Student Handbook - Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Learning Experience Design (MALXD) program provides a critical lens of equity, accessibility, and social justice in human-centered learning and design. MALXD learners become leaders in the thoughtful consideration and examination of issues that impact learners as unique individuals and create well-informed, playful, and powerful learning design solutions.

The MALXD program is a fully-online, 10-course graduate program. We admit learners to start every Fall semester in a cohort model. MALXD learners will earn 3 graduate certificates and their MALXD in 5 semesters through our fully online program. We design experiences to support our learners– you–in applying theories and skills directly to their professional context to help elevate their careers.

Learning Outcomes

MALXD prepares leaders in human-centered, instructional, and learning experience design. Graduates will be able to:

Create accessible and inclusive learning experiences and environments, rooted in the learning sciences, educational psychology, and theories of teaching and learning.
Evaluate leading design principles and frameworks, modify, and apply them through a critical lens focused on equity and social justice.
Assess learning platforms and technologies for accessibility, user experience, and social and ethical implications.
Use rich pedagogical and research practice knowledge to generate creative designs and learning solutions.
Develop strategies to support a team’s productivity, capacity, and culture as a project manager.
Engage in a cycle of continuous improvement and project management, including researching, planning, implementing, tracking, evaluating the success of initiatives, and improving the product.

Program Options and Awards

The Master of Arts in Learning Experience Design (MALXD) and the MALXD Graduate Certificates are only available online and only under Plan B (without thesis). The online format and structure are designed to provide optimum flexibility for working professionals.

All MALXD learners will earn our 3 graduate certificates in addition to their MALXD degree, within their 30-credit hours of coursework. This approach has been intentionally designed to scaffold the learning experience.

Learners from other MSU graduate programs may enroll in any of our 9-credit graduate certificates with approval from their academic advisor.

Learners who are not seeking a full master’s degree experience may also choose to enroll in any of our graduate certificates by applying directly to one of our graduate certificate programs.

Graduate Certificate in Learning Sciences
Graduate Certificate in Learning Design
Graduate Certificate in Design Leadership

For more information, please visit our Graduate Certificate page.

Degree Requirements and Courses

The MALXD degree requires 30-semester credits (10 courses) which satisfy the following requirements, described here and in the MSU Academic Programs Catalog. The MALXD Graduate Certificates require a specific set of 9-semester credits (3 courses) to satisfy the requirements.

The requirements for the MALXD program must be completed within five years. All MALXD learners must demonstrate a successful completion and exhibition of an online portfolio through the Capstone Seminar course.

MALXD Required Courses

The MALXD course plan is based on 10 required courses that comprise the 30 credits of the degree program. Through this required plan, students will earn 3 graduate certificates and their MALXD degree.

These courses are listed in the order they will be taken:

Fall #1

CEP 800: Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings
EAD 861: Adult Learning

Spring #1

CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research
CEP 820: Teaching and Learning Online

Summer #1

CEP 813: Electronic Assessment for Teaching and Learning
UX 835: Accessibility and Design

Fall #2

CEP 856: Learning Design Leadership
CEP 857: Current Topics and Trends in Learning Design

Spring #2

CEP 807: Capstone Seminar
CEP 858: Upskilling in Learning Design

Learning Sciences Graduate Certificate Required Courses

CEP 800: Psychology of Learning in School and Other Settings
EAD 861: Adult Learning
CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research

Learning Design Graduate Certificate Required Courses

UX 835: Accessibility and Design
CEP 813: Electronic Assessment for Teaching and Learning
CEP 820: Teaching and Learning Online

Learning Design Leadership Graduate Certificate Required Courses

CEP 856: Learning Design Leadership
CEP 857: Current Topics and Trends in Learning Design
CEP 858: Upskilling in Learning Design

Admission Policies

MALXD Degree Admission Policies

All applicants must complete and submit a university application along with three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, official transcripts from their undergraduate institution(s), and a CV/Resume. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.

International applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be able to be proficient in English as a condition for admission. Required tests and test scores can be found on the Graduate School’s website.

In the application process, the applicant will provide the name, email, and phone number of 3 professional references who have agreed to write letters of recommendation. Professional references should be supervisors, colleagues, and/or mentors who can discuss your academic performance, work ethic, and professional character (please do not submit personal or character references). Letters should speak specifically to your preparation for this program and for graduate-level study. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the individuals providing references; letters uploaded by applicants will not be accepted.

