What is the Overseas Summer experience?

Every summer, MSU students pursuing the MAET degree and the Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology have the option to complete their coursework through our exciting Overseas Summer program. Our instructional team meets students in Galway, Ireland for 4 weeks of study and exploration of local culture and arts. Within the 4 weeks, students earn 9 graduate credits in a completely face-to-face environment.

How is the Overseas Summer experience structured?

The Overseas experience is an integrated approach to curricula from three graduate-level courses that are blended together. Assignments across courses within each strand are woven to emphasize the relationships among ideas, and to provide a connected learning experience that flows as a whole. Whether you’re interested in one graduate certificate or the full master’s degree, you’ll work with your advisor to choose the Overseas strand(s) that best meets your needs. Do you have questions about the strands or pathways? Our Overseas Program Coordinator Candace Robertson is happy to answer them.

Mindsets for Innovation Strand

Upon successful completion of the Mindsets for Innovation Strand, you will earn your Graduate Certificate (GC) in Educational Technology. This GC prepares you to work with students in a range of educational settings to help students become powerful digital-age thinkers, makers, and problem solvers. You will acquire foundational knowledge and skills that will transform your thinking about how, why, and when to integrate a range of digital technologies to support student learning. GC students and MAET students can enroll in this strand.

You will complete 3 courses (9 credits):

• CEP 810: Teaching for Understanding with Technology
• CEP 811: Adapting Innovative Technologies in Education
• CEP 812: Applying Educational Technology to Issues of Practice

Theory, Research, and Practice Strand

The goal of the Theory, Research, and Practice Strand is to develop your expertise in educational theory and research by applying your knowledge to your context and practice. You will explore various uses of technology and what is currently known–or believed–about human learning and development. This strand is comprised of two different pathways that lead towards the master’s degree: Leadership and Creativity. Part of your day will be spent on your core courses (CEP 800 and 822), and the remainder of your time will be spent with your smaller pathway group, focused on leadership or creativity. MAET students can enroll in this strand.

You will complete 3 courses (9 credits):

• CEP 800: Learning in School and Other Settings
• CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Researchn
• CEP 815 OR CEP 818 depending on your selected pathway

Leadership Pathway: This pathway will allow you to develop your leadership abilities and deepen understanding of the ethical and societal implications of technology integration. You will be prepared with strategies for facilitating professional development based on a forward-thinking vision. You will complete CEP 815: Technology and Leadership as your third course.

Creativity Pathway: This pathway prepares you with thinking tools that support creative teaching as well as nourish students as creative thinkers and producers. You will gain an understanding of the creative process and discuss practical and societal challenges regarding creativity in education. You will complete CEP 818: Creativity in Teaching and Learning as your third course.

Creativity, Design, and Synthesis Strand

As a student in the Creativity, Design, and Synthesis Strand of the Overseas experience, you will explore issues related to the design of compelling learning experiences, particularly in relation to educational technology. You will explore the psychological, organizational, and societal aspects of creativity in education and synthesize your experiences in the MAET program. You will refine your professional presence via a portfolio to reflect your learning and vision for the future. MAET students can enroll in this strand.

You will complete 3 courses (9 credits):

• CEP 817: Learning Technology by Design
• CEP 818: Creativity in Teaching and Learning
• CEP 807: Proseminar in Educational Technology

Why should I participate in this experience?

The Overseas Summer experience appeals to innovative educators who thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy collaboration, and who crave an exciting (and dare we say, mind-blowing) professional learning experience for one, two, or three summers in an overseas location.

This program works well for educators who prefer face-to-face instruction, and who have a block of time for professional learning during a month in the summer.

Many of our overseas students teach at international schools around the world, or teach in US Department of Defense schools. Because our student body is global, instructional focus necessarily transcends discrete-level curricular focus. So, although overseas summer students may teach in IB, AP, British, Canadian, American and/or Common Core focused schools, instruction in the overseas program focuses on core ideas and research that inform good learning, teaching, and technology integration.

