Middle Grades Education, Master of Education

This program leads to the T-5 certification in Middle Grades Education and is designed to prepare master teachers to work with children in grades 4-8. This program also provides knowledge and skills for teachers to serve in leadership roles in curriculum development, supervision and research in the field of Middle Grades Education.

The purpose of the M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education is to promote leadership for 4-8 populations. Candidates complete 36 hours of courses designed to augment resourceful and imaginative problem-solving skills for 4-8 populations. All classes implement the College of Education's conceptual framework: Reflective transformative practitioner, culturally-responsive practitioner, technologically-competent practitioner. Candidates have to be admitted by the Graduate Admissions Office before being admitted into the program.

Objectives of the Program

The basic objective of the Master's of Education program in Middle Grades Education is to provide teachers with the opportunity to:

1. Compare their teaching practices with current research­ based practices and make changes where necessary;
2. Extend their knowledge and skills in a chosen area of educational interest;
3. Present intellectually challenging thoughts and practices to students;
4. Integrate new materials and methods of teaching into students' teaching repertoire;
5. Encourage interest in conducting research;
6. Increase competencies in research techniques; and
7. Increase students' ability to recognize relevant research, which they can use to become more effective in their classrooms.

Capstone Research Project

The purpose of the capstone research project is to assess the student's knowledge of educational theory and applied research in a real-world classroom setting.  The research project is a culminating assessment of a student’s competency and skills as an advanced-level candidate in teacher education.

In partial fulfillment of the Masters in Education, students are required to successfully complete a research project. This research project is completed in the research course, EDUC 5592 Applied Research in Teacher Education.  A student must earn a grade of "B" or higher in the course to signify their successful completion of the research project.

Area C Grades

Candidates must earn a B or better in all Area C courses (teaching field) to earn course credit for graduation. 

Admission to the Program

Admission to the Middle Grades​ Education Program requires an undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education, or the equivalent, from an accredited college.  In addition, the following is required

• a clear renewable state of GA teaching certificate in the discipline
• three letters of recommendations
• writing sample
• College of Education Disposition Statement

If students lack a sufficient background in Middle Grades Education, they may be required to take additional undergraduate courses before beginning the M.Ed. program in Middle Grades Education. Students are also governed by the general admission procedures and requirements for the graduate school and the M.Ed. degree program, and they may matriculate in the Middle Grades Education program under the same categories of admission.

Program of Study

¹

If a student is working toward initial certification, SPED 5501 requires a grade of B or better in compliance with House Bill 671 and PSC rules. 

 

²

Candidates must earn a B or better in all Area C courses (teaching field) to earn course credit for graduation.

³

Required course