When reviewing applications, the MALXD Program Director looks for indicators of probable success in master’s study and evidence that there is a good match between the applicant’s goals and the objectives of the program. Other indicators include assessment of graduate-level writing abilities through the personal statement and a high level of academic performance, with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applicants will create and complete their application through MSU’s application management system. Please contact us at MALXDegree@msu.edu with any questions.

Once applicants are accepted into the MALXD degree program, they are automatically able to pursue their MALXD graduate certificates through their course plan. No further applications or forms are required.

Upon admission to the program, students must begin taking courses in the program within one year. Students may defer enrollment for up to one year following admission, pending approval from the program. Students must notify the program of their decision to defer their enrollment. Please review University policy for details.

MALXD Graduate Certificate Admission Policies

Applicants Who Are Already MSU Graduate Learners

As an MSU Graduate learner, you do not need to complete an additional application to join one of the MALXD Graduate Certificate programs. Instead, you must obtain approval from your academic advisor and complete an Intent to Enroll form for the desired graduate certificate(s).

Graduate Certificate-only Applicants

Applicants who are new to MSU must complete and submit a University application and submit official transcripts from their undergraduate institution(s). The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.

When reviewing applications, the MALXD Program Director and MALXD Graduate Certificate Director look for indicators of probable success through an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applicants will create and complete their application through MSU’s application management system. Please contact us at MALXDegree@msu.edu with any questions. Upon admission to the program, students must begin taking courses in the program within one year. Students may defer enrollment for up to one year following admission, pending approval from the program. If they delay beyond a year, they must re-apply to the program.

Transfer Credits

The MALXD degree program and graduate certificate programs do not accept transfer credits.

Academic Advising

As stated in the Guidelines for Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Relationships, graduate education, research, and creative activities take place within a community of scholars where constructive relationships between graduate students and their academic advisors and mentors are essential for the promotion of excellence in graduate education and for adherence to the highest standards of scholarship, ethics, and professional integrity. The effective advising and mentoring of graduate students is the joint responsibility of the graduate degree-granting and program units, the academic advisors, and the students.

Upon admission to the MALXD degree program or MALXD graduate certificate program, students are assigned an academic advisor. Students are expected to consult with their academic advisor to complete their course plans and discuss matters related to the program, College, and University policies. To ensure that courses taken satisfy program requirements, students should submit their course plan to their academic advisor as soon as possible after entry into the program.

Getting Started

Students will meet with their academic advisor upon admission to the program and will receive an orientation to the program. Resources and action items for getting started will be shared in this advising meeting. All students should bookmark these core MSU tools:

MSU Email
MSU’s Learning Management System (D2L)
Enrollment, managing student accounts and financial aid:
- MSU’s Student Information System (SIS)
- MSU’s Student Information System Help and Support

Course Plan

In the orientation and advising meeting, students will review the sequence of MALXD courses in collaboration with their academic advisor. The MALXD degree program uses a cohort model that involves students taking 2 courses per semester and finishing the program in 5 consecutive semesters. The academic advisor will provide the exact course plan details for all learners.

The academic advisor will provide the student with the things to do to submit their course plan in GradPlan by the end of their first semester in the program.

Any and all changes to the course plan must be approved by the student’s academic advisor and the course plan in GradPlan must be updated to reflect the changes.

Applying for Graduation

Students should apply to graduate the first week of the semester they expect to graduate. Students apply for graduation in the Student Information System (SIS). After logging in, students will:

Select the Academic Progress tile and expand the Graduation folder in the left navigation menu.
Select Apply for Graduation.
If the student is not able to apply for the intended graduation semester, they should contact their academic advisor so that it can be resolved.

Policies on Academic Performance

According to University policy, the minimum grade for credit to be awarded for a course at the graduate level is 2.0. The CEPSE (Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education Department) and the MALXD program are committed to high academic standards and expect all students to excel in the program. Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average for all courses counting toward the MALXD degree.

If a student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. Any student on academic probation will be required to meet with their advisor to discuss their circumstances and develop a plan to address their GPA. The university will remove the student from probation when their cumulative average rises to 3.0 or above.

