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.
M.Ed. with AIG
EDUG-679: Graduate Practicum required for those with no experience teaching in an AIG program and/or no teaching experience across grade levels
M.Ed. with ESL
Required by Advisement: One graduate course in literacy
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum required for those with no experience teaching in an ESL program and/or no teaching experience across grade levels Must show evidence of having studied a college-level foreign language for one year or equivalent
M.Ed. with SPED
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum required for those with no teaching experience in exceptional children’s programs (general curriculum) and/or no teaching experience across grade levels
M.Ed. with LIT
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum required for those with no experience as a literacy coach and/or no language arts teaching experience across grade levels
M.Ed. with ELEM
M.Ed. with ELEM (if initial license is outside of K-6)
By advisement, if already content-licensed and experienced in a K-12, 6- 9, or 9-12 specialty content area listed here, the associated specialty course(s) may be replaced by professional studies options.
Add-On Licensure Options:
AIG—Add-On Licensure
By Advisement:
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum (1 credit hour) required for those with no AIG teaching experience and/or no teaching experience across grade levels.
ESL—Add-On Licensure
Required:
- One graduate reading course
By Advisement:
- EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum (1 credit hour) 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
SPED—Add-On Licensure
LIT—Add-On Licensure
EDUG-679 Graduate Practicum required for those with no experience as a literacy coach and/or no language arts teaching experience across grade levels