Location:

Bethany, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Teacher Education

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Master of Arts in Learning and Thinking is a 36-credit degree program that explores the various epistemological and cultural lenses through which individuals create and reflect meaning. Here, thinking and learning are examined for their complex role in supporting the functions central to the development of the whole person. The role of perception, aesthetics, ethics, morality, belief, social context, knowledge, creativity, language, intuition, behavior, and spirit are all addressed as aspects of self evolution. The broad range of topics and ideas that are presented throughout the course of the program allow participants to expand their spiritual and intellectual horizons while simultaneously focusing on an area of personal interest. There are several cohorts available in the M.A. in Learning and Thinking, which offer a special concentration within the degree program. These include: Learning and Thinking for Educators Each year, The Graduate Institute offers special cohorts for educators in the M.A. in Learning and Thinking. These cohorts are hosted in several locations throughout Connecticut for ease of access and travel. The program offers an integrative curriculum that blends the arts and sciences, and is structured to accommodate the schedules of working teachers. The degree also meets the requirements for teachers to maintain their certification in the state. The program is grounded in a new pedagogy that promotes K – 12 learning through four approaches to critical thinking: synectic thinking, jurisprudence thinking, productive thinking, and chimerical thinking. This unique Masters can enhance teacher productivity and increase student achievement at a time when educators are challenged to produce test results at the expense of developing real thinking. The Cultural Cohort The Cultural Cohort in the M.A. in Learning and Thinking provides an exhilarating entrée to the world’s greatest events of art and science, including dynamic performances, museums, and cultural landscapes. From history to modernity, colleagues (i.e. students) explore the aesthetic, ideological, political, and spiritual foundations of the human experience. Through deep immersion in these cultural influences, participants expand their understanding of the diversity and complexity inherent in civilization’s growth and development. During 22 months the cohort engages in two 12-day summer institutes. The first (2013) explores Florence and Vienna, while the second (2014) examines Los Angeles and Chicago. Four long weekends are devoted to exploring major North American cultural centers – Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charleston, SC, and Toronto, Ontario. An additional weekend in Vermont provides an inquiry into rural cultures while day trips to New York City address contemporary cultural forces. Lead by exceptional faculty, these inquiry-driven excursions uncover the sources of western culture and the roots of modern thought. When not engaged in a travel experience, the cohort meets one weekend monthly (Fri. 5 to 9 pm and Sat. 9 am-5 pm) at The Institute’s campus in Bethany, CT. The Science Cohort The Science Cohort in the M.A. in Learning and Thinking offers a meaningful approach to learning science through process thinking. Having evolved directly from the proven science education programs at Southern Connecticut State and other universities, it introduces science teachers to emerging concepts and research from the leading edge of science that can enrich their curriculum and make learning science more relevant to students. Participants will approach science through experiential learning events facilitated by exceptional scientists, innovative thinkers, inventors and engineers.

Format:

Hybrid

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

The Graduate Institute is fully licensed, chartered, and accredited by the Connecticut Department of Higher Education, Board of Governors.

Requirements:

Candidates must hold a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.

International Requirements:

International transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (or an equivalent agency). Applicants whose native language is not English must present a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).