Professional and Secondary Education M.Ed.
Purpose of Degree
This master’s degree is designed for professional and secondary (junior, middle, senior high) school teachers who wish to further develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for growth in teaching effectiveness, for teachers wishing to seek National Board Certification, and for teachers seeking Pennsylvania K-12 principal certification, or New Jersey principal or supervisory certificates.
National Accreditation
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Special Resources of the Department
The Department of Professional and Secondary Education is composed of faculty members who have had a wide range of experiences that enrich the program. Faculty members have served as elementary and secondary schoolteachers, supervisors, elementary and secondary school principals and superintendents of schools.
Program of Study
All graduate students pursuing a Master of Education degree in Professional and Secondary Education are required to take 36 credits - 21 credits from core requirements and 15 credits from one of three tracks:
- Track 1: Professional Education
- Track 2: Educational Leadership (successful completion prepares candidates for Principal Certification)
- Track 3: Advanced Pedagogy (successful completion prepares candidates for National Board Certification)
Note: It is also possible to arrange for the transfer of six graduate credits from an accredited institution with pre-approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Plan of Study
Core Requirements - 21 credits
| PSED 510 | Teacher- School and Community | 3 credits |
| PSED 515 | Educational Data | 3 credits |
| PSED 516 | Learner & the Learnng Process | 3 credits |
| PSED 554 | Foundations of Curriculum Construction | 3 credits |
| | | |
| ELED 592 | Elementary School Curriculum | 3 credits |
| | Or | |
| PSED 584 | Middle and High School Curriculum | 3 credits |
| | | |
| PSED 588 | School Law | 3 credits |
| PSED 590 | Supervision of Instruction | 3 credits |
Track 1: Professional Education (15 credits)
Fifteen credits in one or several areas as approved by PSED adviser.
The areas of concentration include any academic area, administration, affective education, curriculum, middle school, reading, health, special education, technology, and other areas by arrangement. Teachers interested in securing a master's degree and/or certification as a teacher will find this program especially attractive.
The 15 credits are PSED courses or courses in a related area. The candidate and adviser collaboratively plan the course of study to attain the 15 credits.
Track 2: Educational Leadership (15 credits)
| PSED 573 | Field Experience in Educational Leadership | 3 credits |
| PSED 574 | Field Experience in School Organization and Management | 3 credits |
| PSED 575 | Field Experience in Curriculum and Student Achievement | 3 credits |
| PSED 595 | Elementary and Secondary Educational Leadership | 3 credits |
| PSED 596 | School Finance | 3 credits |
Track 3: Advanced Pedagogy (15 credits)
| PSED 535 | Classroom Diversity | 3 credits |
| PSED 576 | Teaching Strategies for Secondary Teachers | 3 credits |
| PSED 579 | Current Trends in Secondary Education | 3 credits |
| | | |
| ELED 575 | Graduate Seminar | 3 credits |
| PSED 577 | IS: | 1 - 12 credits |
| | | |
| PSED 571 | Independent Research Problem | 1 credits |
| ELED 572 | Thesis I | 3 credits |
Note: Candidates must earn certification before awarding of Master's Degree.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 from bachelor's degree or 15 credit hours of prior graduate coursework
- Teacher certification and all required Pennsylvania clearances
Completion Requirements:
- Professional portfolio
- Oral review