The Master of Education degree for Professional Development or Added Endorsement is offered for practicing teachers who already possess initial licensure and is designed to provide opportunities for continuing professional development, master’s level licensure for teachers and other school personnel, or endorsements in teaching or administration. Students in these programs must possess a collegiate professional or postgraduate professional Virginia license. The College of Education is currently not accepting any new students in the Educational Leadership and Reading Specialist programs.
Core Programs
The following requirements are necessary for admission:
- Three years of experience as a licensed teacher;
- Submit a completed application for admission;
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work;
- Have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university;
- Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher on undergraduate course work and 3.0 or higher on graduate course work;
- Provide a résumé outlining work experience and education;
- Provide verification of the collegiate professional or postgraduate professional license. Courses taken at other institutions and approved for the endorsement pathways must be officially transferred into the program; and
- Submit essay(s).
An interview, initiated by the Admissions Committee, may be required as part of the admission process.
Readmission Policy
Students who have not attended the University for three consecutive semesters (excluding summers) must apply for readmission. Students who are readmitted are subject to the degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission. When a student is readmitted, the four-year limit from the time of first admission is still in effect. Academic work that was completed more than four years before the date at which the M.Ed. is awarded may no longer be acceptable in satisfying degree requirements. If a student needs additional time to complete the degree, the student must apply in writing to the Office of the Dean for an extension. Such requests must be received at least one month prior to the end of the student’s original four-year time limit.
- Program Completion Requirements
- M.Ed. for Professional Development or Added Endorsement – Educational Leadership
- M.Ed. for Professional Development or Added Endorsement – Reading Specialist
- M.Ed. for Professional Development or Added Endorsement – Special Education General Curriculum
- Transfer Courses
- Continuance Requirements
Program Completion Requirements
- Students must successfully complete the required course of study for the M.Ed. with a minimum of 36 credits and a 3.0 (B) or higher GPA; and
- Application for the added endorsement is made to the Virginia Department of Education through the school division’s personnel office.
M.Ed. for Professional Development or Added Endorsement – Educational Leadership
This program is offered in a cohort format and fulfills administration and supervision endorsement requirements. A passing score on the School Leaders License Assessment is required for those who plan to work as school based administrators.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEL 539 | Special Education Leadership in Schools 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 540 | Leadership for Learning and Diverse Student Populations 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 541 | Leadership for School Improvement | 3 |
| EDEL 542 | Managing Schools and School-Community Relationships 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 543 | Professional Development and Mentorship of School Personnel 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 545 | School Law and Society 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 546 | Educational Policy and Decision Making 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 547 | Literacy Leadership for Administrators | 3 |
| EDEL 548 | Evaluation for Instructional Improvement 1 | 3 |
| EDEL 551 | Internship in Educational Leadership 1 | 3 |
| INDT 545 | Organizational Leadership in Educational Technology | 3 |
| EDCI 590 | Individual Research | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
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Required courses for students who possess a master’s degree and wish to pursue the administration and supervision endorsement only. Admission, continuance, and exit requirements are the same as those for the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. The endorsement pathway consists of 24 credits, which include the internship. EDEL 541 Leadership for School Improvement is not required but is strongly recommended for those students without a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.
M.Ed. for Professional Development or Added Endorsement – Reading Specialist
This program leads to a reading specialist endorsement and prepares teachers to take a reading specialist position in a school or district. The courses are designed to prepare reading specialists in the areas of foundational knowledge, instructional strategies and curriculum development, assessment and intervention, literacy in communication, and literacy leadership. The program supports local school districts and the Virginia Department of Education in improving reading performance through highly qualified reading professionals, as well as addressing the teacher shortage in the area of reading specialist. A passing score on the Reading for Virginia Educators: Reading Specialist assessment is required for endorsement.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDLS 540 | Psychology of Literacy | 3 |
| EDLS 541 | Linguistic Foundations of Literacy 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 542 | Literacy Curriculum and Instruction I: Emergent-Elementary 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 543 | Literacy Curriculum and Instruction II: Adolescent 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 544 | Literacy Assessment and Evaluation 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 545 | Writing Process and Instruction 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 546 | Leadership in Literacy Education 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 547 | Literacy and Diverse Student Populations 1 | 3 |
| EDLS 548 | Applied Literacy Research 1 | 3 |
| EDCI 546 | Evaluation for Instructional Improvement | 3 |
| EDCI 590 | Individual Research | 3 |
| INDT 501 | Instructional Technologies | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
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Required courses for students who possess a master’s degree and wish to only pursue the Reading Specialist endorsement. This endorsement pathway provides teachers with the knowledge to become leaders in the area of literacy instruction and leads to the reading specialist endorsement. It is offered for prospective students who possess a master’s degree and a valid Virginia postgraduate professional license. Admission, continuance, and exit requirements are the same as those for the M.Ed. in Literacy.
