Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education Licensure Path Specialization, M.Ed.

Kyle Butler, Program Director
(615) 904-8142
Kyle.Butler@mtsu.edu

The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to foster the development of teaching skills that result in increased pupil performance. By analyzing curriculum choices and strategies, along with best teaching practices, those who complete this program will be better equipped to provide an environment in which students engage in relevant and meaningful learning activities.

The Secondary Licensure Path Specialization is designed to allow graduate students to meet the State of Tennessee initial licensure requirements in secondary education while pursuing a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Candidates in this program must meet all requirements in the major areas of study, any undergraduate requirements, and all education courses needed to obtain an initial teaching license. In addition to any academic courses needed, students must meet admission requirements for both the College of Education Teacher Education Program and Educational Leadership’s graduate program; successfully complete and pass all required clinical experiences; and pass all parts of the required culminating exams (Praxis II [NTE] Exams, Graduate Comprehensive Exams, and the edTPA Exam). The program is 33-39 hours depending on student’s status, prior coursework, and hours required for the teaching practicum. Completion of this Master’s program does not guarantee licensure, but fulfills all education requirements necessary for an initial license in secondary education.

The program is structured as an on-campus cohort program and, depending on student’s transcript analysis, should last around five semesters. Applications for the program are being accepted throughout the year for the next fall semester cohort.

Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in secondary education licensure path requires

an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college;
an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above, or for those who have started but not completed a graduate degree, a GPA of 3.00 or above on the last 60 hours of coursework (undergraduate and graduate) completed, or a completed graduate degree GPA of 3.00 or above;
a satisfactory score on the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Examination;
a completed transcript analysis;
successful admission to the College of Education Teacher Education Program.

Specifics on these requirements can be found online (http://ready2teachmasterslicensure.wikispaces.com).

Students pursuing an M.Ed. degree must be fully admitted to the program prior to the completion of their initial semester of coursework.

Application Procedures

Applicants must be admitted to the College of Education Teacher Education Program prior to admission to this program.

Applicants must submit the following application materials to the College of Graduate Studies:

an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
When filling out the application, the degree sought is M.Ed: the major is Curriculum and Instruction; the specialization is Secondary Education Licensure Path. This degree is a non-thesis option.
official transcripts of all previous college work;
three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s potential for completing the Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction;
a transcript analysis from the Teacher Licensure Office (online at www.mtsu.edu/education/licensure.php);
official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT).

Specifics on these procedures can be found online (http://ready2teachmasterslicensure.wikispaces.com).

Degree Requirements

Once admitted to the program, candidate must

complete 33-39 semester hours with no more than 30 percent of the total degree hours dually listed as undergraduate/graduate hours (see specifics in Curriculum section below);
successfully complete all clinical experiences, including one semester of a Teaching Internship;
successfully complete all courses and exams required for licensure;
successfully complete a written comprehensive examination during the semester of graduation (exam may be retaken once).

Curriculum: Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education Licensure Path

Candidate must complete 33 hours in the following course of study:

Required Courses (9 hours)

FOED 6020 - Educational Foundations 3 credit hours
FOED 6610 - Analysis and Application of Educational Research 3 credit hours
SPSE 6430 - Introduction to Curriculum Development 3 credit hours

Specialized Core (24-30 hours)

SPSE 6140 - Teacher Leadership for School Improvement 3 credit hours
SPSE 6640 - Microcomputers in the K-12 Educational Setting 3 credit hours
YOED 5500 - Planning and Assessment 3 credit hours
YOED 5510 - The Teaching Internship, Grades 7-12 3 to 9 credit hours
YOED 6000 - Classroom Management 3 credit hours
YOED 6030 - Methods, Instruction, and Assessment for Teaching ELs in Regular Education Classrooms 3 credit hours
YOED 6300 - Problem-Based Instructional Strategies 3 credit hours
YOED 6680 - Issues and Trends in Teaching and Learning 3 credit hours

Cohort Course Rotation: Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Licensure Path

Program Notes

Students enrolling in 6000-level courses must hold a bachelor’s degree, and students enrolling in 7000-level courses must hold a master’s degree.

Candidate must

file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to entry into the program;
file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the semester in which the student intends to graduate.