Q) What online master's degree programs does Marygrove offer?
A) Marygrove College offers four online master's degree programs. The degrees offered are a Master in the Art of Teaching with a Focus on:

• Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Grades K-12
• Reading & Literacy, Grades K-6
• Elementary Mathematics, Grades K-5
• Middle Level Mathematics, Grades 6-8

Q) Is Marygrove College accredited?
A) Marygrove College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA). The North Central Association is located at 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602. Phone: 312-263-0456, Fax: 312-263-7462, http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org

Q) How do the programs work?
A) Courses are delivered online with multimedia coursework that includes a wide variety of teaching resources, media, and activities. Each course includes videos of best classroom practice, available on your desktop, showing effective strategies in action. You'll also see expert commentary focusing on both the content and practice of real teachers in real classrooms, student work samples illustrating the effectiveness of strategies, and practical activities to implement in your own classroom right away.

Course assignments require that you collaborate with other teachers. You select whether to complete the program in either an online discussion format, or a face-to-face study team cohort format. All course assignments are submitted online.

If you select the online discussion format, you will be assigned to an online cohort of 15–20 teachers. You will complete the collaboration assignments via online discussion boards that you can access at your convenience throughout each week. You will have deadlines during the week to post and respond to the online discussion board. The online format provides the opportunity to interact with educators from across the country and a variety of grade levels. Coursework is completed in a structured timeline each week with flexibility as to when during the day or evening you complete your assignments.

If you choose to collaborate in a face-to-face study team, you must apply with a group of 3–8 teachers. We can assist you in forming a group with other teachers in your area. Each group decides when and where to meet to complete the collaboration assignments each week, based on the convenience of the team members. Then each of the team members (as individuals) submit all assignments online. The face-to-face format enables teachers from the same community to learn together as a study team.

The program also provides the opportunity to interact with Mentors from Marygrove College. These professionals are seasoned educators (with years of K–12 classroom and/or administration experience) who offer insights into your practice as you integrate what you are learning from the program into your own classroom situation.

Q) What do I need to apply to the program?
A) You must complete an application form, click here for an online application https://www.marygrove.edu/admissions/GAdmission/MAT_DL/MAT_DL_form.asp
and submit a copy of your current teaching certificate. If you work in a private/Catholic school, you must supply one of the following documents in lieu of a teaching certificate: letter of recommendation from your principal OR copy of your contract OR copy of your pay stub. You must also request transcripts from any universities or colleges you attended. Applicants may provide a student copy of transcripts to start the application process.
NOTE: If your cumulative GPA is less than 3.0, you must submit two (2) letters of recommendation.

Q) When is the application deadline?
A) The application deadline are:

• Summer term - starting in May is March 1.
• Fall term - starting in September is July 1.
• Winter term - starting in January is October 1.

Q) Can I transfer courses into the program?
A) Yes, up to two (2) courses (or 6 credits) may be eligible for transfer.
Graduate courses that are offered through Marygrove College in partnership with Teachscape may be eligible for transfer. You may be eligible to transfer up to two (2) Marygrove/Teachscape individual graduate courses (or 6 credits) into the online MAT program. Upon transfer of credits, you will pay the difference in tuition between the transferring Marygrove/Teachscape course(s) and the equivalent class(es) offered in the MAT program. You will be required to participate in the weekly online collaboration group discussion.

Because the program is offered in a lock-step format without electives, the potential to transfer courses from another institution is highly unlikely. You may request transfer credit from a course from another institution as part of the application process. To be considered, courses would need to have been taken within six (6) years of your anticipated graduation date. And all requests for transfer must include (1) an official transcript and (2) a course description from the credit granting college or university. Requests must be made in writing at time of application. There is a $100 nonrefundable evaluation fee for each transferred course. No more than two (2) courses (6 credits) may transfer into the program.

Q) How long does the program take to complete?
A) Each program takes 5 terms, less than two years to complete.

Q) How long does each course take to complete?
A) Each course is 7 weeks long. Students will take 2 courses per semester, completing one course at a time. Courses are completed in sequence, so before a student starts work on the next course, he/she must complete the previous course in the sequence.

Q) Are there deadlines?
A) Yes. Students can complete their coursework when and where they wish, but must complete course assignments by deadlines. Courses are paced so that each week students will complete assignments that include discussion questions and a practical application assignment.

Q) Does the program require that I write a thesis?
A) No. As an alternative to a thesis, teachers complete a Capstone Project which documents their growth throughout the program. The Capstone Project includes entries such as: assignments from the courses; samples of your students' work completed in your classroom; and reflection/journal entries. The Capstone Project is submitted for review in the final term of the program.

Q) Do I need to take the GRE or MAT to apply?
A) No.

Q) How much does the program cost?
A) Marygrove tuition is $340 per credit. Each 3-semester hour course is $1,020. Tuition for the 30-credit program is $10,200. (All tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.)

Q) Are there materials fees?
A) Yes. The materials fee for each course is $75. Course text(s), journal articles, and any other materials you need to complete the course will be sent to your home or school address.

Q) Is there an application fee?
A) No.

Q) Do you have any assistance to help me better afford the program?
A) Compared to other universities, Marygrove's tuition is very reasonable. Marygrove understands the demands of today's students and offers the following options to help make tuition affordable.

• Deferred payment plan: Pay $450 at registration (a good faith deposit), and pay balance, which includes a $40 deferred payment fee, after 30 days.
• Financial Aid: students may apply for a federal student loan. Visit www.marygrove.edu/financialaid/ for a list of steps you follow to apply for financial aid. You can also visit www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information.

Q) Can I transfer courses into the program?
A) Yes. The courses that are eligible for transfer are courses that are offered through Marygrove College in partnership with Teachscape:

• Research-Based Strategies for Improving Reading Success
• Fundamentals of Mathematics
• Research-Based Instructional Strategies

Because the program is offered in a lock-step format without electives, the potential for transfer courses from another institution is highly unlikely. You may request transfer credit from a course from another institution as part of the application process. To be considered, courses would need to have been taken within six (6) years of your anticipated graduation date. And all requests for transfer must include: 1) an official transcript and 2) course description from the credit-granting college or university. Requests must be made in writing at time of application. There is a supplemental evaluation fee of $25 for each transferred course. And no more than two (2) courses (6 credits) may transfer into the program.

Q) What hardware/software do I need to complete the program?
A) You have what it takes to learn online!
All you need is a computer and Internet access. The Teachscape delivery platform is designed for educators with any level of technology experience and expertise. No matter what your computer or Internet connection speed, you can learn online with ease and efficiency.

System requirements

*Most newer computers typically come with the software you need installed. You can get all of the software you need from the Start-Up CD that is included with your materials at the start of the program or by downloading it for free from the Teachscape Web site.
Note: AOL users must use a supported browser (e.g., Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, or FireFox 1.0 or later).

If you ever have technology questions or problems, Teachscape offers toll-free phone assistance from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, Eastern time, Monday through Friday; and 24-hour email support with responses delivered within 24 hours.

last updated 2/08