Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

(MEd)

Director: Peggy Saunders

 

Location: McKay Education Building, Room 235

 

Telephone Contact: Lynda Goucher 801-626-6278

The mission of the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (MEd) program is to extend the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes of educators in schools, business, industry, and higher education through advancing the theoretical and practical applications of curriculum and instruction. The program is approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The MEd program with the organizing theme of Teacher as Reflective Practitioner is practice-oriented, and the purposes, processes, outcomes, and evaluation are explicated by a model represented by the acronym TREC: Teachers Reflecting, Engaging, and Collaborating. The components, reflecting, engaging, and collaborating, serve as a framework for organizing course work and program development. The goals of the curriculum reflect an emphasis on preparing master educators who:

• are reflective of their own practices and their impact on students;
• engage students through a variety of strategies to ensure growth in knowledge and learning processes that they might become independent life-time learners;
• collaborate with peers and students in learning communities;
• engage in research to improve educational practices and those of peers.

In cooperation with the university, the program provides avenues for continuing professional development and continual learning for university faculty as well as students and encourages the university values of teaching, scholarship, and service.

Admission Requirements

The MEd program is selective with a limited number of openings available for qualified students. Admission deadlines are January 15 for Summer and Fall Semesters, and September 15 for Spring Semester. For additional information contact the Master of Education office, (801) 626-6278. 

The following are required:

1. Admission to Weber State University and application for the MEd Program.
2. Payment of the MEd program application fee.
3. Verification of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
4. Official transcripts from all institutions.
5. Completed MEd recommendation forms (3).
6. Minimum GPA of 3.25 on the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of approved undergraduate/graduate course work.
   or
   Minimum GPA of 3.00 to 3.24 on the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) and a minimum score of either 396 on the Miller's Analogies Test (MAT) or 480 each on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
7. Interview with Teacher Education faculty members.
8. Writing proficiency assessment.
9. Technology proficiency assessment.
10. Attendance at a new-student orientation session prior to beginning the MEd program.
11. Provisional admittance (first 21 hours).

Note: It is recommended applicants have an equivalent of one year’s full-time professional teaching experience.

Additional Requirements for Licensure Candidates

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. (For Secondary Licensure Candidates the degree must be in a recognized content major—a discipline taught in Utah secondary schools and for which WSU can recommend you for licensure).

2. Praxis II [subject-area test(s)].

3. Fingerprinting and background check.

Additional Requirements for International Students

• TOEFL score of 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet-based) or IELTS 6.0.
• Oral language proficiency assessment.
• Weber State University-accepted Bachelor's degree.
• Courses evaluated into the equivalent of American credits and letter grades.
• If the overall GPA is lower than 3.25, and the evaluated transcript cannot be calculated for the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of course work, the Graduate Record Examination must be taken with a minimum score of 480 each on the Quantitative and Analytical portions.

GPA Requirements for all MEd Students

Following admission to the MEd program, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Students must earn at least a B- in all core and licensure classes.

Course Requirements for MEd

The 36 hour program of study consists of a 21-hour professional core requirement and 15 hours of graduate committee-approved professional education electives and/or courses in the student's discipline. A portion of the core requirement is the completion of a Master's project, an application of knowledge and skills.

Professional Education Core Requirements (21 credit hours)

° Foundations

• MED 6000 Fundamentals of Graduate Study (2)
• MED 6010 Advanced Educational Foundations (2)
• MED 6020 Diversity in Education (2)
• MED 6030 Advanced Educational Psychology (2)

° Methodology

• MED 6050 Curriculum Design, Evaluation & Assessment (3)
• MED 6060 Instructional Strategies (2)

° Scholarship

• MED 6080 Conducting Educational Research (3)
• MED 6085 Developing a Project Proposal (1)
• MED 6090 Master's Project (3)
• MED 6091 Graduate Synthesis (1)

Electives (15 credit hours)

Electives must be graduate level (i.e. 6000 level credit) and may be selected from offerings in professional education, discipline areas, or specialized courses leading to endorsements in reading, special education, gifted and talented, ESL, or ESL/bilingual. At the present time Weber State offers graduate level content courses in English, HPHP, math, history, science, NTM, and foreign language. The graduate office has listings of approved elective courses and endorsement requirements.

SECONDARY LICENSURE TRACK

MEd Course Requirements for Secondary Licensure

° Foundations and Methods

• MED 6110 Introduction to Classroom Management (3)
  or MED 6120 Advanced Classroom Management (3)
• MED 6050 Curriculum Design, Evaluation, Assessment (3)

• MED 6320 Content Area Literacy Instruction (3)
• MED 6510 Advanced Foundations in Special Education Practice and Law (3)
• MED 6020 Diversity in Education (2)
• MED 6060 Instructional Strategies (2)

If a methods course is available in your content major, you are required to take it.

° Field Experience with Supervision
(These credits do not count towards a master's degree, but are part of the requirements for licensure.)

If currently teaching on a provisional license

• EDUC 5860 Practicum in Education (2 + 2)
  Mentoring and supervision will be given for two semesters (2 credits each semester - minimum of 4 credit hours)

OR

If not currently teaching

• EDUC 5860 Practicum in Education (2)
  At least 60 clock hours in a secondary school setting early in your coursework.
• EDUC 5880 Student Teaching in Secondary Education for MED Students (6)
  All day for 50 days with an assigned cooperating teaching, or you can be hired by a district and complete an internship.

