Program Overview
Tennessee State University’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to enhance the instructional expertise and leadership capacity of educators across diverse content areas and learning environments. The program offers specialized concentrations in Elementary Education, Secondary School Instruction, Teaching English Language Learners, Educational Technology, and Music, each tailored to deepen candidates’ content knowledge and pedagogical skills. Through a blend of theory, research, and applied practice, candidates are prepared to improve student outcomes, integrate innovative instructional strategies, and address the needs of diverse learners in both traditional and non-traditional educational settings.
Program 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. Candidates seeking initial licensure must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 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 an initial teaching license should contact the Office of Educator Preparation for current requirements.
- Applicants pursuing the Elementary Education or the Secondary School Instruction concentration must be certified to teach or meet initial licensure requirements before the degree is awarded.
Important Dates
Students may begin their coursework in the M.Ed. at the beginning of any semester. The only significant dates are the program’s acceptable dates for admission. This small chart displays the last date of receipt of a completed application and the starting semester.
Summer April 25
Fall July 15
Spring November 15
Program Duration
The M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction program typically takes 1 1/2 - 2 years to complete depending on the number of courses in which candidates enroll each semester. Candidates seeking licensure will enroll in an additional semester to complete clinical experiences and additional licensure requirements.
Transfer of Credits
At the master’s level, a student may be allowed a maximum of twelve (12) semesters or eighteen (18) quarter hours of graduate credit from another accredited college or university. The Transfer of Credit is a fillable form that is to be completed with assistance from the assigned faculty advisor or program coordinator. The course credits being considered for transfer must be evaluated by the graduate program coordinator, department chair, college dean of the academic unit, and the dean of the Graduate School. Only courses in which the student earned grades of “B” or better, and which are taken within the degree program time limit, will be considered for transfer.
Degree Requirements
Licensure Option Degree Requirements
There are two initial licensure pathways
- Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Secondary School Instruction. This includes all single subjects taught in grades 6-12, as well as those certified for grades K-12. 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 and pass the comprehensive exams and all required Praxis subject area exams.
- Elementary Education candidates must complete 36-credit hours of coursework plus 12-credit hours in the semester of student teaching for a total of 48-credit hours and pass the comprehensive exams and all required Praxis subject area exams.
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 coursework and pass comprehensive exams. Candidates for the concentration in music must have an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Music as a prerequisite (not the initial licensure program). The Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with the Music concentration is completed by conducting project writing.
Advanced Degree and Endorsements Requirements
Licensed teachers may also choose to complete coursework leading to an additional endorsement for their teaching license. The programs offering coursework for an additional endorsement are: Interventionist K-8 and Teaching English Language Learners. Candidates seeking an endorsement must complete the required coursework and pass the Praxis subject area exam(s).
Program Website
https://www.tnstate.edu/teaching/degrees/master_elementary.aspx
Program Coordinator/Contact Information
- Dr. Hyeon Jean Yoo, Program Coordinator
- Email: hyoo@tnstate.edu
- Phone: 615-963-5324
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