Middle Grades Education and Secondary Education
Department
of Middle Grades, Secondary, and K-12 Education
324 College of
704-687-8875
http://education.uncc.edu/mdsk
Degree
M.Ed.
Coordinator
Dr. Warren J. DiBiase
Graduate
Faculty
Lynn Bailey, Assistant Professor
Lilian Brannon, Professor
Leslie Cook, Assistant Professor
Lan Quach, Assistant
Professor
Warren DiBiase,
Associate Professor
Kimberly Hartman, Assistant Professor
Tina Heafner,
Assistant Professor
Charles Hutchison,
Assistant Professor
Jeanneine P. Jones, Professor
Theresa Perez, Professor
David Pugalee,
Associate Professor
MASTER OF EDUCATION IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY GRADES
The Master of
Education in Middle and Secondary Grades has been developed specifically for
experienced teachers in middle and secondary schools who desire advanced study
in content and pedagogy, and seek an opportunity to integrate advanced study
with their teaching experiences. In
addition, candidates will
acquire the skills, knowledge and abilities required to
assume a leadership role. For example, candidates are required to take
Teacher Leadership in their final semester, a course that will better prepare
them to become content department chairs, interdisciplinary team leaders, or
staff development specialists. Furthermore, by admitting only experienced
teachers, candidates will serve as resources for one another and become active members
in a community of professionals who are knowledgeable, reflective, responsive,
and effective practitioners. Finally, because this degree focuses on a
teacher’s professional growth, it requires completion of a research project.
Program Goals
Successful graduates will possess a comprehensive pedagogical,
conceptual, and reflective knowledge base that can be applied to their
classrooms through effective instruction, responsivity
and collaboration. This developed and applied knowledge will be, in turn,
shared with other professionals through a variety of leadership opportunities.
Both the College’s Conceptual Framework and the following goals provide
structure for the entire program:
Program graduates
will be able to:
1)
Self-direct
their personal and professional growth;
2)
Respond
effectively to adolescent differences, equity and diversity;
3)
Demonstrate
advanced pedagogical content knowledge of the curriculum;
4)
Improve
educational practice through critical self-reflection, self-assessment, and
applied research;
5)
Work
collaboratively with colleagues, professionals, parents, guardians, families
and individuals charged with the well being of learners; and
6)
Assume a
leadership role at the local, district, regional, state, or national level.
Admission
Requirements
1)
A
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
2) A
3)
Teaching
experience in a middle grades or secondary classroom
4)
An
undergraduate GPA of 2.75 overall and 3.0 in the junior/senior years
5)
An
acceptable score on the GRE or MAT
6)
A
written narrative providing a statement of purpose for Master’s degree study
7)
Satisfactory
recommendations from three professional educators
Degree
Requirements
This degree requires
a total of 39 hours of coursework in either middle grades or secondary
education. Candidates must fulfill requirements in one of these two tracks.
Tracks
There are two tracks
within this degree. One focuses on middle grades education and the other on
secondary education. Each requires a total of 39 hours as prescribed by program
requirements.
Core Courses
There are five core courses required that are common to both the middle
grades and secondary tracks. These include:
RSCH6101 Educational Research Methods (3)
MDSK6356 Curriculum Studies (3)
MDSK6150 Models of Teaching (3)
MDSK6260 Principles of Teacher Leadership (3)
MDSK6691 Seminar in Professional Development (3)
Electives
Each track allows
one three-hour elective.
Capstone
Experience
Candidates in both
middle grades and secondary must complete a capstone experience. They may
choose from either a comprehensive portfolio or research project.
Advising
Each candidate will
have an assigned advisor within the Department of Middle Grades, Secondary, and
K-12 Education. Candidates will have access to a second advisor in their area
of content specialization through the
Licensure
Graduates with two
or more years of teaching experience will receive an Advanced Competency “M”
license from the state of
Qualifying
Examination
Acceptable scores on
either the GRE or MAT.
Committees
Candidates will
convene a committee of three graduate faculty members whom they will select
with assistance from their Department advisor. The primary role of this
committee is to assess the students’ research project.
Research
Opportunities and Experiences
There are many
opportunities for candidates to participate in research studies on either an
independent or collaborative basis. These opportunities are available with
Department faculty members, through assigned course work, and through the
research project.
Assistantships
There are limited
opportunities available within the Department of Middle Grades, Secondary, or
K-12 Education. Contact the Department at 704-687-8875 for more information.
Program
Certifications/Accreditation
Programs are
accredited by both NCATE and NCDPI.