Course Requirements for MEd (Secondary Licensure Track)

The 36 hour program of study consists of 16 hours of licensure courses, 14 hours of additional professional MEd core requirements and 6 hours of graduate committee-approved professional education electives and/or courses in the student's discipline. A portion of the core requirement is the completion of a Master's project, an application of knowledge and skills.

Professional Education Core Requirements (14 credit hours)

° Foundations

• MED 6000 Fundamentals of Graduate Study (2)
• MED 6010 Advanced Educational Foundations (2)
• MED 6030 Advanced Educational Psychology (2)

° Scholarship

• MED 6080 Conducting Educational Research (3)
• MED 6085 Developing a Project Proposal (1)
• MED 6090 Master's Project (3)
• MED 6091 Graduate Synthesis (1)

Electives (6 credit hours)

Electives must be graduate level (i.e. 6000 level credit), and may be selected from offerings in professional education, discipline areas, or specialized courses leading to endorsements in reading, special education, gifted and talented, ESL, or ESL/bilingual. The graduate office has listings of approved elective courses and endorsement requirements.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION LICENSURE TRACK

MEd Course Requirements for Elementary Licensure

° Foundations and Methods

• MED 6110 Introduction to Classroom Management (3)
  or MED 6120 Advanced Classroom Management (3)
• MED 6050 Curriculum Design, Evaluation, Assessment (3)

• MED 6020 Diversity in Education (2)
• MED 6311 Content Instruction in the Elementary School: Science (2)
• MED 6312 Content Instruction in the Elementary School: Mathematics (2)
• MED 6313 Content Instruction in the Elementary School: Social Studies (2)
• MED 6510 Advanced Foundations in Special Education Practice and Law (3)

° Literacy Courses

• MED 6314 Reading Instruction in Elementary Schools (2)
• MED 6316 Language Arts Instruction in Elementary Schools (2)

° Mentoring and Supervision

These credits do not count towards a master's degree, but are part of the requirements for licensure.

Option 1 (If currently teaching on a provision license)

• EDUC 5860 Practicum in Education (2+2)
  Mentoring, supervision, and coaching support will be given for two semesters: 2 credits each semester with a minimum of 4 credit hours)

Option 2 (If not currently teaching)

• EDUC 5860 Practicum in Education (2)
  (Complete a practicum of at least 60 clock hours in a school setting after completing MED 6050.)
  and
• EDUC 5840 Student Teaching in Elementary Education for MED Students (6)
  (Complete student teaching, all day for 50 days, with an assigned cooperating teacher.)

Successful completion of the above course work and field work will result in recommendation for the Utah Level 1 Elementary License.
 

Course Requirements for MEd (Elementary Licensure Track)

The 37 hour program of study consists of 21 hours of licensure courses and 16 hours of additional professional core requirements. A portion of the core requirement is the completion of a Master's project, an application of knowledge and skills.

Professional Education Core Requirements (16 credit hours)

° Foundations

• MED 6000 Fundamentals of Graduate Study (2)
• MED 6010 Advanced Educational Foundations (2)
• MED 6030 Advanced Educational Psychology (2)
• MED 6060 Instructional Strategies (2)

° Scholarship

• MED 6080 Conducting Educational Research (3)
• MED 6085 Developing a Project Proposal (1)
• MED 6090 Master's Project (3)
• MED 6091 Graduate Synthesis (1)
   

SPECIAL EDUCATION (MILD-MODERATE) LICENSURE TRACK

MEd Course Requirements for Special Education Licensure

° Foundations and Methods

• MED 6510 Advanced Foundations in Special Education Practice and Law (3)
• MED 6520 Collaboration, Consultation, and IEP Development (3)
• MED 6530 Principles and Applications of Special Education Assessment (3)
• MED 6540 Advanced Managing Student Behavior (3)
• MED 6550 Advanced Instructional Planning and Learning Environments for Special Education Students (3)
  or MED 6580 Advanced Learning Strategies and Transition for Special Education Students (3)
• MED 6555 Advanced Instructional Methods and Practicum: Reading (4)
• MED 6560 Advanced Instructional Methods and Practicum: Mathematics (4)
• MED 6570 Advanced Instructional Methods and Practicum: Written Expression (4)

° Field Experience with Supervision
(These credits do not count towards a master's degree, but are part of the requirements for licensure.)

If currently teaching on a provisional license

• EDUC 4670 Student Teaching in Special Education (4)
• EDUC 4685 Special Education Student Teaching Seminar & Synthesis (1)

OR

If not currently teaching

• EDUC 4581 Pre-Student Teaching in Special Education (4)
  which includes at least 60 clock hours in a K-12 school resource room setting
• EDUC 4680 Student Teaching in Special Education (8)
  all day for 60 days, with an assigned cooperating teaching
• EDUC 4686 Special Education Student Teaching Seminar & Synthesis (4)

Course Requirements for MEd (Special Education Licensure Track)

The 44 hour program of study consists of 30 hours of licensure courses and 14 hours of additional professional MEd core requirements. A portion of the core requirement is the completion of a Master's project, an application of knowledge and skills.

Professional Education Core Requirements (14 credit hours)

° Foundations

• MED 6000 Fundamentals of Graduate Study (2)
• MED 6010 Advanced Educational Foundations (2)
• MED 6030 Advanced Educational Psychology (2)

° Scholarship

• MED 6080 Conducting Educational Research (3)
• MED 6085 Developing a Project Proposal (1)
• MED 6090 Master's Project (3)
• MED 6091 Graduate Synthesis (1)

Weber State University 2012-2013 Catalog