The College of Education offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education (masters + teaching license) for adults who have earned a bachelor’s degree (i.e., you are post baccalaureate), may have some professional work experience, and want to obtain teaching credentials for grades 6-12. This program is designed to meet the needs of adult learners, with courses offered in the evenings and/or offered in a blended or online format. The program of study combines course work and field experiences to prepare candidates for teacher licensure.
Candidates for licensure in this program should possess a bachelor’s degree with a major in the liberal arts or sciences or the equivalent in training and experience. They must complete the professional studies course requirements listed below—or equivalent courses verified by a program advisor—and demonstrate the competencies exhibited by skillful teachers and those required for Virginia licensure in both professional studies and content areas (the equivalent of 21 credits in one of the following areas of concentration: English, mathematics, science, and history/social sciences). Candidates must be proficient in all competencies to be recommended for licensure.
The internship (student teaching), required for all licensure completers in the Initial Licensure Program, is a semester long field-based teaching experience in the appropriate grade level or subject area. Self-analysis and reflection on planned and implemented instruction and frequent conferences with the mentor teacher and the university supervisor are prominent aspects of the experience. Because the internship must be a supervised experience, student teaching placements are made in schools local to the university.
The Secondary Education program is designed for the following licensure areas where endorsement is for grades 6-12:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- English
- Earth Science
- History and Social Sciences
- Mathematics
- Physics
Program Course Sequence
Required Graduate Courses:
- EDCI 500 Teaching and the Development of the Learner (3 credits)
- EDCI 501 Curriculum and Instruction: Secondary (3 credits)
- EDCI 506 Foundations of American Education (3 credits)
- EDCI 515 Literacy and Language Across the Curriculum (3 credits)
- EDCI 521 Managing the Classroom Environment: Middle or Secondary (3 credits)
- EDCI 550 M.Ed. Initial Licensure Internship (6 credits)
- INDT 501 Instructional Technologies (3 credits)
- EDSE 531 Survey of Special Education: Characteristics and Legal Issues (3 credits)
- TESL 514 Cross-Cultural Education (3 credits)
- EDCI 580 Introduction to Research
- EDCI 590 Individual Research
And complete the (one) methods course required for the licensure area:
- EDCI 553 The Teaching of English and Theatre Arts (3 credits)
- EDCI 555 The Teaching of History and Social Sciences (3 credits)
- EDCI 556 The Teaching of Mathematics and Computer Science (3 credits)
- EDCI 558 The Teaching of Sciences (3 credits)
Field experiences are embedded in the following courses: EDCI 501, 515 methods course (552, 553, 555, 556, or 558
Documents, Deadlines & Policies
Program Policies: Graduate Program Catalog
Questions about the program, contact:
Dr. April Brecht
Director of Advising Center Services
Phone: (540) 286-8032
Email: abrecht@umw.eduDr. Jane Huffman
Program Director for Advanced and Non-Degree Programs
Phone: (540) 654-1142
Email: jhuffma2@umw.edu
