The Master of Science in Technology and Innovation degree program has been created for students from a variety of backgrounds, including education; business and industry; science and technology; and entrepreneurship. The program has two concentrations from which to choose— education and enterprise. The courses in the program are designed to develop and engage students in creativity, design thinking, innovation, ingenuity, problem solving, critical thinking, decision making, research, curiosity, scholarship, leadership, and professionalism. The thinking processes of professionals such as designers, engineers and entrepreneurs are the foundation of the Technology and Innovation core courses. These thinking processes are universal and enduring concepts and are widely considered important tools for success in a world submerged in technology. Experiences in this program provide students with insight as to how their own thinking processes affect them in both their personal and professional lives, and how those thinking processes can be modified to meet the circumstances. Teachers, employees and business leaders alike will learn to think about their own thinking. The Technology and Innovation program is structured to be flexible enough to allow students to customize their graduate studies to a significant degree. This flexibility enables students in the program to make choices, including which option works best to complete the program, the topic to explore through a thesis or research and development technical project, or the variety of courses from which to choose to address one’s areas of interest or professional development needs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree. Students holding a variety of baccalaureate degrees can benefit from the completion of the Master of Science in Technology and Innovation. Admission to the program is granted after a favorable review of application materials. A minimum undergraduate cumulative average of 3.0 is required. Applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA are required to submit test scores from either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) that are determined to be acceptable by the department. Probationary admission may be granted at the discretion of the department. See the Admission Requirements section for additional application information. Selected graduate courses may be credited toward both graduate-level certificates or teaching endorsements and the master’s degree in technology and innovation. See the department chairperson or graduate program coordinator for further information.

Degree Requirements

Each student is required to complete all four courses in the technology and innovation core and either the education core or the enterprise core (depending on the degree concentration selected), and the identified expectations of one of the three degree-completion options.

1. Option 1 - the Thesis Option. A thesis (EDTE 699 Thesis:) must be satisfactorily completed as part of a minimum of 30 s.h. of approved graduate study.
2. Option 2 - the Applied Research Option. Requires satisfactory completion of EDTE 698 Research and Development Technical Project as part of 33 s.h. of approved graduate study.
3. Option 3 involves the completion of 36 s.h. of graduate study by taking five approved elective courses which have been selected based on their fit to the professional development needs of the student.

Technology and innovation and other approved courses in related disciplines are elected to complete the semester-hour requirements. The graduate program coordinator serves as the advisor for all graduate students pursuing a master’s degree. Master’s degree candidates who elect the thesis option will select, in consultation with the graduate coordinator, a thesis advisor from the Department of Applied Engineering, Safety and Technology. The thesis advisor will work with at least two other members of a student’s thesis committee. These other committee members must consist of at least one other graduate-level faculty member of the Department of Applied Engineering, Safety and Technology. The third member must come from outside of the department and can be someone who is a recognized expert in a given field. 

Degree Candidacy

The student will apply for admission to degree candidacy after completing six to 15 s.h. of graduate-degree credits. Graduate faculty will evaluate the student’s performance and provide a written recommendation regarding the individual as a degree candidate. At the time of admission to degree candidacy, the student will consult with the graduate program coordinator to review and update his or her program of studies for completing the degree requirements.