Guaranteed Rochester Accelerated Degree in Education (GRADE)
To begin a career in education, such as teaching, counseling, or social work, you'll need both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, which would typically take at least six years of college. Admission to the master's program usually requires a strong score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Guaranteed Rochester Accelerated Degree in Education (GRADE) is a five-year BA/BS + MSEd program for students interested in becoming educators. (Students selecting the counseling program will need to complete six years.) GRADE students enter the University with an assurance of admission to the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development (part of Rochester's main campus).
The program is designed to offer students a quality liberal arts education while also preparing them to become educators. After completing their undergraduate work*, GRADE students are expected to complete 15 months of study at the Warner School (summer, fall, spring, and summer). For the master's program, students may specialize in counseling, higher education, or elementary or secondary education, with the option of certification in special education, literacy, or TESOL.
GRADE students also receive the Steven Harrison Scholarship (covering 1/3 of tuition) for all five years of study, attend special events, and enjoy extensive opportunities for research and internships.
* Students may choose any undergraduate major, but should include MSEd preparatory classes as required by New York State Certification requirements.
Perks of the program include:
- Assured admission to the MS program as an entering undergraduate
- Exemption from the GRE
- Steven Harrison Scholarship (1/3 of tuition) for all five years
- Special invitations to book talks and speaker series
- Focused advising by GRADE mentors, including personalized placement for classes and experiential learning
- Extensive research, internship, and professional development opportunities
Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development
The University of Rochester has a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and the Warner School has a rich history as a part of that excellence. The Warner School's programs in teaching and curriculum, counseling and human development, and educational leadership prepare educators to handle today's challenges in education.
The Warner School strives to provide teachers, administrators, counselors, and researchers with the tools to be agents of change. Warner graduates are equipped to be exceptional at what they do and to make a difference in their chosen fields of study.
To learn more about the Warner School's programs of study, please visit www.rochester.edu/warner/programs.
Sample 4-year undergraduate course schedule
Major: Psychology, Minor: Business,
Graduate Major: Elementary Education w/ Inclusion
M = major, Mi = minor, C = cluster, G = GRADE, E = elective
First Semester:
| Course | Description |
| ASL 101 | Beginning American Sign Language I (E) |
| CAS 105 | Reason ∓ Writing in the College (freshman writing requirement/G) |
| PSY 101 | Intro to Psychology (M/G) |
| PSY 171 | Social & Emotional Development (M) |
Second Semester:
| Course | Description |
| CSP 161 | Social Psychology & Individual Differences (M) |
| CSP 278 | Adolescent Development (M) |
| PHY 100 | Nature of the Physical World (E/G) |
| REL 102 | Intro to the New Testament (C) |
Third Semester:
| Course | Description |
| AST 105 | Intro to the Milky Way Galaxy (E/G) |
| BCS 110 | Neural Foundations of Behavior (M/G) |
| PSY 211 | Intro to Statistical Methods in Psychology (M/G) |
| REL 101 | Intro to the Old Testament (C/G) |
Fourth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| BCS 112 | Cognitive Psychology (M/G) |
| ECO 108 | Principles of Economics (Mi) |
| MTH 141 | Calculus I (C/G) |
| PSY 219W | Research Methods of Psychology (M/G) |
| REL 106 | From Confucius to Zen (C/G) |
Fifth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| MTH 142 | Calculus II (C/G) |
| PSY 267 | Psychology of Gender (M/G) |
| PSY 289 | Developmental Child Psychopathology (M) |
Sixth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| CSP 282W | Abnormal Psychology (M/G) |
| ECO 207 | Intermediate Microeconomics (Mi) |
| MTH 143 | Calculus III (C/G) |
| PSY 282 | Abnormal Psychology (M) |
| ACC 201 | Principles of Accounting (Mi) |
Seventh Semester:
| Course | Description |
| PSY 264 | Industrial & Organizational Psychology (M) |
| ED 447* | Disabilities & Schools (G) |
| FIN 204 | Principles of Finance (Mi) |
| MKT 203 | Principles of Marketing (Mi) |
Eighth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| ENG 138 | Journalism Case Studies (E) |
| PSY 283 | Behavioral Medicine (M) |
| ED 404* | Teaching, Curriculum & Change (G) |
| MKT 213 | Marketing Projects & Cases (Mi) |
* GRADE students are required to take two courses through Warner before the end of their senior year. These course abbreviations are "ED" and are typically at the 400-level.