What do students say about this experience?

“MAET overseas is an incredible program for all educators, no matter their technology skill level. Each and every day, you have the opportunity to showcase creativity, challenge your thinking, strengthen tech skills, and discuss important educational topics with a wide range of teachers from around the world. The work is intense, and you will certainly be pushed outside of your comfort zone, but you will leave feeling incredibly proud of yourself and what you can accomplish. The instructors are top-notch, and my classmates have become my most valuable professional consultants and also my dear friends. I consider myself very lucky to be part of the MAET community. I cannot rave about this program enough! ” 

— Annaleigh Kress, MAET ’19, K-8 Digital Age Learning Coordinator, Italy

“The overseas cohort is an immersive experience. Not only do you have the opportunity to experience a new environment and culture over the span of a month, but you connect with educators from across the world. Each educator brings with them their own experiences and perspectives, many of which will challenge your own perspectives of your classroom.

The heart of the MAET program is its phenomenal instructors. I don’t exaggerate when I say that these instructors embody everything I strive to be for my own students. They are incredibly well-versed in their subjects, their enthusiasm is contagious, and their expectations always push you to be your best. The work is intense, but the instructors are always ready to support you. They want you to strike a balance between getting the work done well and taking advantage of where you are. For every resource they share for your lesson plans, they have suggestions for where to visit and where to go on the weekends.

I walked away with not only a diploma but membership in this unique family of educators. Without a doubt, this program challenged me as a student and reinvigorated me as a teacher.”

— Bernadette Bacero, MAET ’19, High School Social Studies Teacher

“One of the best aspects of the MAET overseas program is the setting. Everyone is out of their comfort zone, away from their normal daily life, which gives a neutral setting for promoting collaboration and risk-taking in class. I have worked in China for almost a decade in various administrative and teaching positions. Initially, I was unsure if the program would be relevant to my context, but one of the strengths of the program is that every project requires you to consider your own setting and resources. I left each summer with actionable ideas for leading change in my school as well as an expanded network of peers and instructors for support. In between summers, I have time to implement these ideas, which makes the next summer so much more meaningful because you bring with you the observations, questions, successes, and failures from the year and build upon these as you continue to create and learn together.”

— Renee Stump, KG1 teacher, China

How much is it?

Costs below are in USD.

Tuition: $785.75/credit hour x 9 credits = $7071.75
Departmental Fee*: $500.00
Activity Fee: $200.00

Housing: ALL students who house on campus automatically receive a $500.00 housing credit
$1,618.00 for a Single En Suite room** ($1,118.00 after credit)

Tuition + Departmental Fee + Activity Fee + Housing = $8,889.75

*The departmental fee is assessed for the extensive service provided in making arrangements for the course.

**Each apartment has 4-6 rooms, each room has a private en suite bathroom. There will be a limited number of double bed en suites available in each apartment, which will be assigned by lottery and to accommodate special needs. Visit the housing information website from NUI Galway to view full apartment amentities and view a gallery.

How long will it take me?

You can complete the program in three summers (along with one online course.)

Students have five (5) years to complete the MAET degree. You may transfer one 3-credit course from an accredited institution into your MAET program plan. Remember, your “academic clock” starts ticking with the date of the first course you apply to your program plan. (e.g. if you took the course in 2015, then that’s when your “clock” starts ticking.)

Are you a MSU College of Education Teacher Education graduate? Find out more about how your Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) courses can be used towards your degree.

How do I apply?

To reserve a spot for this summer, please fill out the Summer 2020 Reservation Form. This is not a guarantee of admission. The form does reserve a spot for you as you are applying to the program, however.

Students should apply to the Master of Arts in Educational Technology degree program. Specify program code #2299 on your university application form. This is the special overseas code for the MAET degree.

If you are an MSU teaching internship graduate, please consult specific program planning options that may be uniquely available to you for overseas study. The GRE is not required to apply to the MAET degree program.