Nov 26, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
ARCHIVED 2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education - Comprehensive Education (M.A.Ed.)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs

Program Description

The program leading to the M.A.Ed. degree in comprehensive education requires a minimum of 30-36 semester hours of graduate study consisting of a professional core of 12 semester hours and a concentration of 18-24 hours. Each of the concentrations leads to a recommendation for Advanced Competencies licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. All candidates must meet state licensure requirements before recommendation.  Concentrations may have additional requirements for admission specific to the concentration. Completion of degree requirements includes a satisfactory portfolio demonstrating advanced competencies for all concentrations. Candidates with current National Board Certification in the concentration area have demonstrated advanced competencies and are exempted from the required portfolio. An oral and/or written exam may be required for some concentrations. In each semester students in all M.A.Ed. Comprehensive Education concentrations will engage in clinical experiences.

Program Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate School Admission Requirements, applicants for some M.A.Ed. programs must submit a written essay. Instructions for the essay vary by concentration and will include topic(s) and length specified by the concentration and description of the evaluation process.  All programs require three recommendations from former instructors or employers who are in a position to judge the applicant's aptitude for graduate study. Applicants must meet the requirements for admission based on the written essay and an undergraduate grade point average for the last sixty hours of the baccalaureate program.  Applicants must hold or be eligible to hold a North Carolina Class A teaching license, or a comparable license from another state, in the chosen field unless admission is sought to certain programs in which licensure is not a factor. Concentration specific requirements include:

  • Comprehensive Education - English must submit a senior level analytic essay that synthesizes multiple sources and articulates an argument.

  • Comprehensive Education-Elementary and Middle Grades - must submit a written essay. Additional prerequisite coursework may be required.

  • Comprehensive Education- Special Education - must submit a written essay. Additional prerequisite coursework may be required.

Professional Core - 12 Hours


The Professional Core is common to all M.A.Ed. Programs.

Elementary Education Concentration (18 hours) Offered Online


In addition to the Comprehensive Education M.A.Ed. Professional Core, students complete the Elementary Education Concentration (18 hours).  This includes the Elementary Education Core (6 hours) and one of 3 optional tracks (12 hours).

Option 1 - Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG)


Successful completion of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Education track leads to recommendation for the advanced license in Elementary Education and AIG add-on license.

Required courses for the AIG concentration:

Option 2 -Literacy


Successful completion of the Literacy track leads to recommendation for the advanced license in Elementary Education. 

Required courses for the Literacy option:

Option 3 -STEM Education


Successful completion of the STEM track leads to recommendation for the advanced license in Elementary Education. 

Required courses for the Elementary STEM education option:

English Concentration (24 hours)


(In addition to the Professional Core)

Methods:


Six hours are required.

British Literature:


Three hours of British Literature are required. Choose any British Literature Course (500 or higher)

American Literature:


Three hours of American Literature are required. Choose any American Literature Course (500 or higher)

Other Literature:


Three hours of other literature courses are required and must be chosen from the following list:

Guided Electives:


Nine hours of guided electives in English are required. Elective courses are chosen in consultation with the program director.

Additional Information:


English Comprehensive Examinations on both early and later literature and a Master Teacher Project are required. Neither a thesis nor foreign language proficiency is required. For reading lists, sample exams, and other information about the English concentration, see the current Guide to Graduate Studies in English, available online.

Middle Grades Concentration (18 hours) Offered Online


In addition to the Comprehensive Education M.A.Ed. Professional Core, students complete the Middle Grades Concentration (18 hours).  This includes the Middle Grades Core (9 hours) and one of 3 optional tracks (9 hours).

Option 1 -Language Arts/Literacy


Successful completion of the Language Arts/Literacy track leads to recommendation for the advanced license in Middle Grades Language Arts.

Choose any 3 of the following courses.

Option 3 -STEM Education


Successful completion of the STEM track leads to recommendation for the advanced license in Middle Grades Mathematics and/or Middle Grades Science.

EDCI 620 and EDCI 621 are required.  Choose between EDCI 622 and EDCI 623.

Special Education Concentration (18-21 hours, Offered Online) to include:


These 18-21 hours are in addition to the Professional Core.

Emphasis:


Must declare and complete eighteen to twenty-one (18-21) hours from one of the three emphasis options listed below. An add-on license in Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) is an additional option for licensed teachers. Required courses are listed below the three options.

Option 1 - Gifted, Creative and Innovative Education


Students must take 15 hours in the Content Area list of courses and choose one of the electives listed below.  The concentration is completely online with the exception of a one-week field experience associated with SPED 500 that takes place in the summer. 

Option 2 - General Curriculum: Mild to Moderate Disabilities


Students must take all 12 hours in the Content Area and choose 6 hours from the courses listed below.

Option 3 - Adapted Curriculum: Severe/Profound Disabilities


Required eighteen (18) hours from Content Area list of courses and choose three (3) hours from the Guided Electives list.

Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Add-on Licensure (K-12)


Licensure in AIG may be obtained by teachers holding or eligible for a North Carolina license in any area.  The licensure program is completely online with the exception of a one-week field experience associated with SPED 500 that takes place in the summer.  Credits earned may be applied to the gifted concentration in the MAEd program in special education. The program requires 12 hours and includes the following:

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs