Master’s Programs
Our college is committed to Chicago's communities, students, and their families to make real change and develop new knowledge around education.
Our Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs are for people who are or want to become teachers, researchers, and educational leaders. Our master's students work with our faculty, graduate students, and community partners to develop research and practical experience in Chicago's schools and community-based organizations.
Our master's programs Heading link
Why choose UIC for your master's degree? Heading link
Faculty leadership and support
The strength of our graduate programs comes from our faculty’s talents and commitment to students. At least 70% of our master’s courses are taught by faculty each year. Our faculty and graduate student networks reach every neighborhood of Chicago, providing our students with expansive options for pursuing community-engaged work and scholarship.
Flexible course schedule for busy students
Our master’s programs are designed for working students. All the master’s degrees can be completed part-time, the only exception being the accelerated 12-month program for the Master’s in Science Education (Strand A). All master’s courses are held in the evenings, Monday through Thursday.
Funding and awards: fellowships, grants, waivers, and more
Once you are admitted, you can apply for scholarships, grants, and graduate assistantships to cover all or part of your tuition. Funding options will depend on which program you enroll in, as well as your academic and/or professional qualifications.
The UIC Graduate College is a great source of information to start learning about the many funding and award opportunities for UIC graduate students. UIC graduate tuition is posted here.
Master's Programs Frequently Asked Questions Heading link
-
Is the GRE required to apply?
No. The GRE is not required for our master’s programs.
-
Do I need a bachelor's in education to apply?
No, we accept many master’s students who are new to the field of education and are looking for a career change. However, certain MEd programs require a teaching license in order for you to be eligible to earn endorsements. See our licensure, endorsements & credentials page for more information.
-
Can I attend part-time?
Yes. The majority of our master’s students take courses part-time. Part-time students typically take 1 or 2 courses per semester.
-
Can I be employed full-time while completing my degree?
Yes. The majority of our students work full-time. Since classes meet in the evenings during the week, it is possible to work full-time while pursing the degree.
-
How long will it take to graduate?
Part-time master’s students typically take 2-3 years to earn the MEd. Full-time students can finish in 1-2 years.
-
When do courses meet?
Our synchronous classes (online, hybrid, or in-person) meet once per week in the evenings (5 p.m.–8 p.m.), Monday through Thursday. We do not offer classes on the weekends.
Some of our instructors offer online courses that are asynchronous with no set weekly meeting time, but master’s students should plan for most courses (online and in-person) meeting synchronously.
-
Do you offer online degrees or online courses?
The MEd in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) Online is our only fully online master’s program (there is also an on-campus version).
Visit our Courses page to see current course schedules and formats.
-
What is the tuition?
Tuition rates can be found on the UIC Graduate Tuition & Fees page. Tuition can vary depending on the year courses are taken, the number of courses taken simultaneously, and the type of courses taken.
-
Is financial aid available?
Yes. Some opportunities will depend on the applicant’s qualifications and their chosen master’s program.
UIC offers graduate student assistantships, which come with a tuition discount, as well as scholarships for grad students. For some opportunities, you can apply at the same time as you apply to UIC, but many opportunities only accept applications from admitted and enrolled UIC students.
The UIC Graduate College is a great source of information to start learning about the funding and award opportunities for UIC graduate students. To learn more about scholarships and aid within the College of Education, visit our Tuition & Aid page.
-
Do you offer alternative licensure programs?
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) alternative licensure program is a special pilot program for employees of Chicago community agencies who already have professional early childhood education experience. It is not accepting applications from the general public.
Our traditional ECE licensure program takes a similar amount of time to complete (1-2 years full-time) as an alt licensure program, and is open to people with no prior academic or professional background in education.
Alternative licensure programs allow you to obtain a teaching license without pursuing a degree. In Illinois, they are generally a full-time commitment and take about two years to complete, and with the exception of our ECE alternative program, they are only offered at private universities. These programs are popular with people looking to switch careers with no prior experience in education, people who are looking to save money by not paying for a full master’s degree program, and/or people who want to transition to teaching relatively quickly.
However, all of UIC’s regular licensure programs at the master’s level can be completed part-time in 2-3 years, with accommodations for student-teaching that allow students to keep their jobs, are open to students with no prior background in education, and at a cost that is much lower than the alternative licensure programs at private universities.
-
What is the application deadline for master's programs?
Deadlines vary by MEd program. Please check the UIC Graduate Admissions website for all official master’s deadlines, including international deadlines. Once you decide which master’s program is right for you, check the deadline(s) for that program.
Most of our master’s programs have two or three deadlines over the year depending on which semester you want to start, with a few notable exceptions:
- MEd Early Childhood Education and MEd Youth Development operate on a cohort model and only have one deadline (March 15) to begin in the fall semester
- The one-year accelerated version of MEd Science Education (leads to license to teach high school science) only accepts applications on February 15 to begin in the summer
-
Can I transfer credit hours towards my master's degree?
You may transfer a limited number of credits as long as they are within the guidelines of the UIC Graduate College. Read the full list of guidelines here. Here are some important highlights:
For master’s programs of 47 or fewer semester hours [which is every College of Education M.Ed. program], no more than 25% of the total hours required for the degree may be transferred from another institution or other UIC college.
Consideration is given to the transfer of credit in four categories:
- Graduate work from another institution for which a degree was not, or will not, be awarded.
- Graduate work completed in the senior year, or in another college, at UIC.
- Graduate work completed as a non-degree student at UIC.
- Graduate work completed while in a Graduate College degree program, but not used for any earned degree. This includes extra work taken, for example, while in a master’s program, but that is to be used for the doctoral degree.
-
Can I start taking courses in my intended program before I am accepted?
Yes. For certain programs, you can take up to 12 credit hours as a non-degree seeking student at UIC that could potentially transfer to your intended master’s program. Please note that for this option you will have to apply for UIC’s graduate non-degree studies option in order to receive admission, and you will not be eligible for scholarships and financial aid until you are accepted into a degree program.
-
What endorsements can I earn with a master's degree?
See the licensure, endorsements, and credentials page for a comprehensive list of endorsement offerings by program.
For certain endorsements such as ESL, Bilingual, LBS I & II (Special Education), Early Childhood Special Education, licensed teachers can enroll as non-degree students through UIC Extended Campus to complete endorsement coursework only.
-
How do I choose which master's program at the College of Education is best for me?
Please read our Choosing a Master’s Program page. You will find answers about the differences between programs such Educational Studies/Educational Policy Studies and Youth Development/Urban Higher Education. Your choice will depend on you career goals and/or your research interests.
If you are applying to a master’s program to get a teaching license, your options are:
- Early Childhood Ed (teaching children 0-8 years)
- Special Ed (teaching K-12)
- Science Ed (teaching high school science)
These three programs also accept licensed teachers looking to add endorsements or specialize.
Educational Studies and Language, Literacy & Learning also offer pathways to earn endorsements such as the Bilingual/ESL, but they do not provide a path to licensure.
-
Who do I contact if I am having difficulty completing my application?
If you have questions or are having difficulties submitting your application, contact Ana Valenta, Master’s Programs Advisor, at agarci5@uic.edu.
-
When are the info sessions for the master's programs?
General info sessions happen in Fall & Spring semesters. Info session dates are posted on our Events page.