Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education

Overview
Admission
Graduation & Retention

Total Credit Hours: 36 Degree Format: Online

The Department of Elementary Education offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education. The M.Ed. curriculum is designed to build upon the professional base of knowledge developed from the undergraduate curriculum. Candidates are expected to refine this base, developing abilities to deal with more of the intricate aspects of the teaching experience.

The department also offers two online endorsements: Mathematics Endorsement for K-5 Teachers which is designed to strengthen and enhance K-5 educator competency levels for teaching elementary mathematics and Science Endorsement for K-5 Teachers which is designed to strengthen and enhance K-5 educator competency levels for teaching elementary science.

In the Master of Education program in Elementary Education at Valdosta State University you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge, research, and dominant theories of child development and learning and the application of these to the teaching of young children. You will master the knowledge and skills appropriate to the areas of research, learning, educational assessment, ethics, and law. Using this knowledge of young children, you will develop learning environments which address the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and cultural needs of all young children. You will develop and implement formal and informal assessment procedures to assess child development and learning, educational environments, and curricula for early childhood education.

Program Coordinator: Ms. Crystal Marshall, email: coehsgrad@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-259-5095

Department of Teacher Education Website

ADMISSION DEADLINES

Fall Semester: July 1
Spring Semester: November 1
Summer Semester: April 1

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor’s degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally- accredited institution.
Minimum undergraduate GPA** of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale. GPA will be calculated on all attempted undergraduate coursework in which a letter grade was awarded.
Must hold a clear/renewable, 4-year teaching certificate (T-4) in Early Childhood Education.
**Students whose cumulative undergraduate GPA falls below a 2.75 must submit acceptable scores on either the GRE or the MAT.**

GRE or MAT Scores **

Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores or Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
Minimum GRE Requirements:
- Verbal score of 147 AND Quantitative score of 144.
- Minimum MAT Requirement: 375
** Students who have a 2.75 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale qualify for a test score exemption.

Distance Learning Exemption of the VSU Medical Form

The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence

(For applicants who believe they qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.)

This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
Check out a complete list of accepted documents and residency information here.

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Must hold a clear/renewable teaching certificate at the 4-year level in Early Childhood Education to be eligible for admission consideration.
Student application status may be classified as Regular or Probationary. The Elementary Education program will consider requests for Irregular Admission; however, requesting Irregular Admission does not guarantee approval to enroll. See the Graduate School Requirements and Guidelines for Irregular Admission for specific information.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

This program is fully online. Due to Department of Homeland Security guidelines, student visas cannot be issued for fully online programs.

Prospective students whose first language is not English and those who completed coursework or degrees outside the U.S., please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam or IELTS exam. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.
Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework. This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc. The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.

Call Us: 229-333-5694 or toll free 800-618-1878, Option #5
Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu
Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

For additional program details contact the Program Coordinator: Ms. Crystal Marshall, email: coehsgrad@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-259-5095.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
A 3.0 cumulative institutional grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.
Candidates are required to successfully complete an electronic portfolio

Graduation Requirements Page - M.Ed. Elementary Education

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements.
No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a Dewar College of Education graduate program. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department.
Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: Students admitted Fall 2011 and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below “C” (“D”, “F”, “WF”,“U”) will be dismissed from the program. One grade below a "C" results in a warning.
If dismissed from the program a student must not be enrolled for two semesters. Application for readmission may be initiated during the second semester. Readmission is not guaranteed, and prior academic performance and student conduct/disposition in the program will be considered. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.

Retention, Dismissal, and Readmission Policies Page - M.Ed. Elementary Education