Designed for classroom teachers wishing to enhance their pedagogical skills and assume school leadership roles, the NSU master's in teaching and learning is offered entirely online.

    About The Program

    Format: Online or On Campus

     

    Our online master's in teaching and learning program addresses teachers’ roles as mentors, curriculum specialists, instructional coaches and catalysts for change.

    Courses focus on:

    • Learner development
    • Research-based curriculum and instruction
    • Strategies for meeting the needs of diverse learners, and
    • Teaching and learning with digital technology

    Students must pass written and oral examinations before graduating. 

     

    Teaching and Learning Expertise in a Discipline Candidate Handbook

    Teaching and Learning Candidate Handbook

     

    Student Learning Outcomes

    • Graduate students will recognize the individual differences that distinguish their students from each other and account for these differences in their practice.
    • Graduate students will use diverse instructional strategies to teach for understanding.
    • Graduate students will know how to engage students to ensure a disciplined learning environment, and how to organize instruction to meet instructional goals.
    • Graduate students will use multiple methods for measuring student growth and understanding, and they can clearly explain student performance to parents.
    • Graduate students will critically examine their practice on a regular basis to deepen knowledge, expand their repertoire of skills, and incorporate new findings into their practice.
    • Graduate students will work with other professionals on instructional policy, curriculum development and staff development.
    • Graduate students will actively seek and build partnerships with community groups, families, and businesses to engage them productively in the work of the school.

     

     

    Careers

    Successful graduates will be poised to serve as K-12 school leaders in roles such as master teachers, department chairs and curriculum directors.

    Contact Information

    To learn more about this online program, contact NSU Graduate Studies by email or request more information!

    Doctor of Education, School Administration, University of South Dakota

    Master of Education, Valley City State University, Teaching English Learners

    Bachelor of Arts, South Dakota State University, English & Spanish

     

    Dr. Anna Schwan joined Northern’s faculty in 2018 after 16 years in public K-12 education, where she was a high school teacher and secondary school administrator. She currently serves as interim dean of the Millicent Atkins School of Education. Previously, she was department chair of teacher education and graduate faculty coordinator of the Educational Studies and Leadership and Administration programs. 

     

    Professional Work Experience

    Middle school/high school principal

    6-12 English as a second language teacher

    7-12 language arts teacher

    K-12 Spanish teacher

     

    Research Interests

    Student motivation

    Teacher retention

    Principal effectiveness

    Ph.D., University of North Dakota
    M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University
    B.S.Ed., Northern State University
     
    Dr. Cheryl Wold joined NSU's faculty in 2013. She received a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, her M.S.Ed. degree in Special Education/Learning Disabilities from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill., and B.S.Ed. degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education from NSU. Dr. Wold was a special education teacher for 17 years; Title I reading and math teacher for seven years; and a director of special education for eight years.
     
    Dr. Wold is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), and the Teacher Education Division of CEC (TED). She has served as South Dakota CEC president and past president and is currently the membership chair. At the national level of CEC, she…