Graduate Programs
Mount Mercy's graduate programs are fully accredited and designed for working professionals. Programs are offered face-to-face or online with classes conveniently scheduled in the evening, weekends, and summer. All of the programs are grounded in best practices and prepare students for leadership in their chosen career.
Graduate Degrees
Master of Arts in Education
This degree is designed to prepare students to: effectively use researched instructional strategies; conduct, interpret and evaluate assessments; acquire and apply the skills needed to become reflective practitioners and teacher leaders; formulate and evaluate research; and analyze research results and communicate the results in written and oral presentations.
Emphasis in Early Childhood Inclusive Classroom
This emphasis is designed to prepare early childhood teachers to teach in birth through grade 3 inclusive classrooms. It will provide teachers with the Early Childhood Inclusive Classroom, Endorsement #1001 from the State of Iowa upon completion. Designed for the teaching professional, a four-course core provides a shared experience for all graduate education students. These courses (i.e., 12 credit hours) focus on developing the broader perspectives needed for research and leadership in the profession. Graduate students take an additional 24 credits when completing the Early Childhood Inclusive Classroom endorsement.
Emphasis in Effective Teaching
This emphasis is designed in partnership with local school districts to enhance and enrich teaching instruction and to produce teacher leaders.
Emphasis in English as a Second Language
This emphasis is designed to prepare ESL teachers for teaching K-12 education and provides, if needed, the K-12 ESL endorsement from the State of Iowa upon completion. Designed for the teaching professional, a four-course core provides a shared experience for all graduate education students. These courses (i.e., 12 credit hours) focus on developing the broader perspectives needed for research and leadership in the profession. ESL graduate students take an additional 23 credits when completing the K-12 English as a Second Language endorsement.
Emphasis in Reading
This emphasis is designed to prepare teachers as specialized reading instructors with a dynamic understanding of the reading process and to equip teachers with a variety of resources for enhancing literacy for all learners. The emphasis is designed for teachers and offers endorsements in K-8 and 5-12 Reading and K-12 Reading Specialist.
Emphasis in Special Education
This emphasis trains educators with a deeper understanding of the needs of students with learning, cognitive, and/or behavior disabilities. Preparation in these areas is in high demand. This degree allows teachers to obtain an advanced degree in Special Education with endorsements in Instructional Strategist I, Instructional Strategist II Behavior Disorders/Learning Disabilities, and Instructional Strategist II Intellectual Disabilities.
Emphasis in Teacher Leadership
The emphasis in Teacher Leadership is designed for Prek-12 practitioners and others who wish to be teacher leaders outside the traditional administrative career path. It provides participants with immediately applicable knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to be leaders in education.
Emphasis in Teaching and Learning
This emphasis is designed to prepare a pathway for graduate students, particularly second degree students, for obtaining their Master’s degree after completing their teacher education program.
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
The MFT program trains highly qualified professionals at the master’s level who possess the knowledge, skills and dispositions to improve the lives of individuals, couples and families. This degree prepares students for licensure eligibility as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Master of Business Administration
Characterized by its emphasis on ethical and socially responsible leadership, the Mount Mercy Master of Business Administration program challenges students to think globally and strategically while using a multi-disciplinary approach to solving business problems.
Emphasis in Criminal Justice
In this emphasis students will complete core MBA courses and 4 electives related to Criminal Justice.
Emphasis in Finance
In this emphasis students will complete core MBA courses and 4 electives related to Finance.
Emphasis in Health Care Administration
In this emphasis students will complete core MBA courses and 4 electives related to Health Care Administration.
Emphasis in Human Resources
In this emphasis students will complete core MBA courses and 4 electives related to Human Resources.
Emphasis in International Business
In this emphasis students will complete core MBA courses and 4 electives related to International Business.
Emphasis in Quality Management
In this emphasis students will complete core MBA courses and 4 electives related to Quality Management.
Master of Science in Nursing
Focused on health promotion and disease prevention, the MSN program is dedicated to preparing graduates to lead the profession in meeting the challenges of an ever-changing, complex healthcare system.
Emphasis in Health Advocacy
A unique program allowing students to design, implement, manage, continuously improve, and lead innovative healthcare population management programs.
Emphasis in Forensic Nursing
A distinctive program allowing students to develop, promote, and implement protocols and systems related to complex health concerns while responding to victims and perpetrators of trauma, injury, accidents, neglect, abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence.
Emphasis in Nursing Administration
A distinctive program focused on attaining the competencies necessary for leading and managing complex 21st century healthcare organizations.
Emphasis in Nursing Education
An innovative program developing tomorrow's nurse educators for academic and healthcare settings.
Emphasis in Nursing Informatics
A unique partnership with University of Minnesota School of Nursing allowing students to develop, implement, and lead interdisciplinary health information technologies with knowledge and skills in system design and analysis, databases, consumer informatics, clinic decision support, knowledge representation, interoperability, and population health informatics.
Master of Strategic Leadership
The Master of Strategic Leadership (MSL) program is designed for professionals looking to excel in leading people and organizations. The MSL cultivates the comprehensive skill-set required to successfully lead people and sustain organizations by honing competence in strategy, leadership, decision-making, systems thinking, and team dynamics.
Emphasis in Criminal Justice
In this emphasis students will complete core MSL courses and 4 electives related to Criminal Justice.
Emphasis in Health Care Administration
In this emphasis students will complete core MSL courses and 4 electives related to Health Care Administration.
Emphasis in Human Resources
In this emphasis students will complete core MSL courses and 4 electives related to Human Resources.
Emphasis in Quality Management
In this emphasis students will complete core MSL courses and 4 electives related to Quality Management.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Nurses will acquire advanced knowledge and skills in nursing practice and processes in order to practice as nurse practitioners. Students will reflect and act on the impact advanced practice nursing has on the health care delivery system and the lives of clients and communities. Graduates will be prepared to take the family nurse practitioner certification exam and then provide primary care and expertise in the holistic care of all populations.
Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy
The MFT doctoral program is a unique program offering one of a kind specializations within a curriculum designed to enhance the theoretical knowledge and advanced practice of MFT. The program is designed to resemble the apprentice model, where individuals were able to work alongside a master craftsman to be nurtured and mentored to improve their talents and skills. Specializations in working with couples, developing and enhancing business and leadership skills and integrating psychophysiological knowledge and interventions provide students with a one of a kind learning experience.