Degree: Master of Education (M.Ed.)
The Master of Education program provides advanced study to certified teachers* or teacher candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree and/or seeking initial licensure. The program builds on the College of Education’s conceptual framework, to prepare educators to become competent and caring professionals who are able to work effectively with diverse populations.
Majors and Concentrations
Curriculum and Instruction
Concentrations
- Curriculum Planning (licensed teachers only)
- Educational Technology (non-licensure option)
- Literacy (for reading specialist endorsement - licensed teachers only)
- Music (non-licensure option)
- Secondary School Instruction (includes Music Education)
- Teaching English Language Learners (endorsement or non-licensure option)
Elementary Education (K-5, licensure option)
Special Education
Concentration
- Interventionist (K-8, endorsement or licensure option)
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates will:
- Become reflective, caring, competent, and culturally responsive practitioners who are able to work with diverse populations using research-based interventions.
- Generate new knowledge through scholarly research and communication.
- Apply relevant theory, philosophy, research, policies, legislation, and best practice to their professional goals.
- Demonstrate growth in knowledge of content, differentiated interventions, and developmentally appropriate pedagogy.
- Become collaborators with learners, parents, the community, and other professionals.
- Uphold the ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the education profession
Admission Requirements
Unconditional admission to the program requires the applicant to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.
Conditional admission may be gained with a lower grade point average, but the student must remove conditional status by earning at least a B (3.0) average in the first nine hours of graduate courses. Failure to achieve this will result in withdrawal from the program.
Admissions to teacher education programs at the graduate level may require additional evidence of academic performance (higher GPA, other test scores.) Applicants who are also seeking initial teaching license should contact the Office of Teacher Education and Student Services for current requirements.
Applicants who are potential candidates for the Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction must be certified to teach or must meet certification (initial licensure) before the degree is awarded. Exceptions are the concentrations in Educational Technology, Music, and candidates for Teaching English Language Learners (ELL) no-licensure option.
Licensure Option Degree Requirements
There are three Master’s Degree programs with initial licensure.
- Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Secondary School Instruction. This includes all single subjects taught in grades 6-12 and those subjects certified for grades K-12.
- Elementary Education certified in grades K-5.
- Special Education, with a concentration as an Interventionist and certified in grades K-8.
Secondary School Instruction candidates must complete the 33-credit hours of course work plus 12-credit hours in the semester of student teaching for a total of 45-credit hours, submit the edTPA portfolio, meet the State Department of Education’s minimum passing edTPA score (open link for score details), pass the comprehensive exams and pass all required Praxis subject area exams.
Elementary Education candidates must complete the 36-credit hours of course work plus 12-credit hours in the semester of student teaching for a total of 48-credit hours, submit the edTPA portfolio, meet the State Department of Education’s minimum passing edTPA score (open link for score details), pass the comprehensive exams and pass all required Praxis subject area exams.
Special Education candidates seeking initial certification (K-8 Interventionist), must take a minimum of 42-credit hours of course work. Candidates who are adding certification to an existing license must complete a minimum of 33-credit hours of course work. Both candidates must successfully pass a two-part comprehensive examination is required to complete the degree. The first part is an examination that covers the general core courses and the second part is a subject/discipline specific examination.
Non-Licensure Options Degree Requirements
The Master’s Degree program in Curriculum and Instruction offers concentrations without initial licensure. These concentrations include: Educational Technology, Music, and Teaching English Language Learners. Candidates must complete the 33-credit hours of course work and pass comprehensive exams. Candidates for the concentration in music must have an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Music as a pre-requisite (not the initial licensure program). The Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with the Music concentration is completed by conducting project writing.
Advanced Degree and Endorsements Requirements
Additionally, the Master’s Degree program in Curriculum and Instruction offers concentrations in Curriculum Planning or Literacy/Reading Specialist for licensed teachers seeking an advanced degree. Candidates must complete the 33-credit hours of course work for the degree and pass comprehensive exams.
Licensed teachers may also choose to complete course work leading to an additional endorsement for their teaching license. The programs offering course work for an addtional endorsement are: Literacy/Reading Specialist, Interventionist K-8, and Teaching English Language Learners. Candidates seeking an endorsement must complete the required course work and pass the Praxis subject area exam(s).
Major: Special Education
The Special Education program provides candidates with courses and experiences designed to prepare competent professionals facilitators of learning with a multicultural perspective to serve in various educational capacities. Graduates are prepared to serve as classroom teachers, and to serve as professionals employed by hospitals, group homes, mental health centers, and other community service agencies, both public and private, serving individuals with disabilities.
Program of Study
Candidates in the Master of Education in Special Education must complete 42-credit hours and pass comprehensive examinations in general education and special education. Candidates take the 15-credit hours required for the professional core, 15-credit hours in Special Education, and 15-credit hours in basic instructional methods courses which includes 3-credit hours of supervised student teaching.
Candidates seeking initial teacher licensure must satisfy requirements for admission to Teacher Education before enrolling in the final semester of student teaching where 12-credit semester hours of course work are completed including the edTPA portfolio.
The master’s degree will not be awarded until licensure requirements are fulfilled.
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