Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]


http://www.grad.niu.edu/

Graduate School



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Bradley Bond, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School

A student who wishes to obtain a graduate degree must apply for and be granted admission to the Graduate School. Courses numbered 500-799 may be taken for graduate credit only by graduate-level students. A student interested in graduate study should refer to the current Graduate Catalog for details regarding graduate courses and degree programs available. See also “Early Admission of NIU Undergraduates” below. The graduate degrees and certificates offered by the university are listed below by the name of the college and of the department or school in which that degree program is housed.

Entries appear in alphabetical order. Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.

   

Graduate School

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
      (see also individual departments for specializations)

Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.)
      (see also individual departments for specializations)

College of Business

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Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Department of Accountancy

Master of Accountancy (M.A.C.)
Master of Accounting Science (M.A.S.)
Master of Science in Taxation (M.S.T.)

Department of Finance

Master of Science in Finance (M.S.)

Department of Management

Department of Marketing

Master of Science in Digital Marketing (M.S.)

Department of Operations Management and Information Systems

Master of Science (M.S.) 
    Data Analytics
    Management Information Systems
    with specializations in
       Business Analytics
       SAP and Business Enterprise Computing

College of Education

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Department of Counseling and Higher Education
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)
   Counseling
   with specializations in
   Clinical Mental Health Counseling
   School Counseling
   Higher Education and Student Affairs
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
   Higher Education
   with specialization in
     
College Teaching
      Community College Leadership
      Higher Education Administration
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Counselor Education and Supervision

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
   with specialization in
     Elementary Education with Initial Licensure
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) 
   Curriculum and Instruction
    with specializations in
      Teacher Leader with Endorsement
       Curriculum and Cultural Pedagogies in Social Justice
   Literacy Education
   with specializations in
    
Reading
     English as a Second Language/Bilingual Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
   Curriculum and Instruction
   with specializations in
      Curriculum Leadership
      Literacy Education
      Science, Social Studies, and Environmental Education Integration

Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Educational Research and Evaluation
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)
   Instructional Technology
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Instructional Technology

Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.)
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Sport Management
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)
   Kinesiology and Physical Education
   with specializations in
      Adapted Physical Education
      Exercise Physiology
      Pedagogy and Curriculum Development in Physical Education
      Sport and Exercise Psychology

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) 
  Educational Administration
  Educational Psychology
  School Business Management
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
  Educational Administration
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) 
  Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
  with specializations in
     Educational Leadership
     Educational Policy Studies
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  Educational Psychology

Department of Special and Early Education
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) 
  Early Childhood Education 
  Special Education
  with specializations in
     Advanced Special Education Practices
     Assistive Technology Used by Persons with Visual Impairments
     Behavior Analysis
     Learning Behavior Specialist I
     Orientation and Mobility
     Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
     Visual Impairments

College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

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Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.)
   with specialization in
      Engineering Education

Department of Electrical Engineering
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Electrical Engineering
   with or without specialization in
      Applied Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Electrical Engineering

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Industrial and Systems Engineering
   with or without specialization in
     
Engineering Management
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Industrial and Systems Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science (M.S.)
    Mechanical Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    Mechanical Engineering

Department of EngineeringTechnology
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Industrial Management and Technology

College of Health and Human Sciences

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School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders 
Master of Arts
   Communicative Disorders
   with specializations in
       Audiology
       Speech-Language Pathology
Doctor of Audiology (Aud.)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Applied Human Development and Family Sciences
   with or without specialization in
     Leadership in Aging Studies
     Marriage and Family Therapy

School of Health Studies
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
   with specializations in
      Health Promotion
      Health Services Management
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Nutrition and Dietetics

School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions 
Master of Science
   Health Sciences
   Rehabilitation Counseling 
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Health Sciences

Department of Military Science

School of Nursing
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Nursing
   with specializations in
      Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
      Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
      Family Nurse Practitioner
      Nursing Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
   Post Bachelor’s
   with specializations in
      Advanced Practice Nursing (APN)
      Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
      Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practioner
      Family Nurse Practioner
   Post Master’s  

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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School of Public and Global Affairs

Department of Anthropology
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   Anthropolgy

Department of Biological Sciences
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Biological Sciences
   with or without specialization in
      Bioinformatics 
      Biology Teaching
      Human Anatomical Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Biological Sciences

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Chemistry
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Chemistry

Department of Communication
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   Communication Studies

Department of Computer Science
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Computer Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Computer Sciences

Department of Economics
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   Economics
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Economics

Department of English
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   English
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   English

Department of Geographic and Atmospheric Sciences
Master of Science (M.S.)
      Geography
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
      Geography

Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Geology
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Geology

Department of History
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   History
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   History

Department of Mathematical Sciences
Master of Science (M.S.)
   Mathematics
   with specializations in
      Applied Mathematics
      Computational Mathematics
      Mathematics Education
      Pure Mathematics 
Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.)
   with specialization in
      Middle School Mathematics Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
   Mathematical Sciences

Department of Philosophy
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   Philosophy

Department of Physics
Master of Science (M.S.)
   with specializations in
      Applied Physics
      Basic Physics
      Physics Teaching
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
    with or without specialization in
      
