Merrimack placed 23rd among the institutions that met the screening benchmarks set by TeacherCertificationDegrees.com, a popular website for those looking to explore, begin or advance careers in education. The list included such schools as Arizona State University, Clemson University and the University of Southern California.
The rankings considered cost, program accreditation, graduation rates and school rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s regional, national and online categories.
“A growing number of education schools are hosting online teacher preparation programs at the master’s level to respond to teacher shortages in high-demand subjects and in select regions of the U.S.,” said Robe Voce, founder of TeacherCertificationDegrees.com. “Our list differentiates itself from others by homing in on master’s programs designed for initial certification, also known as career-changer programs.”
Merrimack’s online graduate teacher-education programs was the first competency-based M.Ed. program in Massachusetts. The program offers adult students the opportunity to complete their degree in a variety of concentrations from the comfort of their home, with a flexible schedule.
Each student in guided throughout the program by a personal teacher-education specialist, who serves as a kind of success coach, said Isabelle Cherney, dean of the School of Education and Social Policy.
“Our students greatly benefit from our personalized one-on-one interactions and world-class faculty,” Cherney said. “The students find this personalized support, as well as the face-to-face Immersion events and Massachusetts Tests for Educator License preparation tools invaluable. It’s wonderful to see our graduates fulfill their dreams and inspire the next generation of students.”
