Graduate Programs & Certificates

Master of Arts (M.A.)

The M.A. degree is offered in the following areas:

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

The M.A.T. degree is offered in the following areas:

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The M.Ed. degree is offered in the following areas:

Master of Music Education (M.M.Ed.)

The M.M.Ed. degree is offered for persons certified to teach music. However, students seeking initial certification are required to enroll in the Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.Ac.)

The M.P.Ac. degree is offered in professional accountancy, with concentrations in accounting and personal financial planning.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The M.S. degree is offered in:

The M.S. Health Care Administration degree prepares students for management/leadership positions in health care organizations.  These organizations may include healthcare providers, governmental agencies, insurers, or public health organizations. An accelerated program is offered for graduates of the RIC B.S. Health Care Administration program.

Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

The M.S.N. degree is designed to prepare expert nurses for advanced practice roles. There are three specialty concentrations: (1) adult/gerontology acute care (CNS or NP role), (2) nurse anesthesia, and (3) population/public health.

Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)

The M.S.W. degree prepares social workers for advanced professional practice in one of two areas of concentration: clinical and macro. The clinical concentration prepares students to work with individuals and families across the lifespan. The macro concentration prepares students for policy practice and leadership roles within organizations.

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.)

The C.A.G.S. is a degree program consisting of a minimum of 24-post master’s credit hours that prepare candidates for positions and competencies in education and related fields for which the master’s degree is not sufficient. The C.A.G.S. is offered in the following areas:

Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses as leaders, clinical scholars and experts with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to negotiate and influence the healthcare system to improve health outcomes of individuals, systems and populations.

Ph.D. in Education Program

The Ph.D. in education is offered jointly by Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island. This cooperative program, which draws on the resources of two strong institutions, has been designed for the crucial mission of preparing leaders of effective, research-based educational reform.

Individualized Graduate Degree Programs

Individualized graduate degrees are offered in the C.A.G.S., M.A., M.Ed. and M.S. programs. Essentially interdisciplinary in nature, these programs provide students with the opportunity to pursue graduate work in areas of specific academic interest or need. These programs may be oriented toward special career preparation or toward unique scholarly pursuits.

Admission standards for all individualized programs are comparable to those of the department or departments involved. All graduate division criteria also apply. Admission is subject to the criteria approved by the Committee on Individualized Graduate Programs which approves all plans of study.

Students who are interested in an individualized graduate program should first consult with the Dean of Graduate Studies to receive advisement and the special forms for application. See Individualized Graduate Program for details.  

Find Your Program

Showing 8 Areas of Study, 46 Programs

About this Area of Study

Take your career to the next level with a master's degree from Rhode Island College. Our graduate programs in accounting and health care administration prepare working professionals to advance in their fields, becoming professional accountants, financial planners and managers and administrators within the health care industry. Don't just work, lead with an advanced degree from our nationally accredited School of Business.

  • ACCOUNTING:
  • Accountant
  • Financial Planning
  • Income and Estate Planning
  • Retirement and Investment Planning
  • HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION:
  • Practice Managers
  • Nursing Home Administrators
  • Executive Directors Assisted Living Communities
  • Human Resources Manager
Programs Degree

Accounting

  • Master of Professional Accountancy

Financial Planning

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Health Care Administration

  • Master of Science

About this Area of Study

The School of Social Work prepares practitioners to work with oppressed groups, to alleviate injustice, discrimination and poverty; to create social policies and resources that meet basic human needs and enhance the quality of life; and to create accessible, responsible, accountable human service programs. The School Psychology program, combining an MA degree in counseling and a C.A.G.S. in school psychology, prepares you to provide a range of psychological and educational services to support the emotional health of children and families in the school community. RIC’s unique partnerships with outstanding field-based supervisors provide high-quality training experiences for students in these programs. Additionally, small classes enable students to develop meaningful relationships with peers and with faculty.

  • Social worker (Child and Family, School, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Healthcare, Clinical)
  • Social and Community Service Manager
  • Social Work Teacher
  • School Psychologist
Programs Degree

Childhood and Adolescent Trauma

Concentrations
Remediation of the effects from Childhood and Adolescent Trauma
  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Integrated Behavioral Health

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Nonprofit Leadership

Concentrations
Nonprofit Studies
  • Certificate of Graduate Study

School Psychology

  • Master of Arts
  • Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study

Social Work

Concentrations
Macro and Clinical Concentrations
  • Master of Social Work

About this Area of Study

Go from professional practitioner to industry leader with a graduate degree in Nursing & Health Sciences from Rhode Island College. Our master's and terminal degree programs prepare nurses and health scientists to advance through their fields, becoming change agents capable of transforming healthcare systems and conducting cutting-edge research.

  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Clinical and Administrative Leadership Positions
Programs Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice

Masters of Nursing Science

Concentrations
Adult/Gerontology with an Acute Care Emphasis, Nurse Anesthesia, Population/Public Health
  • Master of Science in Nursing

About this Area of Study

At Rhode Island College, graduate programs in English prepare students to succeed as literary professionals, whether as teachers, writers, or scholars. We offer a master’s in English with an optional concentration in creative writing, as well as certificate programs in literature and creative writing. Small class sizes allow students to work closely with their professors and peers in seminars and workshops as they develop projects tailored to their particular interests. Many of our graduates have gone on to pursue a Ph.D. and are now professors, published authors, and leading scholars in their field. A graduate degree in English can open doors for career paths in publishing, editing, administration, or marketing in a variety of corporate, online, and academic settings.

