Admission Requirements: An individual holding a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution may be admitted to begin graduate study. An individual seeking a North Dakota credential or endorsement must hold a bachelor's degree in education from an accredited institution and must have the appropriate North Dakota licensure and years of experience, as well as the required course work, in order to be recommended for North Dakota credentialing or endorsement by the Division of Education. The requirements for graduate study include: -An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 overall, or 2.75 during the last two undergraduate years, or 3.00 in the undergraduate major -Current teacher education licensure (unless the individual is seeking licensure) -Two letters of recommendation -Appropriate experience In addition to the above graduate study requirements, a graduate student seeking master's candidate status must apply for and complete a qualifying conference after admission for graduate study and upon completion of up to six hours of course work. At the qualifying conference, the student meets with a committee of graduate faculty members appointed by the director of the University of Mary Education Graduate Program. This conference has a threefold purpose: to decide whether the student will be admitted to the master's degree program, to develop a plan of study, and to determine whether the thesis portfolio will be completed as the capstone experience. Master's Degree Requirements: The master's degree must be completed within seven years of the completion of the earliest graduate course used in the course of study. Up to one-third of the total credits required for the course of study may be transferred from another accredited institution. To achieve the master's degree, the student must complete courses within an emphasis area (listed following) and must successfully complete either a thesis or a comprehensive professional portfolio. Thesis Option (Thesis Handbook): The thesis option emphasizes original research. It represents a student's capacity for detailed, in-depth research or advanced scholarship. A thesis must demonstrate a student's ability to clearly define a worthwhile problem, to conduct a thorough investigation, to organize the findings, to draw defensible conclusions, and to give an oral presentation of the findings. After the student has been admitted to candidacy for the degree, a research proposal is written, and the thesis committee is selected. These activities are completed within EDU 551 Critique and Design of Research. The research proposal must be approved by the Graduate Committee and the dean of Academic Affairs. Writing and presentation of the thesis totals at least six semester hours of credit (EDU 700, Research Seminar I, 1 credit; EDU 701, Research Seminar II, 1 credit; and EDU 704, Research Presentation, 4 credits). EDU 704, Research Presentation, must be completed by the date established in EDU 551, Critique and Design of Research, or the student must register for continuing credit each semester until the thesis has been completed and the research presented. Portfolio Option: The portfolio option requires the student to complete courses within an emphasis area (listed following) and to create an electronic portfolio demonstrating competence in the University of Mary's graduate requirements, competence in the student's emphasis area, and further demonstrating the graduate's ability to assume a leadership role in the field of education. Creation and presentation of the graduate portfolio totals four hours of credit (EDU 705-1, Portfolio Preparation, 2 credits; and EDU 705-2, Portfolio Presentation, 2 credits).