Sample 4-year undergraduate course schedule
Major: Psychology; Clusters: Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Religion;
Graduate Major: School Counseling
M = major, C = cluster, G = GRADE, E = elective
First Semester:
| Course | Description |
| BSC 110 | Neural Foundations of Behavior (M/C) |
| BSC183 | Animal Minds (C) |
| HIS 100 | Europe Before 1492 (E) |
| PSY 181 | Theory of Personality & Psychotherapy (M) |
Second Semester:
| Course | Description |
| CAS 105 | American Psychos (PWR) |
| CSP 161 | Social Psychology & Individual Differences (M) |
| CSP 278 | Adolescent Development (M) |
| PSY 113 | Biopsychology of Social & Clinical Behaviors (M) |
Third Semester:
| Course | Description |
| AH 274 | American Architecture (E) |
| BIO 102 | Biology & the Environment (E) |
| CSP 396 | Marital Research Seminar (M) |
| PSY 267 | Psychology of Gender (M) |
Fourth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| BCS 172 | Development of Mind & Brain (C) |
| CSP 391 | Relationships Research (M) |
| PSY 112 | Cognitive Psychology (M) |
| PSY 211 | Introductory Statistical Methods in Psychology (M) |
Fifth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| PSY 219W | Research Methods of Psychology (M) |
| PSY 276 | Psychology of Parenting (M) |
| PSY 391 | Analysis of Relationship Conflict (M) |
| REL 103 | History of Judaism (C) |
| SAB 090 | Study Abroad Orientation |
Sixth Semester (Study Abroad):
| Course | Description |
| AH 341 | Architecture of London: 1600–Present Day (E) |
| CU/SO 352 | British Youth Culture: 1950 to the Present (E) |
| FS 345 | Cinematic Representations of British Identity in British Cinema (E) |
| PS 335 | Child Development in the UK Social Context (M) |
| SO 350 | Ethnic Tapestry of Contemporary British Culture (E) |
Seventh Semester:
| Course | Description |
| PSY 289 | Development Child Psychopathology (M) |
| PSY 268W | Seminar in Humanistic Psychology (M) |
| REL 105 | Asian Search for Self (C) |
| ED 429* | Theories of Human Development (G) |
Eighth Semester:
| Course | Description |
| PSY 280 | Clinical Psychology (M) |
| PSY 282 | Abnormal Psychology (M) |
| REL 106 | From Confucius to Zen (C) |
| EDU 454* | Career Counseling (G) |
* GRADE students are required to take two courses through Warner before the end of their senior year. These course abbreviations are "ED" or "EDU" and are typically at the 400-level. Students who go into the counseling program typically spend two years at the Warner School after completing their bachelor's degree.
In the Words of a Current GRADE student
"I love the GRADE program because it saves me time and money. It was this unique program that made me decide to attend the University of Rochester. I'm glad I did—now I'm studying a subject I don't know how I'd live without!"
Clay Monson '12
Hometown: Phelps, NY
Major: English
Minors: Music, Psychology
Questions?
Stacy Wells Shea
GRADE Coordinator, Associate Director of Admissions
stacy.wells@rochester.edu
Sean Hanna
GRADE Advisor, Associate Director
College Center for Academic Support
sean.hanna@rochester.edu
Danielle Ianni
Assistant Director of Admissions
Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development
dianni@warner.rochester.edu