Middle Grades Education
Degree
Requirements
Total of 39 hours
Core Courses:
RSCH6101 Educational
Research Methods (3)
MDSK6356 Curriculum
Studies (3)
MDSK6150 Models
of Teaching (3)
MDSK6260 Teacher
Leadership (3)
MDSK6691 Seminar
in Professional Development (3)
Middle Grades:
MDSK6220 Adolescence
and Learning (3)
MDLG6225 Issues
in Middle Grades Education (3)
Methods Course: Choose one from your content concentration
(3)
MDSK6351 Advanced
Methods in Middle and Secondary Science (3)
MAED5040 Topics
in Mathematics Education: Intermediate (3)
ENGL6274 Contexts
and Issues in the Teaching of English (3)
MDSK6354 Advanced
Methods in Middle and Secondary Social Studies (3)
Content Specialization Requirements: 12 hours
The content field of
study may be chosen from one of the following areas:
Science
Social Studies
Mathematics
English
Professional Elective: 3 hours
Graduate-level
electives should be chosen in consultation with student's advisor. Other
departments offer appropriate electives. Possible elective options include, but
are not limited to, the following:
EDUC6102 Person and School in Urban Society (3)
EIST6110 Instructional Design (3)
RSCH6109 Assessment and Evaluation Methods (3)
RSCH6110 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics in Education (3)
TESL5101 Second Language Diagnosis and Evaluation (3)
TESL5103 Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
EDUC7126 Comparative Education (3)
MDSK6250 Issues in 6-12 Science Education (3)
MDSK6251 Issues in 6-12 Math Education (3)
MDSK6254 Issues in 6-12 Social Studies Education (3)
MDLG6800 Individual Study in Middle Grades Education (1-6)
Secondary Education
Degree
Requirements
Total of 39 hours
Core Courses:
RSCH6101 Educational Research Methods (3)
MDSK6356 Curriculum Studies (3)
MDSK6150 Models of Teaching (3)
MDSK6260 Teacher Leadership (3)
MDSK6691 Seminar in Professional Development (3)
Methods Course: Choose one from your content concentration
(3)
MDSK6351 Advanced Methods in Middle and Secondary Science (3)
MDSK6354 Advanced Methods in Middle and Secondary Social Studies (3)
Content Specialization Requirements: 18 hours
The content field of
study may be chosen from one of the following areas:
Science
Social Studies
Note- Masters degrees in
mathematics and English education are offered through the mathematics and
English departments respectively.
Professional Elective: 3 hours
Graduate-level
electives should be chosen in consultation with student's advisor. Other
departments offer appropriate electives. Possible elective options include, but
are not limited to, the following:
EDUC6102 Person and School in Urban Society (3)
EIST6110 Instructional Design (3)
RSCH6109 Assessment and Evaluation Methods (3)
RSCH6110 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics in Education (3)
TESL5101 Second Language Diagnosis and Evaluation (3)
TESL5103 Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
EDUC7126 Comparative Education (3)
MDSK6250 Issues in 6-12 Science Education (3)
MDSK6251 Issues in 6-12 Math Education (3)
MDSK6254 Issues in 6-12 Social Studies Education (3)
SECD6800 Individual Study in Secondary Education (1-6)
Courses in Middle Grades Education
and Secondary Education
Core Courses
MDSK 6150. Models of Teaching. (3) Learning theory associated with information processing, personal,
social, and behavioral models; current trends in instructional methodology for a variety of content areas.
(Spring)
MDSK
6260: Teacher Leadership. (3) An
examination of the current research on adult learning and development, expert
knowledge, and the professionalization of the field
of teaching. Students develop skills to direct other educational professionals.
(Fall, Spring) (Evening)
MDSK 6356. Curriculum Studies. (3) Examination of the field of curriculum study
with particular emphasis on the change process. (Fall)
MDSK 6691. Seminar in Professional Development (3). Seminar focused
on the self-direction and professional development of teachers. Emphasis will
be placed on the design, development, and completion of the candidate's
comprehensive portfolio, thesis, or research project. (Fall, Spring) (Evening)
Middle Grades
Education:
MDSK 6220. Adolescence and Learning. (3) Study of adolescence as a phase of
development and its relationship to the learning process. (Fall) (Evening)
MDLG 6225. Issues in Middle Grades Education.
(3) Examination of educational
practices in the middle grades (6-9) including trends and issues unique to that
philosophy. Emphasis on broadening understanding of
foundational components, organizational patterns, instructional programs and
management techniques. (Spring) (Evening)
MDLG 6800. Individual Study in Middle Grades
Education. (1-6)
Prerequisite: Permission of the student’s advisor. Independent
study under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member. May be repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring,
Summer)
Advanced Graduate Only
MDLG 7999. Graduate Residence. (1)
Secondary
Education:
SECD 6800. Individual Study in Secondary Education.
(1-6) Prerequisite: Permission
of the student’s advisor. Independent study under the
supervision of an appropriate faculty member. May be
repeated for credit. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Advanced Graduate Only
SECD 7999. Graduate Residence. (1)
Methods
Courses:
MDSK
6351. Advanced
Methods in Middle and Secondary Science.
(3) Examination of current research and
scholarship on the teaching of science in middle and secondary schools. Particular emphasis on the
development of advanced instructional expertise and leadership. (On demand)
MDSK
6354. Advanced
Methods in Middle and Secondary Social Studies.
(3) Examination of current research and
scholarship on the teaching of social studies in middle and secondary schools. Particular emphasis on the
development of advanced instructional expertise and leadership. (On demand)
Examples of
Possible Electives:
MDSK 6250. Issues in 6-12 Science Education.
(3) Orientation to content,
curriculum and methods appropriate for teaching science. Emphasis is on a
critical examination of current trends and practices in the teaching of
science. (On demand)
MDSK 6251. Issues in 6-12 Mathematics Education.
(3) Orientation to content,
curriculum and methods appropriate for teaching mathematics. Emphasis is on
critical examination of current trends and practices in the teaching of
mathematics. (On demand)
MDSK 6254. Issues in 6-12 Social Studies Education. (3) Current issues in teaching and learning social studies. Emphasis on current trends in curriculum, advanced instructional methods, and research. (On demand)