May 20, 2024

CURRENT 2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

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

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. Graduates from the WCU Honors college program do not need to submit an essay with their graduate school application. 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.

EDCI 609 - Assessment of Instruction Credits: 3
EDCI 610 - Research Methods in Education Credits: 3
EDCI 616 - Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership Credits: 3
SPED 640 - Universal Design for Learning Credits: 3
Or
SPED 620 - Education in a Diverse Society Credits: 3

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).

Elementary Education Core (6 hours)

ELMG 609 - Teacher Research in K-9 Classrooms I: Planning Credits: 3
and
ELMG 697 - Teacher Research in K-9 Classrooms II: Implementation Credits: 3
(This is a required CAPSTONE course.)

Option 1 - Gifted, Creative and Innovative Education (AIG)

Required courses for the AIG concentration:

SPED 500 - Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Credits: 3
(a one week residential field experience at WCU is required)
SPED 571 - Foundations of Gifted and Creative Education Credits: 3
SPED 575 - Methods and Models of Gifted and Creative Education Credits: 3
SPED 577 - Curriculum Differentiation for Gifted and Creative Learners Credits: 3

Option 2 -Literacy

Required courses for the Literacy option:

ELMG 655 - Content Area Reading in Science & Mathematics Credits: 3
ELMG 668 - Instructional Technology & Design Credits: 3
EDRD 631 - Intensive Study of Writing Credits: 3, R9
EDRD 640 - Reading Diagnosis & Instruction Credits: 3

Option 3 -STEM Education

Required courses for the Elementary STEM education option:

EDCI 621 - Methods of STEM Education Credits: 3
EDCI 620 - Issues and Trends in STEM Education Credits: 3
EDCI 622 - Engineering Projects for K-12 Educators Credits: 3
EDCI 623 - Innovative Uses of Technology in STEM Education Credits: 3

English Concentration (24 hours)

(In addition to the Professional Core)

Methods:

Six hours are required.

ENGL 514 - Teaching Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 517 - Methods of Teaching Literature Credits: 3

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:

ENGL 564 - Native American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 601 - Gender Studies Credits: 3
ENGL 602 - African American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 615 - Linguistic Perspectives Credits: 3
ENGL 663 - Environmental Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 673 - Global and Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 674 - Transnational Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 677 - Literary Theory Credits: 3

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)

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).

Middle Grades Core (9 hours)

The Middle Grades Core includes 3 required courses.

EDMG 620 - Middle Grades Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Credits: (3)
ELMG 609 - Teacher Research in K-9 Classrooms I: Planning Credits: 3
ELMG 697 - Teacher Research in K-9 Classrooms II: Implementation Credits: 3

Option 1 -Language Arts/Literacy

Choose any 3 of the following courses.

ELMG 655 - Content Area Reading in Science & Mathematics Credits: 3
ELMG 668 - Instructional Technology & Design Credits: 3
EDRD 631 - Intensive Study of Writing Credits: 3, R9
EDRD 640 - Reading Diagnosis & Instruction Credits: 3

Option 2 -Mathematics

Choose any 3 of the following courses.

ELMG 607 - Problem-Solving in Mathematics Education Credits: 3
ELMG 608 - Diagnosis and Remediation in Mathematics Education Credits: 3
ELMG 611 - Research in Mathematics Teaching & Learning Credits: 3

Option 3 -STEM Education

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

EDCI 620 - Issues and Trends in STEM Education Credits: 3
EDCI 621 - Methods of STEM Education Credits: 3
And
EDCI 622 - Engineering Projects for K-12 Educators Credits: 3
Or
EDCI 623 - Innovative Uses of Technology in STEM Education Credits: 3

Special Education Concentration (18-21 hours) 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.

Content Area: Gifted, Creative and Innovative Education (15 hours)
SPED 500 - Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Credits: 3
SPED 571 - Foundations of Gifted and Creative Education Credits: 3
SPED 575 - Methods and Models of Gifted and Creative Education Credits: 3
EDCI 646 - Technology and Personalized Learning Environments Credits: 3
SPED 684 - Social and Emotional Issues of Exceptional Learners Credits: 3
Select one of the following courses or other approved guided elective.
ENT 601 - Entrepreneurial Innovation Credits: 3
SPED 577 - Curriculum Differentiation for Gifted and Creative Learners Credits: 3
SPED 593 - Topics in Special Education Credits: 1-3, R6
SPED 633 - Collaboration with Families and Professionals Credits: 3
SPED 635 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders Credits: 3
SPED 636 - Evidence-Based Methods for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Credits: 3

Option 2 - General Curriculum: Mild to Moderate Disabilities

Students must take all 15 hours in the Content Area and choose 3 hours from the courses listed below.

Content Area: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (15 hours)
SPED 504 - Educational Programs for Students with Behavioral Disorders Credits: 3
SPED 505 - Educational Programs for Students with Learning Problems Credits: 3
SPED 682 - Research in Special Education Credits: 3
SPED 684 - Social and Emotional Issues of Exceptional Learners Credits: 3
SPED 687 - Practicum in Special Education Credits: 1-3, R9
Take 3 hours selected from the following courses or course approval from a Special Education faculty member
EDCI 646 - Technology and Personalized Learning Environments Credits: 3
SPED 500 - Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Credits: 3
SPED 593 - Topics in Special Education Credits: 1-3, R6
SPED 633 - Collaboration with Families and Professionals Credits: 3
SPED 635 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders Credits: 3
SPED 636 - Evidence-Based Methods for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Credits: 3

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.

Content Area: Severe to Profound Disabilities (18 hours)
SPED 528 - Programs and Services for Individuals with Severe/Profound Disabilities Credits: 3
SPED 530 - Assessment and Functional Skill Instruction in the Adapted Curriculum Credits: 3
SPED 534 - Positive Behavior Supports for Students with Severe Disabilities, Advanced Credits: 3
SPED 586 - Accessing the Adapted Curriculum: Intern 1 Credits: 3
SPED 633 - Collaboration with Families and Professionals Credits: 3
SPED 687 - Practicum in Special Education Credits: 1-3, R9
(Must be taken for a total of 3 hours to meet the required eighteen (18) hours in the content)
Guided Electives: 3 hours.
EDCI 646 - Technology and Personalized Learning Environments Credits: 3
SPED 593 - Topics in Special Education Credits: 1-3, R6
SPED 635 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders Credits: 3
SPED 636 - Evidence-Based Methods for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Credits: 3
SPED 682 - Research in Special Education Credits: 3

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:

SPED 500 - Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Credits: 3
SPED 571 - Foundations of Gifted and Creative Education Credits: 3
SPED 575 - Methods and Models of Gifted and Creative Education Credits: 3
SPED 577 - Curriculum Differentiation for Gifted and Creative Learners Credits: 3

Special Education Concentration Research Cognate Option

Through our research cognates, students in the Special Education concentration have the option to select a specific area of research interest and collaborate with a faculty member to conduct research in that area. A cognate is a specialization or specific focus within special and gifted education. Once a graduate student has selected a research cognate of interest, they will be paired with a faculty mentor who will assist in choosing a guided elective, and consult with the student regarding ways to focus the research across courses. Students can select from any of the following research cognate areas; creativity, differentiation, response to intervention for social and emotional behavior, collaboration with families and professionals, autism, instructional technology, math, literacy, transition, or other proposed area of interest.