Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education
In the Master of Education program in Elementary Education at Valdosta State University, students 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. Students will master the knowledge and skills appropriate to the areas of research, learning, educational assessment, ethics, and law. Using this knowledge of young children, students will develop learning environments which address the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and cultural needs of all young children. Students will develop and implement formal and informal assessment procedures to assess child development and learning, educational environments, and curricula for early childhood/elementary education.
Program Contact: Ms. Crystal Marshall, email: cmarshall@valdosta.edu
Department of Teacher Education Website
General information about this program (Majors & Degrees)
For more information on MED in Elementary Education click this link
ADMISSION DEADLINES
- Fall Semester: July 15
- Spring Semester: November 15
- Summer Semester: April 15
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Online Graduate Application
- Application Fee
- 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 or undergraduate and graduate combined GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale. (Minimum GPA requirements may be met by an alternative pathway listed below).
APPROPRIATE TEACHING CERTIFICATE
- Must hold a valid level 4 professional teaching certificate (T-4) in Early Childhood or Elementary Education (teaching grades of preschool through 5th) in Georgia or equivalent in reciprocal state.
ADMISSION BY ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
Must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following alternative pathways:
- Alternative Pathway 1: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or
- Alternative Pathway 2: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or
- Alternative Pathway 3: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission AND hold at least three years of teaching experience in elementary education.
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
- Student application status may be classified as Regular or Probationary.
- Students will be required to complete coursework each enrolled semester that will require access to P-12 learners and a minimum amount of time in a elementary (P-5) education school setting. Please contact the program coordinator about any concerns of meeting this requirement.
- Only qualified students with an appropriate level four certificate in Georgia (or a comparable and reciprocal certification from other states) may be eligible for level five certification following the completion of degree requirements. Georgia applicants are encouraged to use the GaPSC Upgrade Advisor in their MyPSC account to confirm program/upgrade eligibility.
- *Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that this program complies with the requirements of their respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying. It is the applicant's responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator certification by the respective agency.
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
- Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu
- Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100
For additional program details contact the Program Contact: 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.
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.
In the Master of Education program in Elementary Education at Valdosta State University, students 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. Students will master the knowledge and skills appropriate to the areas of research, learning, educational assessment, ethics, and law. Using this knowledge of young children, students will develop learning environments which address the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and cultural needs of all young children. Students will develop and implement formal and informal assessment procedures to assess child development and learning, educational environments, and curricula for early childhood/elementary education.
Program Contact: Ms. Crystal Marshall, email: cmarshall@valdosta.edu
Department of Teacher Education Website
General information about this program (Majors & Degrees)
For more information on MED in Elementary Education click this link
ADMISSION DEADLINES
- Fall Semester: July 15
- Spring Semester: November 15
- Summer Semester: April 15
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Online Graduate Application
- Application Fee
- 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 or undergraduate and graduate combined GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale. (Minimum GPA requirements may be met by an alternative pathway listed below).
APPROPRIATE TEACHING CERTIFICATE
- Must hold a valid level 4 professional teaching certificate (T-4) in Early Childhood or Elementary Education (teaching grades of preschool through 5th) in Georgia or equivalent in reciprocal state.
ADMISSION BY ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS
Must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following alternative pathways:
- Alternative Pathway 1: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or
- Alternative Pathway 2: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or
- Alternative Pathway 3: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission AND hold at least three years of teaching experience in elementary education.
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
- Student application status may be classified as Regular or Probationary.
- Students will be required to complete coursework each enrolled semester that will require access to P-12 learners and a minimum amount of time in a elementary (P-5) education school setting. Please contact the program coordinator about any concerns of meeting this requirement.
- Only qualified students with an appropriate level four certificate in Georgia (or a comparable and reciprocal certification from other states) may be eligible for level five certification following the completion of degree requirements. Georgia applicants are encouraged to use the GaPSC Upgrade Advisor in their MyPSC account to confirm program/upgrade eligibility.
- *Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that this program complies with the requirements of their respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying. It is the applicant's responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator certification by the respective agency.
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
- Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu
- Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100
For additional program details contact the Program Contact: 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.
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.
The Graduate School
-
Converse Hall
Suite 3100
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA. 31698 -
Mailing Address
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698 - Phone: 229.333.5694
- Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 3 PM