engineering
and technology and earn course credit. In fact, we’re one of a few schools in the
U.S. to extend this benefit to our graduate students.
What can you do with a master’s degree in Career and Technology Education from UCM?
Graduates of UCM’s Career and Technology Education degree program hold CTE careers
in almost every school district in Missouri, as well as in many of the state’s 50+
career centers. Upon completion of your CTE master’s degree, you too will be prepared
to lead career and technical education as a teacher or administrator in many environments.
These include:
- Middle schools
- High schools
- Community colleges
- Career centers
- Organizations and industrial settings
UCM faculty are available to help you navigate opportunities for CTE careers. They’re
also happy to work with you to transfer your certification to another state if desired.
Increasing your value with a graduate-level CTE degree
When enhancing your value as a teacher or gaining education to move into an administrator
role, you’ll also increase your earning potential. Take a look at the possibilities
that await you when you complete your CTE degree online.
Financial assistance options for your CTE master’s degree
Your investment in UCM’s CTE degree for administrative training or further specialized
training in education can expand your career and salary horizons. The University of
Central Missouri also makes available resources to help finance your education. These include loans, grants, work-study opportunities and scholarships.
Scholarships for master’s degree in CTE students
You may be eligible to apply for a number of scholarships available through UCM, the
CTE program or alumni gifts. Among them are:
- Jacob M. Cunningham Memorial Scholarship
- Edna Gehlken Graduate Scholarship in Home Economics
- Reid Hemphill Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship
Search these scholarships and additional funding opportunities by using the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Meet Professor SMeet Our Program Coordinator
Dr. Michelle Conrad
With two master’s degrees and a Ph.D., Dr. Michelle Conrad understands the challenges
and rewards of graduate-level education and can help students navigate them to success
in their CTE careers. She teaches CTE courses at UCM and serves as a project facilitator
with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of College
and Career Readiness.
Read Dr. Conrad’s Bio
Earn Course Credit
CTE Learn
UCM offers you the opportunity to earn graduate course credit when you complete CTE
Learn requirements. As the online learning network for the Association of Career and
Technical Education, CTE Learn offers over 150 courses. When you complete four CTE
Learn modules, you can earn one credit hour towards your CTE degree online and move
one step closer to advancing your career.
Learn More About CTE Learn
Meet CTE Faculty
Various CTE experts and mentors
When you choose UCM for your CTE degree, you’ll get expert guidance for any career
goal. UCM faculty have well-established CTE careers, teaching CTE at the secondary
education and college levels and having served in CTE administration. Most hold Ph.D.s
and are active in their own research. They all welcome the opportunity to help ensure
UCM’s CTE degree meets your individual goals.
Read Faculty Bios
Meet Wade F.
Master of Science Career & Technology Education Graduated Dec.10, 2021 - Engineering
& Industrial Technology Instructor Ft. Zumwalt South High School
When I was ready to continue my educational path I chose UCM. The course options at
UCM made my decision to complete my graduate work an easy one. The courses actually
lined up with the purpose behind CTE. Rather than trying to fit pre-arranged curriculum
into the CTE mold. From the beginning, my advisor and professors went above and beyond
to tailor their individual courses to not only fit but enhance my teaching through
their instruction and encouragement.
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Student Learning Outcomes
The knowledge and skills obtained in the Master of Science degree in Career and Technical
Education will help you:
- gain an overview of the CTE field, including secondary, postsecondary, and adult education
- investigate and reflect on historical and current issues, trends, and topics in CTE
in order to develop one’s personal philosophy in CTE
- develop, analyze, and implement curricular and instructional components consistent
with curriculum and assessment design practices and theory
- employ data literacy strategies to develop supportive learning environments and to
improve learning. (e.g. Financial, programmatic, instructional, employment)
- locate, critique, evaluate, and create scholarly writing/scientific research in the
field of CTE
- lead, develop, and/or participate in collaborative activities with CTE stakeholders
CTE Teaching Leadership Option
This option is designed for new teachers pursuing post baccalaureate professional
teacher certification (Plan A), previously certified instructors pursuing additional
professional teaching skills (Plan B), or new occupational education teachers pursuing
initial teacher certification through DESE. New teachers pursuing post-baccalaureate
teacher certification must obtain a certification plan and take existing teacher certification
courses identified by the UCM Director of Clinical and Field Services. New teachers
pursuing post-baccalaureate teacher certification in CTE should create a program of
study based on deficiencies listed on their professional teaching certificate. Students
selecting the Teaching Leadership Option must select Plan A or Plan B:
- Plan A – Post-Baccalaureate Professional Teaching Enhancement
- Plan B – Occupational Education Initial Teacher Certification
CTE Administration Leadership Option
This option is designed for current or new Missouri CTE administrators pursuing administrator
certification and should be pursued consistent with the certification plan.
This option may also be selected by candidates planning to pursue CTE administration
in the future or for current CTE administrators pursuing additional leadership coursework.
If you work in CTE administration outside of Missouri or in a post-secondary facility,
this option is the one for you!
CTE Industry Training Option
This option is designed for career and technical industry, business, or military personnel
.who plan and/or conduct training in their environment or who desire to become more
effective leaders in their current positions. This option will be tailored to the
candidate’s specific needs in any CTE-related field.