A student whose performance does not meet the standards of quality will not be permitted to continue to enroll in the degree program, and appropriate action will be taken by the college. Students who have not maintained the minimum grade-point average will be dismissed from the program.

Once a year, students should complete and submit an annual review to their academic advisor. The academic advisor will reach out to the students to notify them and provide directions about the annual review process. Graduate students who wish to appeal any part of the academic advisor’s additions to their annual review may do so in writing to the Program Director and this appeal will be filed.

Drop for Non-Attendance

The University’s Attendance Policy gives instructors the responsibility to drop students from a course for non-attendance after 1 week of the official course start date. Examples of non-attendance in our online course may be:

Not signing into the course in D2L
Not completing introduction or collaboration activities
Not creating or submitting assignments
Not responding to instructor communications about your inactivity

If you are not attending our course based on the list above after the first week, your instructor will email your MSU address to let you know they are starting the process to drop for non-attendance.

Readmission to the Program

Graduate students whose enrollment at Michigan State University is interrupted for any reason so that they are not enrolled for three consecutive semesters, including the Summer Sessions, must apply for readmission. The Application for Readmission form is available through the Office of the Registrar.

University Requirements and Policies

Technology Requirements

All MALXD courses are completed online. Technology requirements for participation in the program are listed below:

High-speed internet access, with the capability to access the Internet at least every day.
An internet connection that permits access to a wide range of websites without restriction and does not limit you to a particular browser.
Access to the Learning Management Systems at MSU (Desire2Learn). MSU’s D2L Help page is an excellent resource to bookmark.
The capability to record quality sound on your computer (which may mean a microphone and/or software).
A webcam (does not have to be an expensive one, can be the one built into your computer) for participating in synchronous course discussions and for learning artifacts you will develop.
Install and use a virus detection and repair software package, and back up your work regularly.
Individual courses may have other requirements. The instructor of the course will let you know if you need additional technology and/or programs at the start of the course.

Please review MSU’s Acceptable Use Policy for Information Technology Resources.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Requirements

Michigan State requires that all graduate students be trained in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) as part of their Research I University Experience. Some of this training is integrated into CEP 800. Additional training modules need to be completed to fulfill the RCR requirements. The student’s academic advisor will provide directions on this during the orientation and advising meeting. Students can also find information and directions on the Graduate School’s Research Integrity page.

Annual Review Policy

All MALXD learners are required to complete an annual review every summer. The annual review process entails a self-reflection on progress and a review of progress by the MALXD academic advisor. MALXD’s academic advisor will notify learners of the timeline when the annual review process commences and will guide learners through the process. Once the learner completes their portion of the process, the academic advisor reviews it and adds commentary. The learner will receive a copy of the annual review and it will be uploaded to GradPlan by the academic advisor when the annual review process is complete.

Policy on Student Files

Graduate students have the right to inspect any of their own educational records, barring confidential letters of recommendation, including their official transcript. Students also shall have the right to inspect reports and evaluations of their academic performance. (GSSR, Article 3) An MALXD student may see the contents of their academic file by contacting the Program Director and may challenge the accuracy of the file by writing a letter to be included in the file.

Time Limits for Degree and Certificate Completion

The time limit policy for a master’s degree set by the Graduate School of Michigan State University is 5 calendar years from the date of matriculation into the master’s degree program. The 5-year window begins with the date of the earliest credits in the degree program; this includes any transfer, Life Long or Graduate Certificate credits transferred into the degree program. Students who encounter events that make it difficult to complete the degree within 5 years can speak to their academic advisor about applying for a time extension. In general, extensions are considered for students who graduated from MSU’s 5th-year Teacher Internship program and for students who take medical, maternity, or paternity leave during the program.

Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

The University has established a judicial structure and process for hearing and adjudicating alleged violations of recognized graduate student rights and responsibilities (GSRR, Article 5). The first venue to resolve such conflicts informally or formally rests within the academic unit. Because the academic advisor-graduate student relationship is deemed so important, special attention should be given to the resolution of conflicts between a graduate student and their academic advisor.

Student Conduct and Academic Honesty

It is important that students are thoroughly familiar with the following policies before they begin work in their courses. If students have any questions about this information, they should reach out to the MALXD Program Director via MALXDegree@msu.edu.

