Program Quickview
All of the master's degree programs described below prepare students to teach in a great variety of contexts that do not require specific credentials – such as charter and independent K-12 schools, schools outside the U.S., community colleges, community organizations, museums, afterschool programs, or camps. None lead to New York state teaching certification.
If you are interested in other teaching programs, check our Related Programs.
Prerequisites:
- Completed bachelor’s degree.
- Prior content preparation in the subject you want to teach.
Key Program Features:
- Customizable: We have many available options that will allow you to specialize in your area of interest; each option has at least 9 credits of electives.
- Shortest Path: Only 30 credits of coursework – the minimum required by New York state for master’s degrees; up to 10 credits transferrable from prior graduate coursework in lieu of electives.
- Flexible: All programs can be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study; no required internships.
- Focus on Content-Specific Innovative Teaching: All options include at least three courses focusing on teaching and learning of your chosen subject or age level.
- Some Online Offerings: More than half of the program can be completed fully online, if desired to reduce trip to campus or residency in Rochester.
- Opportunities to Add Specializations: With few additional credits, you can also pursue an advanced certificate in Online Teaching, Digitally-Rich Teaching, Teacher Leadership or Program Evaluation to make you more effective and marketable. If desired, you can do so as part of a “combined program” that will facilitate securing the appropriate visa for international students and extent loan eligibility for domestic students.
Warner master's programs in teaching
At Warner, you can choose among a number of master’s degrees in teaching, depending on your interest and area of specialization. If interested, you can also select an “combined” option for each of the programs listed above, which will allow you to pursue the master’s program of your choice concurrently with at least one the advanced certificates listed below – thus leading to multiple credentials for only a few additional credits. The length of this combined program and its total number of credits will depend on the chosen advanced certificate(s) and other optional enhancements; this option may be especially desirable for international students interested in additional specializations and willing to devote 4-5 semesters to their master’s program.
Explore the option that best meet your interest among those listed below:
- MS in Teaching & Curriculum Regular: (TC1) or Combined: (TC5) Our most flexible option, where you can define your area of specialization and choose your core teaching and learning courses accordingly.
- MS in TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages: To prepare you to teach English abroad in a variety of contexts, as well as in settings other than K-12 public schools within the U.S.
- MS in Online Teaching & Learning: If you are interested in teaching or support positions involving online teaching and instructional design.
- MS in Health Professions Education: If you are interested in positions within programs preparing health care professionals, or in taking on more informal teaching roles with patients, care givers or the public.
- MS in Early Childhood Education - Regular (GA1) or Combined (GA3): If you are interested in working with young children (birth to 5 year-old), in a variety of contexts such as daycare or private pre-school programs.
- MS in Elementary Education (Regular-GA2) or (Combined-GA4): If you are interested in working with 5-12 elementary age children as a generalist.
- MS in Inclusion and Special Education (Regular-GD1) or (Combined-GD3): If you are interested in focusing on issues related to teaching and learning for students with disabilities at any age level, including adults.
- MS in Literacy Education (Regular-GR1) or (Combined-GR2): If you are interested in focusing on issues related to literacy learning – reading, writing, making arguments – with students of any age, including adults.
- MS in Mathematics Education (Regular-GM1) or (Combined-GM2): If you are interested in focusing on issues related to the learning and teaching of mathematics at any age level, including adults.
- MS in Science Education (Regular-GX1) or (Combined-GX2): If you are interested in focusing on issues related to the learning and teaching of science at any age level, including adults.
- MS in Social Studies Education (Regular-GH1) or (Combined-GH2): If you are interested in focusing on issues related to the learning and teaching of social studies at any age level, including adults.
Opportunities for Additional Specializations (with minimum additional credits required)
- Advanced Certificate in Digitally-Rich Teaching in K-12 Schools: Prepares you to make the best use of digital technology in your teaching.
- Advanced Certificate in Online Teaching: Prepares you to be more competitive for teaching position involving online courses and programs.
- Advanced Certificate in Teacher Leadership: Prepares you to take on important leadership roles in K-12 schools.
- Advanced Certificate in Program Evaluation: Provides you with skills in planning and conducting evaluations of new and current initiatives.
Our Approach
Preparing teachers who can inspire and lead change.
Warner’s teacher preparation programs will prepare you to stand out as an innovative teacher – a teacher who lives to inspire and loves to teach.
At Warner you will find cutting-edge curricula informed by research and best practices, faculty who are passionate and supportive, a shared commitment to social justice and inclusion, and the drive to make education “ever better.”
At Warner you will find cutting-edge curricula informed by research and best practices, faculty who are passionate and supportive, a shared commitment to social justice and inclusion, and the drive to make education “ever better.”

