COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education requires a minimum of 32 graduate-level credits, with the exact total depending on a student’s academic background, competencies, and career goals as determined in consultation with an adviser. To qualify for teacher licensure, students must complete all education-designated courses with a grade of B- or higher. The program is structured around core education requirements, subject-specific methods courses, and an extensive supervised teaching internship, along with a required Master’s Inquiry Project completed during the internship year. Core coursework focuses on foundational knowledge in teaching and learning, including Exploring Teaching or Seminar and Practicum in Teaching, Human Development and Learning from Cultural Perspectives, Teaching Reading through Content Areas, Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education, and broader educational perspectives or issues in education. These courses may be completed at either the undergraduate or graduate level depending on the student’s pathway. A major component of the program is the full-time teaching internship, typically completed over two semesters (Fall and Spring), combined with seminar support and accounting for a significant portion of credit hours. Students must also complete at least 10 additional graduate-level credits in education courses, while remaining credits may come from education or related disciplines. Before or alongside the internship, students complete specialized methods courses aligned with their teaching subject area, such as English, mathematics, biology, art, music, health education, physical education, social studies, theater, or English as a Second Language, each focusing on instructional strategies, curriculum design, and assessment for that discipline. Additionally, students must have completed at least 12 graduate credits before beginning their internship year to ensure readiness for full-time teaching responsibilities. Overall, the program combines theory, applied coursework, subject-specific pedagogy, and intensive classroom practice to prepare future educators for licensure and professional teaching roles in diverse secondary school environments.