Secondary Education, M.Ed.

Contact: Dr. Susan Stockdale
Office: KH 1008
Phone: (770) 423-6314
Fax: (770) 420-4334
Email: sstockda@kennesaw.edu
Web address:http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/mge/

The Master of Education degree program in Secondary Education prepares secondary teachers to be expert teacher-leaders. It is a content focused, standards based program which meets the Georgia Professional Standards Commission standards for the degree and is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The program of study is also aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and meets the Board of Regents Principles which state that “graduate programs for teachers who are already certified will focus on both strengthening their content knowledge and … deepen(ing) their understanding of teaching and learning so as to be prepared to seek National Board Certification, should they choose to do so. (BOR Principle #4)

Course work emphasizes scholarly rigor through research and engagement in a variety of field-based action research projects. Technology and multicultural considerations are infused throughout the program. This Masters program does not lead to Secondary Education Certification. Persons interested in adding Secondary certification areas should contact the Professional Standards  Commission for guidance in meeting specific certification requirements.

General Requirements for Admission to M.Ed. in Secondary Education

1. Valid teaching certificate (clear renewable) in Secondary Education in the concentration for which one is applying.
2. A 1-2 page personal statement describing one’s beliefs about education at the middle grades or secondary level and one’s professional goals relative to the Master of Education in Secondary Education degree.
3. Professional résumé documenting education, teaching experience, volunteer, and service accomplishments, and record of leadership.
4. Two letters of recommendation that address applicant’s success in teaching and ability for success in graduate study, and commitment to adolescent learners.
5. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities the applicant has attended showing evidence of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 from an accredited institution.
6. Completed graduate application with application fee.

*International applicants have additional requirements; see Graduate Admissions section of this catalog.

Full Standing

Applicants who meet all admission requirements including all of the above criteria will be reviewed for admission to full standing in the degree program. The review will be made by the program admission committee and will consider all application materials in assessing the applicant’s potential for success in the program.

Degree Requirements

The requirements for completion of an M.Ed. degree in Secondary Education include:

1. completion of a minimum of 36 hours of approved graduate course work;
2. completion of a minimum of 27 semester hours of the minimum 36 hours in full standing at Kennesaw State University;
3. an earned cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all graduate course work at Kennesaw State University;
4. successful completion of a professional portfolio; and
5. no grades below “C “.

Portfolio

The portfolio requirements resemble, in part, those required by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The purpose of the portfolio is to implement a systematic, reflection-in-action  approach to problem solving and decision making. This process is designed to document the candidate’s development of expertise as a teacher-leader. A primary goal of the portfolio is to document the candidate’s impact on student achievement. The portfolio provides a detailed authentic picture of the candidate’s professional practice and reflective analysis of the integration of courses taken supported by theory and research literature. Changes in classroom practice as well as in oneself are documented.

Transfer Credit

Graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator. A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credit (with grades of “B” or better) may be applied toward a degree program. No courses will be accepted for transfer credit if they are more than five years old at the time of evaluation. Transfer credit includes all course work accepted into the M.Ed. program prior to admission in full standing (maximum nine semester hours), whether earned at another institution or at Kennesaw State University.

Petition to Graduate

Each M.Ed. candidate must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. The Petition to Graduate form can be found online at www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad.

Program of Study

Candidates for the M. Ed. in Secondary Education take a combination of courses in the professional sequence, content, and elective areas. Candidates may take elective courses in an endorsement field and add the respective endorsement to their certificate. Candidates are strongly urged to meet with their advisors during the first semester of study to plan their programs.

Total number of hours in the program must equal 36 with at least 15 hours in the professional sequence, 12 hours in the teaching field.