Learn More About Warner's Approach to Teacher Education
The Warner School of Education will teach you how to teach. But the real difference at Warner, given increasingly diverse classroom environments and a continued focus on inclusion of students of all abilities, is our capacity to teach you how today’s students learn and how you can create optimum learning environments for all. Warner helps tomorrow’s teachers move learning from memorization to critical thinking, from competition to community building, from “just getting over the finish line” to creating lifelong learners. That’s the Warner way.
It’s a movement focused on student-centered education with the goal of increasing intellectual engagement. It’s a commitment to developing “reform-minded” teachers who won’t settle for the status quo. It’s a goal of encouraging teachers to take responsibility for creating learning environments that are inviting for all students. It’s an ability to nurture and develop teachers who step up to be leaders by imparting ideas and a vision for where their students, the school, and the district can grow and contribute in meaningful ways.
The Warner School delivers a big-picture view of what the classroom and the school should look like. It begins with approaching teaching as a profession, not a job – a commitment to inspiring all young men and women to grasp what they are learning, why they are learning, and why what they are learning matters to them personally and to the world.
On the Cutting Edge of the Classroom and Beyond
All of our teacher education programs are firmly grounded in proven research and sound theory. Warner faculty, in conducting research and supporting others, stay on the cutting edge of where learning is and where it’s heading. They help to provide candidates with in-depth knowledge of how people learn by focusing on how the world sees each student, and conversely, how each student sees the world. This ensures that Warner students have a keen understanding of where learning needs to go and the reasons why they will need to teach and engage students differently in the future.
Warner prepares students for teaching and the pursuit of educational endeavors beyond the classroom. We provide the theoretical foundation, the intellectual tools, and the practical experience to help graduates thrive in a wide variety of learning environments.
Passionate, Supportive Professors
A major strength of the Warner School is our expert, diverse faculty. These are individuals who’ve been there, seen it, and done it. Each is an accomplished, well-respected educator, dedicated to changing the way teachers teach by researching learning, teaching, and curriculum in various educational contexts and applying what they learn in the classroom. Warner professors are passionate education professionals here to support you every step of the way. Close relationships with faculty are developed in the classroom, on research teams, through internship supervision, and beyond. Small class sizes ensure you work closely with your professors and your peers, getting the one-on-one instruction, advice, and advocacy you need to succeed.
A Strong Commitment to Social Justice
One of the fundamental pillars of a Warner School education is a commitment to social justice and a keen recognition of a teacher’s responsibility to address social inequities in the learning environment. Warner students become very aware of social and racial inequalities, as well as socioeconomic issues, that impact a student’s ability to learn. Warner students are taught to understand and be responsive to different learning needs, to adapt to diverse behaviors, and to be open to a wide spectrum of perspectives. As a result, they are driven to close the gap of social inequities and build a supportive, engaging learning environment.
Students with a Higher Calling
Warner graduates aspire to a higher calling. A quest to inspire a greater level of learning. A commitment to achieve the utmost success for all students. A strong professional vision for the future of learning, backed by wise and effective teaching practices. Practices they’ve lived themselves, putting theories to the test, and executing powerful lessons with students, rather than just reading and talking about them.
Warner graduates stand out, head and shoulders above their peers from other teaching institutions, well prepared for a future in teaching, and even better prepared for the future of learning. That’s the Warner difference.
It’s a movement focused on student-centered education with the goal of increasing intellectual engagement. It’s a commitment to developing “reform-minded” teachers who won’t settle for the status quo. It’s a goal of encouraging teachers to take responsibility for creating learning environments that are inviting for all students. It’s an ability to nurture and develop teachers who step up to be leaders by imparting ideas and a vision for where their students, the school, and the district can grow and contribute in meaningful ways.
The Warner School delivers a big-picture view of what the classroom and the school should look like. It begins with approaching teaching as a profession, not a job – a commitment to inspiring all young men and women to grasp what they are learning, why they are learning, and why what they are learning matters to them personally and to the world.
On the Cutting Edge of the Classroom and Beyond
All of our teacher education programs are firmly grounded in proven research and sound theory. Warner faculty, in conducting research and supporting others, stay on the cutting edge of where learning is and where it’s heading. They help to provide candidates with in-depth knowledge of how people learn by focusing on how the world sees each student, and conversely, how each student sees the world. This ensures that Warner students have a keen understanding of where learning needs to go and the reasons why they will need to teach and engage students differently in the future.
Warner prepares students for teaching and the pursuit of educational endeavors beyond the classroom. We provide the theoretical foundation, the intellectual tools, and the practical experience to help graduates thrive in a wide variety of learning environments.
Passionate, Supportive Professors
A major strength of the Warner School is our expert, diverse faculty. These are individuals who’ve been there, seen it, and done it. Each is an accomplished, well-respected educator, dedicated to changing the way teachers teach by researching learning, teaching, and curriculum in various educational contexts and applying what they learn in the classroom. Warner professors are passionate education professionals here to support you every step of the way. Close relationships with faculty are developed in the classroom, on research teams, through internship supervision, and beyond. Small class sizes ensure you work closely with your professors and your peers, getting the one-on-one instruction, advice, and advocacy you need to succeed.
A Strong Commitment to Social Justice
One of the fundamental pillars of a Warner School education is a commitment to social justice and a keen recognition of a teacher’s responsibility to address social inequities in the learning environment. Warner students become very aware of social and racial inequalities, as well as socioeconomic issues, that impact a student’s ability to learn. Warner students are taught to understand and be responsive to different learning needs, to adapt to diverse behaviors, and to be open to a wide spectrum of perspectives. As a result, they are driven to close the gap of social inequities and build a supportive, engaging learning environment.
Students with a Higher Calling
Warner graduates aspire to a higher calling. A quest to inspire a greater level of learning. A commitment to achieve the utmost success for all students. A strong professional vision for the future of learning, backed by wise and effective teaching practices. Practices they’ve lived themselves, putting theories to the test, and executing powerful lessons with students, rather than just reading and talking about them.
Warner graduates stand out, head and shoulders above their peers from other teaching institutions, well prepared for a future in teaching, and even better prepared for the future of learning. That’s the Warner difference.
The Warner Advantage
Preparing graduates to innovate, advocate and elevate.
Our Warner teacher preparation programs will help you stand out from other teachers and prepare you to excel in your career.
- Become a teacher who can create learning opportunities that are inviting and accessible for all students – engaging with cutting-edge research and educational innovations.
- Be challenged to be an agent of change, who can effectively introduce new ideas and practices that will enhance students’ learning and address current inequities.
- Leverage the reputation of a leading research university to strengthen recognition of your degree.
- Network with the best and the brightest future colleagues.
- Make yourself stand out when applying for teaching positions by pursuing additional specializations for a few additional credits.
- Learn from an accessible, supportive faculty of researchers and accomplished practitioners who will prepare you to become adaptive experts in educational settings.
- Shorten your path to a doctoral degree by earning transferable credits.
While rigorous, Warner’s teacher preparation programs are both flexible and affordable.
- Customize your program by taking advantage of multiple options and electives.
- Take advantage of online learning options that help reduce trips to campus.
- Choose your own pace by pursuing the program part time or full time, and taking advantage of special summer offerings.
- Start the program in any semester.
All About Experience

