Curriculum & Instruction: Master of Education in Middle Grades
Master of Education in Middle
Grades
(With Concentrations in Social Studies or Language Arts)
Master of Education, M.Ed. or Master of Science, M.S. (Advanced Licensure -- Grades 6-9)
Program Goals & Objectives
The overall goal of the Middle Grades Graduate Social Studies or Language Arts program is to develop master teachers who are knowledgeable about diverse learners, effective classroom practitioners, experts in the area of middle school social studies instruction, and effective educational leaders.
Where "social studies or language arts" is cited below, the appropriate term should be selected for the concentration of the graduate student. The Master of Education in Middle Grades does not include a concentration of BOTH social studies and language arts. Curriculum common and specific to each concentration is listed below.
By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:
• demonstrate an advanced knowledge of pedagogical knowledge related to the context of middle schools and middle grades students;
• demonstrate an advanced knowledge of pedagogy and content area knowledge related to teaching social studies or language arts in middle grades;
• enhance their professional practice by infusing technology applications, applying educational research, conducting classroom-based research, and working collaboratively with other professionals and community members;
• direct their own professional development and engage in reflective practice by applying a model of reflection and refraction in middle grades social studies or language arts teaching, curriculum development and evaluation, by serving as a middle school social studies or language arts educational leader, and by applying their knowledge of educational research, diverse learners, and curriculum in their own settings.
Admission Requirements
Candidates for this degree must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and apply to the Graduate School for admission. Write to:
Graduate School
North Carolina State University
Box 7102
Raleigh, NC 27695-7102
or apply online at: http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/grad/prospect.htm
The candidate must also provide: Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller's Analogies Test (MAT) scores no older than five years; two copies of official transcripts of all prior college work; a statement of professional goals to be accomplished through advanced study; three letters of recommendation from professionals familiar with the candidate's work; and recommendation of the departmental faculty.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 36 hours is required for the Master of Education degree: nine semester credit hours in middle grades core courses, nine hours in a Curriculum & Instruction core, six hours in Social Studies or Language Arts Teaching Concentration, nine hours in social studies or language arts concentration, and three hours of electives. Thirty-nine (39) semester hours and a thesis are required for the Master of Science degree.
| Middle Grades Core Requirements | 9 Semester Hours | |
| ECI 550 | Foundations of Middle Years Education | |
| ECI 551 | Teaching/Learning Approaches for Emerging Adolescents | |
| EDP (PSY) 476 |
Psychology of Adolescent Development OR | |
| EDP (PSY) 582 |
Adolescent Development | |
| Curriculum and Instruction Core Requirements | 9 Semester Hours | |
| Three semester hours from each of the following categories: | ||
| Category 1 -- Curriculum, Professional Development and Leadership | ||
| ECI 508 | Teachers as Leaders | |
| ECI 806 | Seminar on Teacher as Learner: Developmental Theory, Research and Practice | |
| Category 2 -- Knowledge of Learners and Teaching | ||
| ECI 500 | Theory and Practice in Teaching Diverse Populations | |
| ECI 511 | Computer Applications and Curriculum Integration in K-12 Instruction | |
| ECI 520 | The Teaching of Composition | |
| ECI 541 | Reading in the Content Areas | |
| ECI 581 | Educational Diagnosis & Prescription for Children with Exceptionalities | |
| ECI 585 | Education of Exceptional Children | |
| Category 3 -- Methodological Inquiry | ||
| ECI 545 | Theory and Research in Literacy | |
| ECI 573 | Classroom Management in Special Education | |
| ECI 603 | Advanced Seminar in Literacy Research | |
| ECI 607 | Advanced Seminar in Multicultural Education | |
| ELP 532 | Introduction to Educational Inquiry | |
| ST 507 | Statistics for Behavioral Sciences I | |
| Graduate students are to choose one: Social Studies or Langauge Arts | ||
| Social Studies Teaching Concentration | 6-9 Semester Hours | |
| (Determined by student's level of expertise) | ||
| ECI 525 | Contemporary Approaches in the Teaching of Social Studies | |
| ECI 526 | Theory & Research on Teaching and Learning Social Studies | |
| ECI 541 | Reading in the Content Areas | |
| ECI 620 | SPPB - Curriculum & Instruction | |
| ECI 630 | Independent Study in C & I | |
| ECI 695 | Thesis/Dissertation Research (required for M.S. students) | |
| Language Arts Teaching Concentration | 6-9 Semester Hours | |
| (Determined by student's level of expertise) | ||
