Mar 28, 2024  
2011-12 NSU Graduate Catalog 
    
2011-12 NSU Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Teaching M.Ed.


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Master of Education General Information 

(36 Semester Hours with Capstone Experience)

Purpose

The program in teaching is designed to provide a degree option for eligible students with interest in graduate studies in the science of teaching and in developing master teacher skills.

NOTE: This degree is not structured for the purpose of insuring the completion of requirements for provisional or standard teaching certification in any area.

Admission

For admission to the Master of Education Degree in Teaching, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

STEP ONE:

Prior to first enrollment

  • Meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College. 
  • Completion of a minimum of 12 hours of education or psychology in order to take courses in professional education for credit. 
  • Hold or be eligible for an Oklahoma standard teaching certificate or teaching license or be eligible for the Oklahoma alternative certification program with a plan of study for certification provided by NSU’s Certification Office or the Oklahoma State Department of Education Professional Standards on file with NSU’s Office of Teacher Certification and the Graduate College.
  • Meet with your assigned advisor; sign a Statement of Understanding.
  • No more than six credit hours will be allowed to be taken during a semester, for no more than two semesters, until being fully admitted into the program.

STEP TWO:

During first semester (It is recommended that all admission requirements be met prior to enrollment.)

Meet the following Program requirements:

  • Within the last five years, take and have a satisfactory score on either the MAT or GRE.
  • Ask advisor to submit the Program Admission Form to the Admissions Committee.
  • Submit to Master of Education in Teaching Admissions Committee*
    • Three (3) sealed letters of recommendation and other included informational materials.
    • A statement of your educational philosophy.  (The statement is to be between one and two pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font with margins of 1 inch all around.) 
    • If going through alternative placement with the State Department, a letter of acceptance must be submitted with admission materials.
    • Official transcripts of all previous course work.
    • GPA requirement of
      • 3.00 overall, undergraduate, or
      • 3.25 in the last 60 credit hours, undergraduate or
      • Have an earned Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
    • If the GPA requirements (see above) are not met, one of the following items must be satisfied:
      • MAT – scaled score of 383, or
      • GRE – combined quantitative and verbal score of 900
      • Must use scores from MAT/GRE that are less than five (5) years old

All materials are to be received by the Admissions Committee by 5:00 pm on October 1, March 1, or July 1. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the last business day prior to the holiday or weekend.

*Northeastern State University, College of Education, Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership, 717 N. Grand Ave., Tahlequah, OK 74464.  ATTN:  Master of Education in Teaching Program Admission Committee.

Admissions Committee

  • All materials must be submitted by the applicant.
  • A formal interview and/or other materials may be requested by the committee at its discretion.
  • The Admissions Committee will review all materials and will make a recommendation concerning admission to a program.

STEP THREE:

Upon formal admission into the program, meet with your assigned advisor and complete the following:

  • Degree Plan, and 
  • Any other required materials

CONDITIONAL ENROLLMENT

For those persons who wish to pursue a degree, but are not able to meet the requirements for the undergraduate GPA and/or MAT/GRE, conditional enrollment may be allowed as follows:

  • A graduate program GPA of 3.5 must be obtained for twelve credit hours of course work taken at Northeastern State University, and all other admittance requirements must be completed during the first semester of enrollment.
    • Full admittance will be considered by the Admissions Committee at the completion of 12 credit hours upon the written request of the student within the semester deadlines for admissions.
    • No more than six credit hours will be allowed to be taken in any semester until fully admitted into the program.

Advisement

An advisor is assigned to the student by the Graduate College when he/she is admitted to graduate studies. The student will arrange a conference with the contact person before first enrollment. The advisor will assist the student in the selection of classes each semester and is responsible for submitting to the Graduate College a degree plan which outlines all requirements the student must complete. A Statement of Understanding signed by the student and advisor must be submitted with the degree plan.

Admission to Candidacy

For admission to candidacy students must complete the following requirements:

  1. Meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College. 
  2. Meet the program admission requirements. 
  3. File a plan of study (degree plan) approved by the advisor, Program Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate College.
  4. Complete and file a Statement of Understanding with the Graduate College.
  5. File an application for Candidacy which can occur after nine (9) graduate credit hours have been earned at Northeastern State University.
  6. A minimum graduate program GPA of 3.00 and professional habits and dispositions must be maintained.
  7. Completion of EDUC 5103, Education Research.
  8. Regardless of when admission to Candidacy is granted, 15 graduate credit hours must be earned after candidacy has been awarded.

Goal

The goal of the Master of Education in Teaching program is to create accomplished teachers who are reflective about their practice and who critically analyze what constitutes effective teaching and valuable learning.  Teachers will expand their instructional repertoires and master an expanding body of pedagogical knowledge while becoming deeply cognizant of the ethical and societal dimensions of education.  Teachers will understand that they are part of a global village which embraces diversity.  Teachers will draw on this knowledge to make principled judgments about their students and their instruction.  Teachers will use and understand research and the role it plays in academic decisions and pedagogical practices.  These teachers will also collaboratively engage students, parents, colleagues, and communities in educative pursuits which foster partnerships and life-long learning.

