Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education
Personalized Professional Pathways
Create a graduate study experience as unique as your students!
Why Choose the MA in Education: Personalized Professional Pathways at USJ?
- Fully Online Cohort
Study from anywhere while staying connected to a supportive peer group.
- Live Virtual Classes
Just one evening per week—built for working educators.
- 8-Week Courses
Focused, fast-paced, and designed for immediate classroom application.
- Integrate Technology Tools
Learn how to use emerging technologies to help support students in the classroom.
- Innovate Your Practice
Deepen impact with inclusive, research-informed strategies.
- Designed for Balance
Finish in 2 years—without stepping away from your classroom.
Transformative Learning for Today’s Classrooms
The Master of Arts in Education: Personalized Professional Pathways (MAPPP) at the University of Saint Joseph offers educators a flexible and individualized graduate experience. Designed for experienced teachers and other educators who seek targeted professional growth, MAPPP empowers students to shape a master’s degree around their own instructional goals and evolving classroom needs.
Through a combination of core coursework, self-selected electives, and a personalized capstone project, students design a learning pathway that supports their unique vision for practice. Whether you’re excited to build your knowledge and skill for integrating technology, engaging learners through arts-based instruction, or expanding inclusive teaching strategies to support neurodiverse and multilingual learners, MAPPP helps you turn your interests into expertise.
Program Design
Students begin the MAPPP program with a foundational course that helps articulate professional goals and shape an individualized plan of study. Six self-selected pathway courses allow students to tailor their degree to their context and passions.
- Courses meet from 4:45 PM – 8:45 PM
- Most courses are fully online, with occasional hybrid options depending on content
- Complete your degree in approximately two years
The program also includes:
- A Special Topics course (EDUC 590) for deeper exploration of an area of interest
- A course in Educational Research (EDUC 515) to support inquiry and analysis
- A Reflective Practitioner capstone (EDUC 537) that synthesizes learning through a personalized portfolio presentation or project
Prerequisites
To apply, students must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (minimum GPA of 2.5)
- Have access to a classroom and students throughout the program to complete fieldwork requirements
Degree Requirements and Career Outcomes
To earn the Master of Arts in Education: Personalized Professional Pathways, students must complete all required courses, six elective pathway courses, and a course-embedded capstone project.
This program does not lead to a certification, licensure, or endorsement.
To create your personalized pathway, you will:
- Clarify your instructional goals and design a customized plan of study
- Select from a broad menu of graduate courses to support your pathway
- Build expertise across topics such as technology, inclusion, arts integration and multilingual education
- Explore current research, policies, and instructional trends relevant to your context
- Apply insights directly to your classroom practice and student learning
- Document your growth through a culminating capstone or portfolio presentation
Click to view possible professional development goals for educators.
Plan of Study
| Course | Title | Hours |
| EDUC 511 | Educational Issues: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives Examines the philosophical, historical and social foundations of education in contemporary society. Explores a wide range of curriculum and policy issues influencing the major debates in the profession. | 3 |
| Pathway Course #1 Self-Selected: See Menu | 3 | |
| Pathway Course #2 Self-Selected: See Menu | 3 | |
| Pathway Course #3 Self-Selected: See Menu | 3 | |
| Pathway Course #4 Self-Selected: See Menu | 3 | |
| Pathway Course #5 Self-Selected: See Menu | 3 | |
| Pathway Course #6 Self-Selected: See Menu | 3 | |
| EDUC 590 | Special Topics Special topics course in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 515 | Educational Research Students will examine both qualitative and quantitative research and work together as a community of practice. The course requires an extensive literature review and research proposal of an educational topic. | 3 |
| EDUC 537 | Reflective Practitioner* This course is designed to support systematic self-evaluation of classroom teaching. Candidates will judge current practices and make plans for change in classroom organization and management, instructional planning, engaging all learners and/or evaluating student progress. Web based interactive learning tools will be used to support more effective instruction of students with disabilities in an inclusive classroom. Master’s Capstone project included. | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
Please Note:
*Master’s Capstone Project Included
The courses for this program may be offered in a different order. This list should not be considered the finalized course sequence.
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