Program Description
The Career and Technical Education MA program prepares students pursuing leadership and administrative positions in career and technical education (CTE) as well as talent development and corporate training. This program is designed for individuals whose goal is to teach, train, coach, and/or lead in specific disciplines located in the following institutions: secondary and post-secondary schools (technical centers, community colleges, state colleges, and universities); vocational rehabilitation centers; corporations and industry; military; and professional associations and organizations. The CTE MA program’s vision is to develop the next generation of educational leaders who serve in modern educational settings to cause positive outcomes.
The goal of this program is to improve the quality and effectiveness of talent development and instructional personnel in all industries. The Career and Technical Education MA program places emphasis on the intellectual growth of each student using research-based effective teaching techniques, scholarly learning, research or direct field experience, and leadership development.
Please note: Career and Technical Education (MA) may be completed fully online, although not all elective course options or course prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF Online may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
This program is not an initial teacher professional education certificate program.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit http://global.ucf.edu/.
UCF is authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in all states. Refer to State Authorizations for current information.
- ECW 5561 - Student Guidance in the Career/Workforce Program 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6067 - History of Career Education in the United States 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6105 - Career Education Curriculum Planning and Implementation 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6268 - School, College, and Career Readiness 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6666 - Issues in Career Education 3 Credit Hours
- ECT 6791 - Research in Career Education 3 Credit Hours
Curriculum
The Career and Technical Education MA program requires a minimum of 39 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including 18 credit hours of career education core courses and 18 credit hours of advisor-approved courses focused on specialization within a discipline. The program also requires an internship/directed-field experience course (3 credit hours) OR a research report course (3 credit hours). Passing a comprehensive examination at the end of the program is a graduation requirement.
Total Credit Hours Required: 39 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor’s Degree
The six Career Education Core classes combine to provide students with an in-depth analysis of career education from its inception to future trends. With 18 credit hours (six courses) in career education graduate courses and 18 credit hours (six courses) in a discipline-specific field of study, the student will be considered a subject matter expert in career and technical education AND a subject matter expert in a discipline-specific field.
This program provides the flexibility of choosing electives for subject matter expertise in Career and Technical Education (CTE), in Educational Foundation, or in a discipline-specific graduate certificate that allows for a personalized degree program.
The internship/directed-field experience course takes place in a face-to-face or web-based authentic setting in which students must apply, reflect upon, and refine knowledge and skills acquired in the program. The internship experience gives students insight and hands-on experience while being observed and mentored by a supervising teacher and UCF faculty member. In lieu of the internship, students may choose the research report course option, which may be helpful if considering an educational pathway to a doctorate.
Required Courses—18 Credit Hours
Career Education Core
These courses will provide a solid foundation in career and technical/workforce education.
- ECW 5561 - Student Guidance in the Career/Workforce Program 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6067 - History of Career Education in the United States 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6105 - Career Education Curriculum Planning and Implementation 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6268 - School, College, and Career Readiness 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6666 - Issues in Career Education 3 Credit Hours
- ECT 6791 - Research in Career Education 3 Credit Hours
Elective Courses in Specialization—18 Credit Hours
Area of specialization may include career and technical education (CTE), health, technical training, corporate training, adult education, business education, graduate certificates, or another area approved by the advisor.
Please note: Some courses shown may be applied to the Local Director for Career and Technical Education Certification through the State of Florida. For more information, please review the Florida Department of Education teacher certification website. The Career and Technical Education MA program is not an initial certification program.
Consult with an advisor to complete the Graduate Plan of Study.
Students who wish to specialize in career and technical education may choose from the following list of courses:
- BTE 6935 - Seminar in Business Education 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 5207 - Management of Career Education Programs 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6205 - Administration of Local Career Education Programs 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6206 - Supervision in Local Career and Technical Education Programs 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 6695 - School/Community Relations for Career and Technical Education Programs 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 5265 - Experiential Learning in Career and Workforce Education Programs 3 Credit Hours
Education Foundation Electives
Students may choose from this list if planning to work in a traditional educational institution and wish to work with postsecondary students at the administrative level.
- IDS 6504 - Adult Learning 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6155 - Lifespan Human Development and Learning 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6401 - Statistics for Educational Data 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6432 - Measurement and Evaluation in Education 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6481 - Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education 3 Credit Hours
- EDF 6886 - Multicultural Education 3 Credit Hours
- ECW 5265 - Experiential Learning in Career and Workforce Education Programs 3 Credit Hours
Research Report Option—3 Credit Hours
This research report course is an option for students who wish to go onto to a doctorate program. The course consists of further study into research and scholarly writing.
- ECT 6909 - Research Report Credit Hours
Internship Option—3 Credit Hours
The internship course is a learning activity that takes place in a face-to-face or web-based authentic setting in which students must apply, reflect upon, and refine knowledge and skills acquired in the program.
- ECT 6946 - Internship Credit Hours
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. The GRE exam is not required for admission. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate admission requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- Essay, 1-2 pages, on career goals and program alignment.
Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Application Deadlines
| Career and Technical Education MA | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Dec 1 | Apr 1 |
| Late applications will be considered on a space-available basis. |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Nov 1 |
| *Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date. |
Financials
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
