About the Program: Fast Facts

• Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• History: Nationally recognized program with over 35 years of experience in self-designed degrees
• Admission Requirements:
  
  • Lesley application and application fee
  • All undergraduate transcripts, confirming Bachelors Degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Graduate transcripts, if applicable
  • Three letters of recommendation, for current students or recent graduates, one letter must be academic in nature
  • Submission and approval of the Provisional Degree Plan
  • Interview with the Program Director
• Program Requirements:
  • 36 credits, including a final capstone thesis that serves as a culmination of the studies and demonstrates the student's mastery of the chosen specialization or disciplines
• Degree Options:
  • Master of Arts
  • Master of Education
  • Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
• Delivery Model: Independent, self-designed in either a team-model or a course-based model
• Colloquia:
  • Students participate in online asynchronous colloquia three times throughout their degree
  • In this colloquia students work on their research skills and writing skills, enhance their critical thinking skills, and present their papers and final projects
• Curriculum: Individually designed structure allows for creativity and personalization
• Advisement and Evaluation:
  • All students meet with their faculty advisor several times throughout the semester
  • Students in the team-model meet with their team three to four times throughout their degree
  • Letter grades are used to assess the student's work
• Instructional Reimbursement:
  • Team-model SDMD students are eligible to receive reimbursement for certain instructional expenses incurred through the completion of their Degree Plan activities.  Students may choose to take up to four Lesley courses (12 credits),  as part of their degree plan, but each Lesley course will reduce the instructional reimbursement amount by one-fourth.
  • Instructional expenses may include the following: regionally accredited graduate level courses, accredited training programs, conferences, workshops, seminars, and consultant and team member travel and mentorship fees.
  • Exclusions: No part of the student's reimbursement money may be used for Lesley University courses, equipment, instructional materials, books, academic supplies, presentation support, computer software, technology hardware, registration fees, thesis binding, photocopying, editing, proofreading, student room and board, student travel expenses, entrance, ticket, or admissions fees, and audio, film, or video recording.
• Faculty: Dedicated, enthusiastic, and highly qualified experts in their fields of study