VIDEO: Supporting an Unconventional Path to Teaching
Emily Collins '20W and Devan Carter '20W have two things in common. Both of their mothers are teachers, and they are each pursuing that same path toward having their own classroom.

Horizons at Warner: Enrichment Program for RCSD Students in Grades K-8
Warner hosts a six-week summer enrichment program that engages urban K-12 students in meaningful and authentic learning experiences. The Horizons program creates a unique opportunity for Warner students to interact with young learners in an out-of-school setting.

Center for Learning in the Digital Age
Benefit from faculty who are involved in transformative uses of digital technology to enhance teaching and learning. The Warner Center for Learning in the Digital Age collaborates with various educational partners to leverage the potential of digital technologies for education.
Career Opportunities
Advancing Education and Your Career to the Next Level.
Graduates from these programs will be prepared to teach in a great variety of contexts, and will be employable in any organization that does not require state credentials – such as charter and independent K-12 schools in the U.S., schools abroad, community colleges, community organizations, museum, afterschool programs, or summer camps.

Faculty
An Accessible, Supportive Faculty of Researchers and Accomplished Practitioners.

Teaching Program Director
LeChase Hall 466
(585) 273-5940
kmeuwissen@warner.rochester.edu
Other Program Directors
Raffaella Borasi, PhD (Health Professions Education)Zenon Borys, (Mathematics)
Jayne Lammers, PhD (English)
April Luehmann, PhD (Science)
Kevin Meuwissen, PhD (Social Studies)
David Miller, EdD (Online Teaching)
Martha Mock, PhD (Inclusion: Early Childhood)
Hairong Shang-Butler, PhD (TESOL)
Carol Anne St. George, EdD (Reading & Literacies)
Additional Program Area Faculty
Scholarships
Making Warner Affordable.
The Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester is pleased to offer a number of merit-based scholarships to eligible students.
Inquire with Admissions about scholarships you may be eligible for.
Inquire with Admissions about scholarships you may be eligible for.

Try Us Out
Get a Taste of What Warner Has to Offer.
We invite you to visit one of our innovative instructional programs, including:
Contact admissions to arrange for a visit or learn more about opportunities for non-matriculated students.
- Horizons Summer Enrichment Program: A six-week, full-day summer program for K-8 urban students, taking place on the University of Rochester campus, that provides meaningful informal learning opportunities.
- East High: This Rochester City School District secondary school is undergoing major transformation under the oversight of the University of Rochester as its educational partnership organization.
Contact admissions to arrange for a visit or learn more about opportunities for non-matriculated students.

Testimonials
Meliora means 'Ever Better.' To our graduates, it means making a world of difference.
Contact Admissions
The admissions team looks forward to assisting you as you explore graduate education at the Warner School. Please feel free to use the form below to contact us with any questions. You can also email us at apply@warner.rochester.edu or call (585) 275-3950.