University of Maryland Eastern Shore

What you'll study

The program requires six core courses (18 credits) and four elective courses (12 credits). Core required courses:

• CTED 600: CTE Content, Methods, and Strategies (3)
• CTED 602: CTE Instructional Management and Organization (3)
• CTED 615: Administration and Leadership in CTE (3)
• EDUC 610: Learning and Instructional Design (3)
• CTED 640: Research in CTE I (3)
• CTED 650: Research in CTE II (3)

Elective options (select four; 12 credits) include courses such as:

• CTED 607: Coordination of Work Experience Programs
• CTED 610: Teaching Adult and Post-Secondary Education Programs
• CTED 630: Special Problems in Career and Technology Education (3 or 6 credits)
• CTED 635: Standards-Based Assessment in CTE
• CTED 651: History and Principles of CTE
• CTED 655 (Hybrid): Contemporary Workplace Practices
• CTED 665: Work-Based Learning: Instructional Management and Curriculum Development
• CTED 672: Career Counseling for Developing Student Career and Postsecondary Readiness
• CTED 675: Reading, Writing and Mathematics Literacy Instruction in CTE
• CTED 685: Safety in Technology & Engineering Education
• CTED 687: Foundations of Technology & Engineering
• SPED 600: Characteristics of Exceptional Individuals

Notes: some electives count toward related certificates (WBL and Career Counseling or CTE Certificate) if students apply to those certificate programs; all credits must be at the 600 level.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate in a CTE area (e.g., agriculture, business education, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, technology education, trade and industrial education) or a related field; a degree outside the content field may be accepted when paired with industry certification or relevant CTE experience. All students must be employed as CTE teachers in a Maryland education setting. Matriculation requires meeting UMES graduate admissions standards; provisional admission may be offered for candidates with a minimum GPA of 2.75 in some cases.

Additional application requirements for regular admission include an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or a prior graduate degree, passing scores on Praxis I/Praxis CORE/ACT/SAT or GRE, submission of official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a resume and a statement of purpose. A writing sample may be required at the department's discretion. Transcripts and credentials are reviewed by the department graduate admissions committee; students lacking prerequisite coursework may need to complete identified content prior to the capstone research portion.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for advanced roles within Career and Technology Education, including curriculum development, instructional leadership, program administration, coordination of work-based learning, adult and postsecondary CTE instruction, and roles that require application of educational research in CTE settings. The program’s emphasis on administration, leadership and research supports transitions into supervisory or specialist positions within school systems and CTE programs.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Specific scholarship details are not provided on the program page. Prospective students should consult UMES financial aid resources, inquire about graduate assistantships, and explore certification-aligned funding opportunities (for example, if pursuing linked certificates) through the department or college.