Elementary Education, M.Ed.

General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:
Fiona Goodyear; goodyear@etsu.edu; (423) 439-6148

Lori Meier, Ed.D., Graduate Coordinator
406 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70684
(423) 439-7584
e-mail: meier@etsu.edu

Karin Keith, Ph.D., Department Chair
401A Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70684
(423) 439-7598
e-mail: keithkj@etsu.edu

Faculty:

Edward J. Dwyer; Stacey Fisher; Aimee Govett; Norma Hogan; Rhona Hurwitz; Karin Keith; Lori Meier; Renee Moran; Ryan Nivens; Laura Robertson.

Admission Requirements

The major purpose of this degree is to improve the quality of teaching at the elementary level by broadening the background of teachers in the areas of study related to elementary teaching and preparing teachers as action researchers.

Individuals seeking admission to graduate programs in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction must first meet general requirements of the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, the following specific admission criteria apply:

1. A candidate who has an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for all work completed is eligible for admission.
2. A candidate who has an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale may be granted admission by either of the following two (2) procedures:
   1. Obtaining a minimum of 2400 points based on the following formula:
      1. *the sum of the GRE aptitude scores (V+Q+AW) or the equivalent score on the revised GRE that is in effect as of August 1, 2011;
      2.  GPA x 500; and
      3.  the sum of number (1) and (2).
         * Scores on the GRE-AW will be substituted for the Analytical (A) scores using a scaled transfer.
   2. Participating in an interview with the appropriate admission committee. The candidate will be responsible for providing the admission committee with information for consideration in admission decisions. Factors to be considered include teaching experience; scores on standardized tests; GPA during the entire undergraduate experience, during the last two years of undergraduate school, and in the major; performance in graduate courses taken; recommendations of supervisors and colleagues; quality of undergraduate school(s) attended; oral communication skills; and skill in writing, which will be determined in part by the candidate’s extemporaneous writing during the interview process.

Matriculation

The coordinator of the program to which the prospective candidate has been admitted serves as the initial advisor. When students become eligible for candidacy, their advisory committees are selected by the student and approved by the program coordinator. Students who anticipate candidacy for a degree are strongly encouraged to take courses based on guidelines provided by their advisor.

Students working toward the Master of Education degree in Elementary Education are required to meet with the chair of their advisory committee to plan the sequence of courses leading to the degree. They must successfully complete the required core and professional development courses. The content electives must be approved by the advisor.

A comprehensive oral examination is required of all students completing graduate programs in elementary education. Presentation of a Professional Portfolio is a required part of the oral examination. Degree candidates meet with their advisor at the beginning of the final semester to plan for these examinations. Specific program requirements are indicated below.

Elementary Education Degree Requirements: 37 credits

Note:

See Curriculum and Instruction (CUAI), Educational Foundations (EDFN), Media (MEDA), and Reading (READ) sections in Course Descriptions .