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Building a Career
A 30-hour, online/campus-based program to enhance curriculum writing and prepare for curriculum specialist positions
The Master of Education in Secondary Education degree program provides a range of opportunities for practicing teachers and other educators to develop their unique skills in order to increase teachers’ impact on students. This degree has been developed to build a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and understanding for dedicated experienced professionals. This program is founded on a deep respect for practicing educators and is committed to strengthening and renewing their teaching through a process of increasing knowledge and professional capacity, self-evaluation and reflection on their own practice.
We seek to foster teachers who care deeply about students, create appropriate learning environments, and develop their own skills in order to nurture the greatest human potential in each learner. The graduate of this program will have a deep commitment to the professional education community, a focused association with the school community and a strong connection to educational research.
Marty Woytus & Kristel Schlemper
p: (314) 516-5937
- Deadlines to Apply:
- Fall - July 1
- Spring - December 1
- Summer - May 1
The master’s degree in Secondary Education is an accredited program appropriate for secondary teachers, specialists, department chairpersons, and those who work in informal learning or international educational settings. Candidates choose electives that will support their personal growth and development as an educational leader to impact the communities with which they work.
Diverse candidates will engage in a learner-centered environment committed to the success of historically marginalized and diverse students, research, and community engagement. Within diverse education settings, candidates will: advance pedagogical knowledge, recognize inequalities in educational opportunity, design differentiated assessments to inform practice, critically examine professional practice, and demonstrate commitment to ethical professional practice.
It is important that both candidates and advisors plan ahead to ensure courses are taken when they are offered in the schedule. Programs must be planned with an academic advisor and meet the approval of the faculty advisor, adhering to the College of Education and UMSL Graduate School policies.
Curricular Program for Secondary Education
The M.Ed. in Secondary Education consists of 4 required courses (12 hours) plus candidate choice from emphasis areas and electives. The general program option requirements are met by (a) completing 2 required foundation courses (6 hrs.) toward the beginning of the M.Ed. program, (b) completing the coursework for an emphasis area (9-18 hrs.), and (c) completing the 2 exit research capstone classes (6 hrs.) for a total of 30 hours.
Most emphasis areas indicate 3-6 required courses. In addition, electives allow candidates to construct an individualized set of target courses. Transfer graduate credit from another institution may also fit into elective hours.
Emphasis areas offered in SEC ED include General, Reading, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teaching of Writing, Curriculum & Instruction, and Special Education. For the General emphasis, students take 18 hours of electives. Reading and TESOL may require additional coursework for licensure, as noted. For a Curriculum & Instruction emphasis, students select the 3 Curriculum & Instruction courses and an additional 3 electives. Those who want to take 9 graduate hours in an academic content area may use the additional 3 electives to integrate this advanced work into their M.Ed. program. Required 12 hours of M.Ed. core courses plus an additional 18 hours of graduate level courses.
| Required Core | ||
| Students are required to complete the following courses within the first 15 hours of study: | ||
| TCH ED 6010 | Examining History, Community and Social Justice in Education | 3 |
| ED PSY 6030 | Instruction, Learning, and Assessment | 3 |
| Required Research Courses | ||
| These two research courses should be taken in sequence (not concurrently) at the end of the program. Candidates will design and execute a piece of original practitioner research and present their findings in a public forum. | ||
| TCH ED 6909 | Teacher Action Research I (Take semester prior to Teacher Action Research Capstone, TCH ED 6910.) | 3 |
| TCH ED 6910 | Teacher Action Research Capstone | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
The M.Ed. with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for graduate candidates who wish to further their competencies as educators, curriculum specialists, or instructional leaders. Educators must develop evidence-based, socially just, and differentiated curriculum to prepare all learners for a digital, global society. This emphasis area explores common issues in curriculum design, implementation, and leadership at the elementary level. Candidates will create cutting-edge curriculum and design innovative instruction for their educational settings.
In addition to the Required Core (12 hours), Candidates seeking an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction are required to complete the following coursework (9 hours), as well as 9 hours of elective coursework for a program total of 30 hours.
| SEC ED 6415 | Curriculum Leadership in Education | 3 |
| SEC ED 6416 | Curriculum Design for Educational Programs | 3 |
| SEC ED 6420 | Improving Teaching and Learning | 1 |
| Total Hours | 7 | |
