Accelerated Master’s Pathways
The College of Education and Social Services (CESS) offers several Accelerated Master's Pathways (AMPs) to undergraduate students at UVM. The AMP allows early admission to graduate studies with up to 6-9 credits double-counted toward both the bachelor's and master’s degrees.
Accelerated master’s degrees allow you to save money and complete a graduate degree in less time, meaning quicker entry into a variety of professions. For many positions in education and social services, entry into the profession with a master’s degree means starting higher on the salary scale.
Eligibility Criteria
- UVM undergraduate students with Junior or Senior standing
- Have an expressed interest in advanced learning and professional preparation in education and social services
- Currently have or will soon possess sufficient prerequisite coursework specific to the graduate program of interest
What AMPs are available in CESS?
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) - Two Licensure Pathways: Middle Level Education or Secondary Education
Special Education (M.Ed.) - K through age 21 licensure (non-licensure option also available)
Early Childhood Special Education (M.Ed.) - Birth through age 6 licensure
Course Prerequisites and Degree Requirements
Prospective students should consult with the Graduate Program Coordinator for the particular program to determine the prerequisites (see table below for links). Students that do not meet pre-requisites may be given conditional admission to the AMP, but would have to complete these courses in addition to the credits applied to the Master's degree.
| CESS Graduate Program | GRE Required? | Credit Hours | Leads to State Licensure? | AMP Program Coordinator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed) | No | 30 | Certain Strands | Gillian Homsted |
| Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (MEd) | No | 30 | No | Gillian Homsted |
| Middle Level Education (MAT) | No | 33-37 | Yes | Gillian Homsted |
| Secondary Education (MAT | No | 31 | Yes | Gillian Homsted |
| Special Education (MEd) | No | 30-36 | Yes | Kelly Swindlehurst |
Application Procedures
Step 1
Please contact the appropriate AMP Coordinator (see email links for each of them in the table above) to schedule an appointment to learn more about the program, what graduate courses may be taken while an undergraduate student and when they are offered, and to complete the AMP permission form required by the UVM Graduate College. Completion of this form is part of the academic advising process particular to each AMP and requires signatures from both the AMP Program Coordinator and the prospective student’s undergraduate advisor. This form must be uploaded to the Application for Graduate Study.
Step 2
Prospective students must apply for admission through the UVM Graduate College. Each graduate program maintains its own application deadline. Apply to your program of interest the semester prior to their intended start time. For example, spring course taking as an AMP student requires completion of all paperwork and securing of acceptances during the preceding fall semester. Prospective AMP students are strongly encouraged to be in contact with Gillian Homsted to discuss application procedures.
