To begin a career in education, such as teaching, counseling, or human development, you’ll need both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, which typically takes at least six years of higher education.
The Guaranteed Rochester Accelerated Degree in Education (GRADE) program is a five-year BA/BS + MSEd program for students interested in becoming educators. If admitted, you enter the University with an assurance of admission to the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development (part of Rochester’s main academic campus).
The program offers a quality liberal arts education and prepares students to become educators. After completing undergraduate coursework, students may be eligible to complete their primary program in fifteen months* of study at the Warner School (summer, fall, spring, and summer). For the master’s program, students can specialize in counseling, human development, applied behavior analysis, educational policy, higher education, online teaching, program evaluation, or teaching and curriculum, including elementary or secondary education, with the option of additional certification in special education, literacy, TESOL, urban teaching and leadership, or online teaching and learning. Students may choose any undergraduate major, but should include MSEd preparatory classes as required by New York State Certification guidelines.
* Students who go into the counseling program typically spend two years at the Warner School
after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Official GRADE students receive, at minimum, the Steven Harrison Scholarship (covering one-third of tuition for four years of undergraduate study) and a 50% tuition scholarship during their Warner graduate program.
Warner School of Education
The University of Rochester has a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and the Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development has a rich history as a part of that excellence. Warner’s programs in teaching and curriculum, counseling and human development, and educational leadership prepare educators to handle today’s challenges in education.
Warner strives to provide teachers, administrators, counselors, and researchers with the tools to be agents of change. Our graduates are equipped to be exceptional at what they do and to make a positive difference in their chosen fields of study.
Students interested in the GRADE program should answer “yes” to the application prompt on either the Common Application or the Coalition for College Application. You will be required to submit a supplemental essay indicating your interest in the program, which will be considered along with the rest of your application and supporting documents.
Applicants who indicate an interest in being considered for the GRADE Program will be evaluated for the program along with their overall admission to the College. If selected to be part of GRADE, your invitation will be sent along with your formal admission decision. Students interested in GRADE may apply to the College through either Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision.
First-year applicants can apply through the Common Application or the Coalition for College Application by indicating your interest in GRADE on your application. Applications must indicate your interest and be submitted by the appropriate deadlines associated with your desired admission plan (Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision).
Transfer applicants can apply through the Common Application by indicating their interest in GRADE on their application. Students should submit their application by March 15 (only for transfers beginning fall semester) in order to be considered.
Program perks
Learning to embrace who you are
Read about one GRADE student’s journey as she explores different majors, career paths, and opportunities at Rochester.
Is GRADE for you?
You can choose any undergraduate major, but you should include classes that prepare you to meet New York State certification requirements.
Only credits earned above the undergraduate requirement of 128 can be counted toward the master’s degree; credits cannot count toward both degrees.
Students must complete 30 credits while enrolled as a graduate student (this does not include student teaching or internship experience credits). This rule makes it common for GRADE students to add on a certification because they can take more graduate classes as an undergraduate and still have 30 credits enrolled as a graduate student.
For programs leading to NYS certification, you need to meet prerequisites for admission and submit a required portfolio for review.
Sample Course Schedule 1
Major: Psychology
Minor: Business
Graduate major: Elementary education w/ inclusion
M = major Mi = minor C = cluster
G = GRADE E = elective
First semester:
Second semester:
Third semester:
Fourth semester:
Fifth semester:
Sixth semester:
Seventh semester:
Eighth Semester:
*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 Warner after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Why GRADE? First, the scholarship is a huge factor in helping my family to afford my tuition. Second, I love that I am (almost) guaranteed a master’s degree after I graduate, and in only one year too! All my classmates are worrying about what they are going to do after they graduate, but I already know! And third, the people at Warner are just so nice and I love it here.
Fun fact: I am studying abroad in Spain next semester!
Year: Class of 2017, Warner School Class of 2018
Hometown: Lafayette, NJ
Major: Japanese
Minors: Spanish and computer science
Master’s program of interest: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Why GRADE? GRADE provides a great opportunity for students who come into college who want to make a commitment to education. By working with us in our first year and providing specialized advising to help us make the transition between the undergraduate and graduate components of the program, GRADE excels at providing the resources necessary for students to be well-informed and well-connected throughout the program.
Fun fact: I also dance, play music, am involved with theater, and do art on campus!
Year: Class of 2017, Warner School Class of 2018
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: English literature
Master’s program of interest: Secondary education (teaching track)
Why GRADE? GRADE and the Warner School itself, is committed to instilling a sense of ambition in its students, and that is why I was so interested in Rochester and this program. Now, three years later, being a GRADE student has not only assured me that I want to commit myself to a career in education, but it has exposed me to so many incredible opportunities in the education field that I would have never been exposed to otherwise. I am so incredibly grateful for that.
Fun fact: I love art, and in another life I would have loved to become a professional photographer!
Year: Class of 2017, Warner School Class of 2018
Hometown: Marcellus, NY
Majors: English literature and political science
Minors: Creative writing and legal studies
Master’s program of interest: Secondary English education
Why GRADE? GRADE is its own little community. I get to spend time with people that also want to be educators and I am offered opportunities that the typical undergraduate does not usually find. It is a wonderful program for future educators and counselors.
Fun fact: I never had an interest in minoring in psychology until I took a course. I think that is a testament to the benefits of the open curriculum here at Rochester. It allowed me to explore and now I’ve found another subject that I have a passion for.
Year: Class of 2019, Warner School Class of 2020
Hometown: Stowe, Vermont
Major: English
Minors: Psychology
Master’s program of interest: Secondary education