M.Ed. for Professional Development or Added Endorsement – Special Education General Curriculum
This program is designed for individuals who hold a Virginia teaching license in elementary education (early/ primary education preK-3 or elementary preK-6), or middle education (middle education 6-8 English, middle education 6-8 history and social sciences, middle education 6-8 mathematics, or middle education- sciences) or English, history and social sciences, mathematics, biology, chemistry, Earth science, or physics who want to pursue a degree and added licensure in Special Education - General Curriculum.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDSE 505 | Instruction in Mathematics for Students with Disabilities 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 506 | Innovations in Special Education Technology | 1 |
| EDSE 515 | Individualized Education Program Planning & Transition Services 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 521 | Language and Literacy for Special Populations 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 531 | Surv Spec Ed:Charctr Legl Issu 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 533 | Positive Approaches to Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDSE 534 | Assessment, Evaluation, and Instructional Planning 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 535 | Collaborative consultation and Transition Planning 1 | 3 |
| EDSE 589 | Applied Research in Special Education | 3 |
| EDCI 526 | Instructional Design and Assessment | 3 |
| EDCI 527 | Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| EDCI 551 | Practicum for Added Teaching Endorsement | 3 |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
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Required courses for the graduate endorsement pathway in Special Education: General Curriculum offered for candidates who who hold a Virginia teaching license in elementary education (early/ primary education preK-3 or elementary preK-6), or middle education (middle education 6-8 English, middle education 6-8 history and social sciences, middle education 6-8 mathematics, or middle education- sciences) or English, history and social sciences, mathematics, biology, chemistry, Earth science, or physics who want to pursue an added licensure in Special Education- general curriculum.. A minimum of 15 credits are required, as the courses are part of an endorsement program that has been approved by the Virginia Department of Education.
Transfer Courses
A maximum of nine graduate credits can be transferred into the M.Ed. program. To be accepted for transfer credit, courses must have been taken from a regionally accredited institution within the last six years with a minimum grade of B and must be equivalent to a course in the M.Ed. program pathway including any practicum experiences embedded in the course for which transfer credit will be approved. Transfer credit is not given for internship experiences. All transfer credit must be approved by the program director.
Continuance Requirements
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Maintain good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 (B) GPA and by successfully completing all field experiences. A student who drops below a 3.0 GPA will be placed on COE academic probation for the subsequent semester. Students have until the end of that subsequent semester to raise their GPA to continue in the COE. A student who does not raise their GPA to a 3.0 in the subsequent semester will be dismissed from the COE. A student who earns a D or F in a COE course will be placed on COE academic probation for the subsequent semester and must retake the course. Students have three semesters (to include summer courses) to retake the course and raise their GPA to continue in the COE. Students who do not retake the course will be dismissed from the COE.
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A student must be in good standing for admission into EDCI 550 M. Ed. Initial Licensure Internship (only applicable to initial licensure programs). A grade of D+ or lower in a course or C+ or lower in EDCI 550 M. Ed. Initial Licensure Internship results in dismissal from the program. A grade of C+ or lower in EDCI 550 M. Ed. Initial Licensure Internship results in unsuccessful completion of EDCI 550 and the student will not be recommended for licensure; and
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A student must be in good standing for admission into EDEL 551 Internship in Educational Leadership. EDEL 551 Internship in Educational Leadership is by application only.
Students who voluntarily interrupt their enrollment for one semester should refer to the policy defined under the Reenrollment, Readmission, and Leave of Absence heading in the Academic Rules and Regulations section of the catalog.
Education Faculty
Peter S. Kelly, Dean
Jennifer D. Walker, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Assessment, and Accreditation
Professors
Teresa L. Coffman
Janine Schank Davis
Peter S. Kelly
Kyle T. Schultz
Associate Professors
Christy K. Irish
Jennifer D. Walker
Melissa S. Wells
Assistant Professors
Rachel W. Bowman
Alexander S. Honold
Sean D. McDonald
Danielle N. Springston