Objectives

In their teaching practice, degree candidates will:

  1. Construct and utilize an educational philosophy which values reflection about practice and guides their instructional and professional decisions. 
  2. Integrate appropriate instructional strategies with subject-specific curriculum to facilitate disciplinary knowledge. 
  3. Use multiple methods to monitor student engagement and evaluate student learning; utilize student responses to modify and improve instruction and to provide constructive and timely feedback. 
  4. Understand and utilize strategies that demonstrate cultural competency, promote tolerance, and develop civic virtues. 
  5. Make knowledge accessible to all students through the use of research-based strategies which recognize the individual abilities and intelligences of all learners.
  6. Understand and demonstrate the value of research in education. 

Capstone Experience

The capstone experience for this program is performance based. Students must enroll in the course EDUC 5733 the last semester of coursework. The student will complete a portfolio which will reflect the student’s entire course of study. The portfolio will be divided into three parts: (1) Self Evaluation, (2) Projects and Products, and (3) Culminating Project. The Culminating Project will be fulfilled in the student’s own school or district if the candidate is currently teaching. If the student is not currently teaching, arrangements must be made with the program chair. At the end of the capstone, the student will present the Portfolio and the Culminating Project to a panel consisting of: (1) The chair of the Masters of Education in Teaching Program (2) A Northeastern State University professor teaching in the Masters Teaching Program and (3) A public school teacher or administrative professional.

Structure of the Degree Plan


Earning the Master of Education Degree in Teaching requires completion of no less than 36 semester hours as prescribed and completion of a capstone experience.

II. Content Specialization


For a content specialty, the student must earn a minimum of nine hours in 5000 level work or advisor-approved 4000 level work as described for the specialization selected. Substitutions must be approved by the dean of the College or the head of the department in which the specialization is located and the Dean of the Graduate College. A grade of B or better must be earned in any applicable 4000 level course.

A. Alternative Specialization


This option serves alternatively certified teachers currently teaching in a PK-12 environment seeking to become more effective teachers. The courses are listed below.

B. Cognate Specialization


Option One: English

The student must be eligible for a standard teaching certificate, license, or endorsement in language arts with at least twelve hours in the discipline of intended study. This option will prepare graduates to perform their public school English teaching responsibilities with an improved content knowledge base. The student must earn nine hours from one or more of the following categories.

Option Two: Health & Physical Education

The student must be eligible for a standard teaching certificate, license, or endorsement in Health and Physical Education. This option will prepare graduates to perform their public school Health and Physical Education teaching responsibilities with an improved content base. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours from the courses listed below:

Option Three: Liberal Studies

This option is available to persons in early childhood, elementary, middle school, and secondary teaching areas and will prepare graduates to perform their teaching responsibilities with a broader and improved content knowledge base. The cognate will be designed by the student in consultation with the advisor to meet the student’s needs and interests. Course work under this option will be offered in one, two and three hour modules. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours with at least two hours in two or more of the areas listed.

Option Four: Early Childhood

The student must be eligible for a standard teaching certificate, license or endorsement in elementary or early childhood. This option will prepare graduates to perform teaching responsibilities in early childhood grades with improved competence. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours from the courses listed below:

Option Five: Special Learning Populations

The student must hold a standard teaching certificate, license or endorsement in early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary school, or special education. This option will prepare graduates to teach main-streamed or self-contained special education students with improved understanding and skill.  The candidate must earn nine hours in SPED as listed below:

Option Six: Reading Instruction

The student must be eligible for a standard teaching certificate or license in early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary school, or special education, possess an understanding of basic reading skills and have completed the course in methods and materials of instruction in reading and methods of teaching elementary language arts or literature for children and/or adolescents. This option will prepare graduates to deliver reading instruction more effectively. The student must earn nine hours in reading as listed below.

Option Seven: Instructional Leadership

This option provides students with an opportunity to develop a knowledge base in instructional leadership through the study of school administration. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours. EDUC 5553, Fundamentals of School Administration, must be taken during first enrollment which all standards for full admission to the School Administration Program must be satisfied before enrollment in other school administration courses.

Option Eight: Classroom Guidance

This option will prepare graduates to provide more effective classroom guidance to students. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours in classroom guidance as described below. The courses must be taken in the sequence listed.

Option Nine: Professional Enhancement

This option will provide graduates with enhanced professional education and leadership skills. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours. Students will determine cognate area of graduate study with graduate advisor and graduate dean approval. For the area selected, the first course taken must be an introduction to the area of study and for certain courses the prerequisites must be satisfied first. Students choosing courses in special education or reading must meet the same certificate requirements as stated for selection of these areas as a cognate option.

Option Ten: Bilingual / Multicultural Education

This option will provide graduates with an increased knowledge base and skills in bilingual and Multi-cultural Education. The student must earn a minimum of nine hours from the courses listed below.

National Board Specialization


National Board Specialization for Teaching can be substituted for up to six hours of graduate credit. EDUC 5433, National Board Seminar I is for those students who are in the process of obtaining National Board Certification. EDUC 5733, National Board Seminar II is for those students who have been granted National Board Certification. The six hours of graduate credit are subject to the approval of the advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.

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