| ECI 520 | The Teaching of Composition | |
| ECI 521 | Teaching Literature for Young Adults | |
| ECI 522 | Trends and Issues in English Language Arts Education | |
| ECI 541 | Reading in the Content Areas | |
| ECI 545 | Theory and Research in Literacy | |
| ECI 546 | Literacy Instruction, Technology and Media | |
| ECI 603 | Advanced Seminar in Literacy Research | |
| ECI 695 | Thesis/Dissertation Research (required for M.S. students) | |
| Electives | 3-6 Semester Hours | |
| Students may choose 3-6 semester hours from courses of interest, but are encouraged to develop competence in the areas of technology integration, professional development, curriculum, and/or leadership. These courses may be selected from the Curriculum & Instruction Core or from other areas. Choices must be cleared through adviser. | ||
| Social Studies OR English Language Arts Concentration | 9-12 Semester Hours | |
| (Selected from graduate Social Studies or English courses; minor in one area is optional) | ||
| The student and adviser will review student's transcripts, expertise, and focus on study to determine number and selection of humanities and social sciences content-area or English courses. | ||
| Minimum Program Total: | 36 Semester Hours | |
| Master of Science Program Total: | 39 Semester Hours | |
Choices for Culminating Professional Experience
Within the first year (or first twelve hours) of graduate study, students will be required to determine a choice for a Culiminating Professional Experience activity. This activity will be an opportunity to demonstrate development toward becoming a Master Teacher. The choice will be based on the student's interest and professional development goals.
Option 1: Action Research Project Presentation
In several courses throughout their graduate studies students will have opportunities to develop, implement, and evaluate an Action Research project in their own educational setting. This Culminating Professional Experience provides the opportunity to either 1) revise and present a prior Action Research Project, or 2) complete a new Action Research Project in another environment. Classes in middle grades, social studies education, language arts education, and research will serve as testing grounds for projects and for processes used when doing the Action Research Project. Students work with an adviser to determine which direction might best fit the procedures and goals for the project.
Option 2: Professional Portfolio Presentation
Altough every Middle Grades Social Studies or Language Arts Master's degree student will keep a professional portfolio throughout the Master's program, this Culminating Professional Experience option requires that students refine and polish the portfolio for presentation. Students will work with an adviser to select and revise the categories of the portfolio that will be appropriate for professional goals. Most portfolios will minimally include: 1) Statement of Educational Philosophy; 2) Professional Vitae; 3) Classroom Teaching Videotape accompanied by a Reflective, Evaluative Commentary; 4) Evidence of Reflective, Action Research in classroom teaching; 5) Evidence of technology integration; 6) Evidence of Adjusting Instruction to Diverse Learners.
Option 3: Professional Development Program
Some teachers in the Middle Grades Social Studies or Language Arts Master's Degree program may be in a position to develop and implement a professional development program in a school, system, and/or community. This option provides the opportunity to develop a professional development plan, implement it, evaluate its results, and present it as the Culminating Professional Experience for the degree. Students will work with an adviser to determine appropriate topic, presentation requirements, and self-evaluation tools.
Option 4: Master Thesis (Master of Science, M.S.)
In order to complete a Master of Science in Middle Grades Social Studies or Language Arts Education, students are required to do a Master's Thesis. With an adviser students will determine the nature and process of the extended study, which should focus on some area of middle grades social studies or language arts education. To support the development of the research proposal and methodology appropriate for the thesis, students will have taken several research classes during the Master's program. The thesis topic and process must be approved in advance by the adviser and committee; upon completion of the study, with continuous feedback from the adviser, students will present a written copy of the study to a graduate committee. Within approximately two weeks students will present the thesis orally to the committee for final approval.
Contact Information
For more information on the Middle Grades Social Studies or Language Arts Education Program call, write, or email:
Dr. Carol Pope
Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction
College of Education
Box 7801, 402N Poe Hall
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7801
Phone: 919/515-1776
Email: carol_pope@ncsu.edu
Website: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~capope/
last updated 2/8/07