  • Writing
  • Publishing
  • Public relations & marketing
  • Arts and nonprofit administration
  • Education
  • Academic administration
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Librarianship
  • Multimedia content development
Programs Degree

English Certificate of Graduate Study - Creative Writing

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

English Certificate of Graduate Study - Literature

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

English, M.A.

Concentrations
Creative Writing
  • Master of Arts

History

  • Master of Arts

About this Area of Study

Our master's program in mathematical studies will deepen your understanding of advanced mathematics and their role in the world. Students will build on their undergraduate studies, developing quantitative and abstract reasoning and the ability to use mathematics as a computational and analytical tool. Our program produces graduates who exhibit knowledge, comprehension, and creativity in the practice of mathematics as they pursue a variety of career opportunities.

  • Business Analyst and Statistician
  • Community College Professor
  • Cryptographer
  • Data Scientist
  • Financial Quantitative Analyst
  • High school math teacher
  • Investment banking analyst
Programs Degree

Biology

  • Master of Arts

Mathematical Studies

Concentrations
Mathematics, Mathematics for the Professions
  • Master of Arts

Modern Biological Sciences

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Psychology

  • Master of Arts

About this Area of Study

Go from practicing artist to arts educator with a graduate degree from Rhode Island College. Our master's programs prepare students to teach fine art or music, passing their creative practice on to the next generation.

  • Arts Administrator
  • Art Educator
  • Collections Manager
  • Costume Designer
  • Curator
  • Music Educator
  • Playwright
  • Stage Manager
Programs Degree

Music Education, M.M.Ed.

  • Master of Music Education

About this Area of Study

Take the next step in your education career with a graduate degree from Rhode Island College. The Feinstein School of Education and Human Development (FSEHD), as well as some education-focused programs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, prepare working professionals to become transformative leaders in a wide range , teaching specializations and classrooms, as well as in community settings. The M.A. in Youth Development, the first of its kind in New England, equips you with the knowledge and skills to lead, design, research and innovate in youth settings, with an emphasis on social justice and culturally relevant care. In 2019, FSEHD launched a new curriculum that is on the cutting edge of teacher education nationwide, and our programs consistently rank among the best in the region. From master's degrees to certificate programs, we offer a variety of certifications and specializations that will empower you to make an impact in your field.

  • Classroom teacher (Elementary, Middle, Secondary Math, Art, Music or English, K-12)
  • Early childhood educator
  • Multilingual educator
  • Special education teacher
  • Health educator
  • Nonprofit executive leadership
  • Preparation for Doctoral Work in Education, Youth Development, or Youth Studies
  • Management roles in a range of alternative education settings
  • Education director for museums, after school or summer programs
  • School Culture Coordinator
Programs Degree

Art Education, M.A.

Concentrations
Media Studies
  • Master of Arts

Art Education, M.A.T.

  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Autism Education

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Early Childhood Education

  • Master of Education

Early Childhood Special Education

  • Master of Education

Elementary Education

  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Elementary or Secondary Special Education, C.G.S.

Concentrations
Elementary Special Education (Grades 1-6), Secondary Special Education (Grades 7-12)
  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Elementary or Secondary Special Education. M.Ed.

Concentrations
Elementary Special Education (Grades 1-6), Secondary Special Education (Grades 7-12)
  • Master of Education

Health Education

  • Master of Education

M.Ed. in Reading

  • Master of Education

Middle Level Education

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Music Education, M.A.T.

  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Ph.D. in Education Program

  • Ph.D. in Education

Rhode Island Teacher Education (RITE)

Secondary Education, English

Concentrations
English Pedagogy
  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Secondary Education, Mathematical Pedagogy

Concentrations
Mathematical Pedagogy
  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Severe Intellectual Disabilities

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Special Education, Exceptional Learning Needs

Concentrations
Exceptional Learning Needs
  • Master of Education

Special Education, Severe Intellectual Disabilities

  • Master of Education

Special Education, Urban Multicultural

  • Master of Education

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

  • Master of Education
  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Bilingual Education concentration

Concentrations
Bilingual Education
  • Master of Education
  • Certificate of Graduate Study

World Languages Education

Concentrations
French, Portuguese, Spanish
  • Master of Arts in Teaching

Youth Development

Concentrations
Candidates design their own concentration comprised of two elective courses and a capstone project
  • Master of Arts

About this Area of Study

Broaden your horizons and advance your career with a graduate degree from Rhode Island College. Our master's programs in history, justice studies, clinical mental health counseling and psychology prepare students to become leaders in their fields. Graduates find careers in public history, government, clinical practice, law enforcement as well as opportunities in research, teaching and in nonprofits. Some continue on to Ph.D. programs and law school.

  • Counselor
  • Community Relations
  • Case Manager
  • Grant Writer
  • Law Enforcement
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Mental Health/Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Non-Profit Organization Manager
  • Policy Analyst
  • Probation Officer
Programs Degree

Advanced Counseling

  • Certificate of Graduate Study

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • Master of Science

Justice Studies

  • Master of Arts