Master of Science in Education for Licensed Teachers

Secondary 6-12

The graduate programs in secondary education are designed for licensed teachers to improve and update professional competency in teaching at the secondary level. Licensed teachers completing the program enhance their ability to teach effectively and to participate in educational research in their schools. Completion of requirements leads to upgrading of the teaching license to the Postgraduate Professional level. Library endorsement for licensed teachers may be obtained in this program (See separate listing.) Non-degree students intending to enter this graduate program must meet with the secondary education graduate program director upon completion of no more than six graduate credits.

Program: General for Licensed Teachers

The general secondary education major for licensed teachers includes interest areas in computer applications in education, instructional design and technology, general vocational education, library science/media, and music education. The programs in instructional design and technology and school librarianship are listed in separate sections below. Other programs may be individually designed as students' needs indicate.

Admission

Students must (1) hold a bachelor's degree; (2) hold the Virginia Collegiate Professional License or an equivalent license from another state preferably in secondary education; (3) have a general grade point average of 2.80; (4) achieve a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (score of 900 combined on verbal and quantitative for regular admission) or Miller Analogies Test (minimum score of 45 or 399 for regular admission); (5) have an interview with faculty in the program; and (6) submit an application for admission. Performance in classes taken as a non-degree student will not be taken into consideration in the admission process. Under certain circumstances, applicants who do not fully meet the requirements for regular admission to the program may be admitted on a provisional basis subject to conditions specified by the graduate program director for secondary education.

Continuance

Students must (1) maintain a grade point average of 3.00 and (2) maintain a grade point average of 3.00 in the major.

Exit

Students must (1) have a 3.00 grade point average; (2) have a 3.00 grade point average in the major; (3) pass a written comprehensive examination; (4) have an exit interview; (5) have completed all course requirements; and (6) apply for graduation.

Program Requirements

Students enrolled in secondary and general secondary programs are expected to be dedicated to the goal of becoming master classroom teachers or librarians; therefore, evidence that a student has reached this goal must be presented before graduation is certified. A minimum of 31 semester credits is required for completion of any program planned. If a graduate student elects to add other goals to the program, such as becoming a secondary education supervisor, then the program may require an additional nine to 12 credits beyond the 31-hour minimum.

Emphasis Areas

In the secondary school - general program, emphases are offered in biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, economics, history, and social studies education. For requirements in the music education interest area, refer to the Music section in the College of Arts and Letters. For instructional design and technology, and library science/media refer to the separate sections listed later in the department.

After admission to provisional or regular degree status, each student is assigned a permanent advisor from the Darden College of Education's graduate faculty. It is the student's responsibility to confer with the assigned advisor. The advisor will be well acquainted with the emphasis area the student has chosen and will be responsible for helping the student develop a program of study that best meets the student's needs. This proposed program of study becomes the student's graduate program upon approval of the graduate program director, and can be changed only with the advice and consent of both the faculty advisor and the student. Because of the individualized nature of graduate programs in secondary education, good working relationships between faculty advisors and students are essential.

Graduate programs in the vocational secondary education major are administered by the Departments of Educational Curriculum and Instruction and Occupational and Technical Studies.

For more information contact Dr. Bob Lucking, 683-5545

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