Students at Michigan State University are obligated to uphold MSU’s principles of academic integrity, including the responsibility that “no student shall claim or submit the academic work of another as one’s own” (GSSR, Article 1). No student is permitted to:

Claim or submit the academic work of another as one’s own.
Procure, provide, accept or use any materials containing questions or answers to any examination or assignment without proper authorization.
Complete or attempt to complete any assignment or examination for another individual without proper authorization.
Allow any examination or assignment to be completed for oneself in part or in total, by another without proper authorization.
Alter, tamper with, appropriate, destroy or otherwise interfere with the research, resources, or other academic work of another person.

Violation of these ethical principles and policies may result in a failing grade. Violations of academic integrity may result in dismissal from the program without the award of a degree or graduate certificate. Students who are dismissed from the program due to violations in academic integrity will not be eligible for re-admission at any time.

MSU expectations for acceptable student conduct are specified in the regulations and the rights and responsibilities sections of the Spartan Life Student Handbook and Resource Guide.

In a community of scholarship and practice, all of us share the responsibility of making sure that standards of academic honesty and integrity are understood and followed. Faculty and students at Michigan State University are expected to conduct themselves with the highest character and integrity. As stated in University policy:

“Academic honesty is central to the educational process and acts of academic dishonesty are serious offenses within the University community. Suspension from the University could be the consequence for acts of academic dishonesty.” (Spartan Handbook, Types of Regulations and Policies)

Conflict Resolution

Usually, the best approach to resolving a problem is through informal discussion and negotiation when the problem first arises. In this section, we provide information on strategies and resources to solve complex problems when there is difficulty in resolving the conflict.

Try to resolve problems through discussions with the people who are immediately involved in the issue. Please communicate first to the person with whom the conflict is arising: a classmate, your course instructor (if the problem is specific to a course), or your academic advisor. If that does not resolve the problem, please reach out to your academic advisor or the MALXD Program Director. Then, if you need more support, please reach out to the CEPSE Department Chairperson. If your problem cannot be resolved at the departmental level or if you prefer discussing the matter with someone from outside the department, consider seeking help from the MSU Ombudsman, the Office of Student Support and Accountability, the Women*s Student Services, the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Education, or the Dean of the Graduate School. Students can use the following for guidance:

A student who believes their rights have been violated by a member of the Michigan State University community shall first attempt to resolve the dispute in an informal discussion with the appropriate individual(s). (See AFR 2.4.2 and GSRR 5.3.1 and 5.3.2.)
After this discussion, if the student remains dissatisfied with the results, the student should meet with the Chair of the Department and/or the University Ombudsman to seek a resolution. (See AFR 2.4.2 and GSRR 5.3.2.)
The Department Chair may respond by asking the complainant to consult with the appropriate Program Director. This does not preclude the student’s right to consult with the Department Chair, either instead of, or after, consulting with the relevant degree Program Director.
After this discussion, if the student remains dissatisfied with the results, the student may submit a written and signed request for an academic grievance hearing to the Department Chair. The letter must (1) specify the alleged violations of academic rights to justify the hearing, (2) identify the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and (3) state the suggested remedy that could be implemented by the Department Chair or degree Program Director. (See AFR 2.4.2 and GSRR 5.3.2 and 5.3.6.)

Students should consult the Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities for additional information. At any point during this process, students may contact the University Ombudsman’s Office for advice, guidance, or assistance regarding their concerns.

Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing Procedures

The College of Education’s procedure can be reviewed by visiting the Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing Procedures for All Graduate Academic Programs document.

Dismissal from the Program

The dismissal of a student from the MALXD program is a significant event for both the student and the program. Dismissal action is generally the final outcome of several informal and formal communications with the student regarding their unsatisfactory progress through the program and when appropriate, special efforts at helping the student meet program requirements and objectives. The final decision regarding whether or not a student should be dismissed from the program, or under what conditions a student making unsatisfactory progress will be allowed to continue, rests with the MALXD Program Director. MALXD students could be dismissed from the program for:

Failure to maintain minimum academic standards (maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher).
Academic dishonesty.
Criminal misconduct.
Failure to comply with established University or program timetables and requirements.
Failure to make satisfactory progress in completing program requirements.
Failure to maintain regular contact with the program.

University Resources

MALXD Handbook updated August 2024.