Masters in Education Overview

In an ongoing effort to address the needs of today’s teachers, the School of Education will offer a Master of Arts in Education beginning in the Fall 2013 semester. 

Licensed teachers who are currently employed in a teaching position and desire a master’s degree to advance professional goals will benefit from the Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degree with a specialization in Teaching Excellence because of the emphasis on research that enhances teaching/learning offered with convenience of online delivery.

For those with a baccalaureate degree who desire courses toward a teaching license, the School of Education currently offers those courses only in its undergraduate program.  However, plans are underway to offer licensure courses in the graduate program pending approval from the Virginia Department of Education (projected date January 2014).

Quick Links

• Tuition and Fees
• Course Work
• Internships
• Outcomes
• Clubs and Organizations 
• Contact Information
• Meet the Faculty

Course Work

Within the online format based on an “engage, apply, reflect” framework, the MAEd degree will require 30 education course hours (10 three-hour graduate level courses) over 5 academic semesters with two 16- week courses each semester and one 16-week summer session. The 30 hours are inclusive of a three-hour culminating action research project. The curriculum builds upon the foundation of competencies attained by the licensed teacher with a baccalaureate degree and expands their pedagogical knowledge, leadership skills, and reflective practice to increase student achievement in grades PreK-12. Additional emphasis will include exploration of requirements for National Board Certification. Embodying the college vision of preparing innovative learners and transformational leaders to impact the world, graduate students can expand their skills as teachers to transform their teaching practice and to demonstrate leadership in and beyond the classroom.

View Courses

Masters in Education Internships

Practicing teachers will be working in their own classrooms as they take the online courses providing a rich context for studying educational theory and for researching issues which impact them on a daily basis. In particular, the graduate students are required to complete an action research project based on an identified problem within their school or classroom.

Masters in Education Outcomes

The online learning environment, which will embrace emerging technologies, is an ideal vehicle for exploring teaching and learning within a global population. The course work emphasizes research related to action, using data for positive change which demonstrates that the art and science of teaching is ever evolving to better meet the needs of diverse learners.

Positions Held by Alumni

Our graduates are employed in schools in Virginia and surrounding states as teachers and administrators. We also have a recent graduate serving as a missionary in China.

Clubs and Organizations

Graduate students will be encouraged to join one or more professional organizations, depending on their licensure endorsement are or current teaching assignment. 

Professional Organizations:

 Contact Information

Dr. Donna Hardy Watson