The Graduate School
The Graduate School at Converse offers innovative leaders and creative thinkers the next step in their professional journey.
Converse’s Graduate degrees provide educators with well-designed graduate curricula that meet the University’s mission and standards established by South Carolina State Accreditation.
The Department of Leadership, the Department of Education, and the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy offer liberal and professional education necessary for roles of leadership, service, and citizenship.
Departments
Meet the Dean
South Carolina poet James Dickey wrote, “And this is the house I pass through, on the way to power and light.”
I hope that you will find your studies at Converse to be that transition to power and light: the light of knowledge and learning that will empower you to go into your community and make a difference.
Those of you who have chosen teaching as your profession know how valuable your contributions are to the future of our country. Educating the next generation is the most important job anyone can ever have. Your students’ futures and the future of our communities rest in your hands. Whether a bachelor’s degree, a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Music, a Master in Education or an Educational Specialist’s degree, all of you are invaluable to improving and enhancing life for your fellow citizens, making you agents of transformation.
Our MLA programs increase content knowledge; our MFA program increases creativity. Our MFT program surrounds our students with clinical experiences that prepare them for successful careers. Our Professional Leadership programs foster wise leaders in a variety of contexts: public education, higher education, healthcare, the non-profit sector, business, and the ministry. For all our programs, the light and power of knowledge and caring shines out from our graduates.
I wish you great success in your studies and in your careers. The experiences you gain at and through Converse will provide you with the tools you need to build a strong and productive future.
Lienne F. Medford, Ed.D., Dean of the Graduate School
Beyond the Classroom
Dr. Gunter Receives Thomas A. Hatfield Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to Dr. Susanne F. Gunter, Associate Professor of Art Education; Coordinator MEd Art Education & Converse Alternative Certification – Art Education (CACAE) programs. Dr. Gunter received the Thomas A. …
Dr. Ray Royalty: A Natural Leader Supporting Converse Students
Written by Amanda Mathis Decades Of Service Dr. Ray Royalty’s military journey began in his early years, growing up near the Panama Canal Zone. He hails from an established military …
2025 Converse Emerging Young Artists Juried Exhibition Accepting Entries
Converse’s Department of Art and Design will begin accepting online entries for the 2025 Emerging Young Artists Juried Exhibition beginning December 1, 2024. High school students in grades 9-12 are invited …
Creative Writing Faculty Spotlighted in Pen World
Richard Mulkey, Associate Professor of English; Director of Creative Writing, and Susan Tekulve, Associate Professor of English, were featured in a recent issue of Pen World. Mulkey and Tekulve discussed the …
Meet the 24-25 Converse Opera Guest Director, John M. Roche ’92
John M. Roche, ’92, graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Boston University in 1986 and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Converse …