Nanoscience

Department of Political Science
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department of Psychology
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
   with specializations in 
      Comparative Public Service
      Fiscal Administration 
      Local Government Management
      Nonprofit Management 
      Strategic Public Management and Leadership
      Public Service Law and Management

Department of Sociology
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   with or without specialization in
      Criminology

Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science

Master of Science
    Statistics

Department of World Languages and Cultures
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   World Languages and Cultures – Spanish and Hispanic Studies

College of Visual and Performing Arts

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School of Art and Design
Master of Arts (M.A.)
   with specializations in
      Art History Research
      Art History Teaching at the Two-Year College Level
      Studio Art
Master of Science (M.S.)
   with specialization in
      Art and Design Education
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 
   Art and Design Education

School of Music
Master of Music (M.M.)
   with specializations in
      Music Education
      Performance
      Individualized Study
Performer’s Certificate

School of Theatre and Dance
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
   Theatre Arts
    with specializations in
      Acting
      Design and Technology

Concentrations

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A concentration is a course of study, typically interdisciplinary, linked to the pursuit of a specific graduate degree. Completion of the requirements for a concentration will result in an appropriate notation on the student’s academic record.

The concentrations offered by the university are listed below.

Biochemistry
Biophysics
 

Certificates of Graduate Study

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A certificate of graduate study is a course of study, not linked to the pursuit of a degree, consisting of a coherent set of courses, fewer than for a major, addressing a specific theme. Completion of the requirements for a certificate of graduate study will result in an appropriate notation on the student’s academic record.

The certificates of graduate study offered by the university are listed below.

Adapted Physical Education
Advanced Qualitative Methodology in Education
Advanced Quantitative Methodology in Education
Advanced Study in Accountancy
Advanced Study in Accounting Analytics
Applied Statistics
Art History
Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for People with Visual Impairments
Behavior Analyst
Bioinformatics
College Teaching
Curricular and Pedagogical Practices in Social Justice Education
Data Analytics Using SAS Software – SAS Joint Certificate Program
Data Science for Business
Digital Image Processing
Digital Signal Processing
Digital Systems 
Director of Special Education
Distance Education
Eating Disorders and Obesity
Education in English Language Arts
Elementary Mathematics Teaching
Enterprise Management Using SAS Software
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Health & Safety
Facilities Management
Family and Child Development
Family Nurse Practitioner
Finance
Financial Engineering
Financial Risk Management
FinTech
Foreign Language Instructional Technology
Foundation of Accountancy
Foundations of Education and Policy Studies
Geographic Information Analysis
Gerontology
Health Professions Education
Higher Education Administration
Homeland Security
Industrial Control
Integrated Manufacturing Systems
Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy
International Business
Latin American Studies
Law and Women’s and Gender Studies
Leadership in Aging Services
Lean Six Sigma
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Logistics
Management Information Systems 
Managerial Leadership
Medical Family Therapy and Counseling
Mobile Programming
Museum Studies
Postsecondary Developmental Literacy and Language Instruction
Public Management
Quality Control
Response to Intervention
Semiconductor Devices
Semiconductor Fabrication
Southeast Asian Studies
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Sport Management
Strategic Marketing
Teaching English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education
Technical Writing
Trauma-Informed Counseling
User Experience (UX) and Learning Analytics
VLSI Design
Women’s and Gender Studies
Workplace Learning and Performance
World Languages and Cultures – French and Franchophone Studies
World Languages and Cultures – German Studies
World Languages and Cultures – Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Student-at-Large Classification

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The student-at-large classification is available for those who wish to take graduate courses without pursuing a degree. A student-at- large must hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or the equivalent from a recognized foreign institution and must apply for and be granted permission to register as a student-at-large through the Graduate School. Students-at-large are not admitted to the Graduate School or to any graduate degree program, but they are under the administrative jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Many of the same regulations, including those regarding academic standing, apply to both graduate students and students-at-large, as described in the Graduate Catalog. Some departments and programs limit the amount of graduate credit earned as a student-at- large that may be applied toward meeting the requirements of a graduate degree, if the student-at-large is later admitted to such a degree program. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog for specific information about particular programs.

Postgraduate students are those who hold baccalaureate degrees from accredited institutions and wish to take additional undergraduate courses or to earn a second baccalaureate degree. Postgraduates are classified as seniors and may take 100- through 400-level courses for undergraduate credit only; a postgraduate may not take courses for graduate credit. An individual who wishes to take 500-,  600-, or 700-level graduate courses should apply to the Graduate School for admission as a graduate student or permission to register as a student-at-large. For further information, see “Postgraduate Students.”

Early Admission of NIU Undergraduates to the Graduate School

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Early admission to the Graduate School is available to seniors in their final term of enrollment at NIU who wish to take courses for graduate credit. Students who apply for and receive early admission may take approved graduate-level courses.

Application for early admission is made through the Graduate School. A student applying for early admission must have applied to graduate from the baccalaureate program at the end of the term for which early admission is sought; the Graduate School’s application deadlines are waived for such a student. No student may enroll in more than one term under early-admission status.

 

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