The Master of Education degree program is for the K–12 teacher who has a baccalaureate degree and a teaching license. Students take a common core of courses and select a concentration— Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG), Elementary Education, English as a Second Language (ESL), Literacy, or Special Education (general curriculum). Add-on licensure options include AIG (K–12), ESL (K–12), Literacy, (K–12), Special Education (general curriculum K–12) and CIS (Curriculum Instructional Specialist).
Courses are scheduled for fall, spring and summer so that working teachers can continue both professional service and career development simultaneously.
Program Goals of the Master of Education
The candidate will be able to:
- Examine critically the purposes of education and articulate a personal philosophy of education;
- Demonstrate leadership in the classroom, school, community, and profession;
- Establish a respectful, supportive, and inclusive environment for a diverse population of students and their families;
- Demonstrate advanced depth and breadth of content and curriculum expertise;
- Facilitate student learning, including the ability to conduct and use research to examine and improve instructional effectiveness and student achievement;
- Engage in reflective practice and the development of meaningful professional goals.
License Renewal Credits
Students holding baccalaureate degrees from regionally accredited colleges or universities may take courses in the Master of Education program. Students may use these credits to apply to the renewal of their teaching license. It is the responsibility of students to secure approval from the State Department of Public Instruction prior to pursuing coursework. Students may also apply up to 6 credit hours of Post-Baccalaureate Study (PBS) coursework toward the Master of Education or Licensure-only programs.
Culminating Experiences
To complete the requirements for North Carolina licensure in your area up to four external exams may be required. North Carolina state licensure test assessment requirements are subject to change. Consult with your advisor.
Foreign Language Requirement for ESL
Before completing the program, students in the M.Ed. or Add-on Licensure program for English as a Second Language (ESL) must have one year of college or university foreign language instruction or the equivalent.
Core Curriculum
Flex Studies
SPED Concentration
SPED—Add-On Licensure
AIG Concentration
AIG—Add-On Licensure
By Advisement:
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum (1-3 credit hours) may be required for those with no AIG teaching experience and/or no teaching experience across grade levels.
ESL Concentration
ESL—Add-On Licensure
By Advisement:
- EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum (1-3 credit hours) may be required for those with no ESL teaching experience and/or no teaching experience across grade levels.
Must show evidence of having studied a college-level foreign language for one year or equivalent
LIT Concentration
Choose Four from the Following:
LIT—Add-On Licensure
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum may be required for those with no LIT teaching experience and/or no teaching experience across grade levels. (1-3 credit hours)