Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Middle Grades Education, M.Ed. (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies concentration)


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Contact Information

Program Description

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a major in Secondary or Middle Grades Education is for teachers certified in middle (6-8) or secondary (6-12) English/language arts, history/social studies, mathematics, or the sciences.

These content-focused, standards-based programs emphasize the development of

  • evidence-based instructional leaders who know how to build on the strengths and meet the needs of all learners;
  • reflective scholar-practitioners who know how to use, produce, and disseminate educational research; and 
  • responsive change agents who know how to maintain partnerships with families and communities.

Admissions Requirements

The following are admission requirements beyond the general KSU Graduate Admissions .

  • Valid teaching certificate in the teaching field and grade level for which the applicant is applying.
  • A 1-2 page personal statement describing the applicant’s philosophy of education and professional goals.
  • Professional résumé documenting education, teaching experience, service accomplishments, and record of leadership.
  • Two online recommendations that address applicant’s success in teaching, ability for success in graduate study, and commitment to adolescent learners.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities that the applicant has attended showing evidence of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 from an accredited institution, including successful completion of coursework related to the teaching field.
  • Completed graduate application with application fee.

*International applicants have additional requirements; see the Graduate Admissions section of the KSU Graduate Catalog.

Admission Criteria for Unique Cases

There are no exceptions to the admission requirements.

Transfer Credit

Graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the chair of the Department of Secondary & Middle Grades Education. A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credit (with grades of “B” or better) may be applied toward a degree program. No courses more than five years old at the time of evaluation will be accepted for transfer credit. Transfer credit includes all course work earned prior to admission to the M.Ed. program 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 http://registrar.kennesaw.edu/graduation.php. For more information, please view the corresponding section of Academic Policies .

Program of Study

The program includes 36 total hours, including at least 15 hours of core courses and 12 hours of teaching field courses. Candidates may take elective courses in an endorsement field to add the respective endorsement to their teaching certificates.

We offer the following degree options:

  • M.Ed. in Middle Grades Language Arts (ONLINE*)
  • M.Ed. in Middle Grades Mathematics (ONLINE*)
  • M.Ed. in Middle Grades Science (HYBRID)
  • M.Ed. in Middle Grades Social Studies (HYBRID)

*Only when the candidate selects an endorsement are all of the courses in the program online.

Teaching Field Courses (12 Credit Hours)


Students take a minimum of 12 credit hours in the teaching field. Students take graduate level courses in the teaching field that are approved by graduate program coordinator.  M.Ed. Teaching Field courses include the following:

  • English/Language Arts (courses with ENGL, PRWR, ENED, or EDRD prefixes at 5000+ level)
  • Science (courses with SCED, SCI, BIOL, PHYS, or CHEM prefixes at 5000+ level)
  • History/Social Studies (courses with SSED, HIST, AMST, GEOG, POLS prefixes at 5000+ level)
  • Math (courses with MAED, MATH, STAT prefixes at 5000+ level)  

One of the required teaching field courses must be an Instructional Technology course taken according to the teaching field as follows:

Elective Courses (9 Credit Hours)


Students take nine credit hours of elective courses as follows:

  • Endorsement courses at the graduate level with prior approval from graduate program coordinator
  • Additional education courses at the graduate level with prior approval from graduate program coordinator
  • Additional teaching field courses at graduate level with prior approval from graduate program coordinator

Program Total (36 Credit Hours)


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