Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree in
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree programs in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education are designed to offer professional growth and development for qualified candidates who are already certified in the education profession. This advanced study is designed to extend the body of knowledge that would normally have been gained during related undergraduate study.

Admission Requirements
Graduate applications must first be processed through the Office of Graduate Studies of the university.  You may obtain a hard-copy application form from the Office of Graduate Studies or download an application from http://www.coastal.edu/graduate/applications/appGradEd.pdf.  Evidence of the following requirements must be included:

1. A completed application for graduate study at the University and an official transcript from each school or college previously attended (all prior undergraduate academic study must be represented as well as other graduate study if such study has been completed).
2. Two recommendations forms (supplied with the application). One should be from the candidate’s current principal or instructional supervisor.
3. A copy of the teaching credential.
4. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0(overall); or a report of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) of no less than 400 on both the verbal and quantitative portions; or a report of a minimum score of 388 on the Miller Analogies Test.  Scores must be no more than 5 years old. (GRE and MAT may be taken at the University’s Myrtle Beach Higher Education Center in Colonial Mall in North Myrtle Beach.  To schedule a test date call (843) 349-4004 or email kay@coastal.edu.)

Degree Expectations
All Master of Education (M.Ed.) degrees in the Spadoni College of Education include the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of an approved program of study, minimally 36 semester hours.
2. Successful completion of an electronic portfolio (including evidence of successfully completing required unit and program assessments); capstone proposal, project, and presentation; and attendance at required seminars.
3. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) is required on the total graduate program. Grades below B on 12 hours of graduate work will disqualify a student for a graduate degree in the College.
4. Every candidate for a degree will have a faculty adviser with whom to plan a program of study sufficiently intensive and sequential to assure professional competence and breadth of knowledge. Advisers are assigned by the dean of the College.

No academic program can be approved until the student has been admitted to the graduate program as a degree candidate. Students are cautioned that graduate credit earned prior to full admission to degree candidacy may not be applicable toward the degree requirements. The program should be established, at the latest, by the end of the first semester of study.  Students seeking admission to a degree program where the program represents a notable difference from their baccalaureate level study traditionally are expected to engage in additional study in the specialized degree area beyond basic degree requirements.

Master of Education
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Core Coursework – 15 hours
There are two required Seminars during the first 12 hours of the program
EDUC 607 – Research and Assessment in Today’s Schools (F, Sp)
EDUC 685 – Strategies for Serving Diverse Learners ( F, Sp)
EDUC 625 – Classroom Motivation and Management (SI, SII, Sp)
EDUC 606 – Educational Theory to Increase Student Achievement (F, Sp)
EDUC 692 – Advanced Topics in Special Education (F,SII)

Teaching Specialization Coursework – 18 hours
EDEC 642 – Advanced Study of Early Childhood Curriculum and Program Models (SII)
EDEC 681 – Early Childhood Partnerships (Sp)
EDEC 601 – Emergent Literacy (SI)
EDEC 640 – Trends and Issues in Early Childhood (SI)

Electives (6 hours) =   The two courses must both be in the same area. Candidates may choose to specialize in Special Education or ESOL or Literacy

Capstone Experience  and Seminar – 3 hours
EDUC 680 – M.Ed. Capstone Seminar and Project  (F, Sp)

Master of Education
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Core Coursework – 15 hours    
There are two required Seminars during the first 12 hours of the program
EDUC 607 – Research and Assessment in Today’s Schools (F, Sp)
EDUC 685 – Strategies for Serving Diverse Learners ( F, Sp)
EDUC 625 – Classroom Motivation and Management (SI, SII, Sp)
EDUC 606 – Educational Theory to Increase Student Achievement (F, Sp)
EDUC 692 – Advanced Topics in Special Education (F,SII)

Teaching Specialization Coursework – 18 hours
EDEL 615 – Advanced Study of Elementary Curriculum and Program Models (SII)
EDEL 602 – Developing Early Literacy (F, SII)
EDEL 695 – Special Education for Teachers in Elementary Education (Sp)
EDEL 687 – Differentiated Instruction in the Elementary Classroom  (SI)
Elective Areas (6 hours) =    The two courses must both be in the same content area.  Candidates may choose to specialize in the area of Literacy or Science or Mathematics or Social Studies

Capstone Experience and Seminar – 3 hours
EDUC 680 – M.Ed. Capstone Seminar and Project  (F, Sp)

Master of Education
SECONDARY EDUCATION
English, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Music

Core Coursework – 15 hours
There are two required Seminars during the first 12 hours of the program.
EDUC 607 – Research and Assessment in Today’s Schools (F, Sp)
EDUC 685 – Strategies for Serving Diverse Learners ( F, Sp)
EDUC 625 – Classroom Motivation and Management (SI, SII, Sp)
EDUC 606 – Educational Theory to Increase Student Achievement (F, Sp)
EDUC 692 – Advanced Topics in Special Education (F,SII)

Teaching Specialization Coursework – 18 hours
EDSC 675 – Advanced Study of Secondary Curriculum and Program Models (SII)
EDSC 650 – Advanced Secondary Instructional Methods and Strategies (F)
EDSC 618 – Content Literacy (SI)
Elective Areas (9 hours) =    Content Courses as approved by Adviser  (See Content Area Schedules)

Capstone Experience and Seminar– 3 hours

EDUC 680 – M.Ed. Capstone Seminar and Project  (F, Sp)
Assessment and Evaluation System for SCOE Advanced Programs

The assessment system for advanced candidates is based on the unit’s conceptual framework and the expectations of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards as reflected by three portals: (1) admission to the professional program of graduate studies, (2) admission to the capstone experience; and (3) successful completion of capstone, assessments and recommendation for graduation.  Data reflects multiple internal and external assessors and assessments, multiple assessments, traditional testing, performance assessments, and recommendations.

Portal I – Admission to the Professional Program of Graduate Studies – M.Ed.
Candidates applying for admission to the professional program of graduate study are subjected to a screening process that includes:

• 3.0 cumulative GPA in undergraduate studies; or a score of 388 on the Millers Analogy Test; or a combined score of at least 800 on the GRE, with a minimum of 400 Verbal and 400 Quantitative,
• two recommendations that include satisfactory ratings on our nine professional dispositions indicators,
• personal disclosure statement,
• completion of appropriate application,
• grade of “B” in any graduate coursework taken, and
• approval of the Portal I faculty committee

Portal II – Admission to the Capstone Experience
Candidates submit an application and project proposal providing information that provides the following evidence:

• completion of all major program coursework,
• 3.0 GPA and “B” in every required course,
• two dispositions ratings of 3+ (one by program faculty and one by public school instructional supervisor),
• demonstrated technology proficiency as evidenced by the use of Live Text as a student authoring tool for the required unit and program assessments,
• successful completion of the five/six required unit assessments which are aligned to the five performance strands of the conceptual framework and NBPTS standards: (1) assessment action research project/paper; (2) classroom management plan; (3) multicultural curriculum unit assignment; (4) diversity research project/paper; (5) teacher work sample,
• portfolio 80% complete,
• documentation of participation in Seminars I and II, and
• approval of the Portal II faculty committee.

Portal III – Successful Completion of Capstone, Portfolio, and Dispositions and Recommendation for Graduation
Candidates present evidence that they have:

• successfully completed and presented the Capstone Project,
• completed all requirements of the Capstone Seminar (Seminar III),
• attained a rating of 3+ on all electronic portfolio requirements,
• 3.0 GPA and a “B” on all required coursework,
• total of four satisfactory disposition ratings,
• completed all six unit  assessments and any additional program assessments,
• completed the audit and application for graduation, and
• obtained the recommendation of the program coordinator/chair.