Master of education: Curriculum and Instruction / Accomplished teaching

Admission Requirements | Program of Study | Course Descriptions | Apply Now! | Get Financial Aid I Student Policies

The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching is offered through three NCATE-accredited Colleges of Education in the University System of Georgia: Valdosta State University, Georgia Southern University, and Columbus State University. Top graduate faculty from each school teach the courses. This 12-course, 36 semester hour program can be completed in four consecutive semesters – about 16 months – with full-time enrollment. For students who are unable to enroll full-time, courses are offered on a continuous basis allowing for part-time enrollment. No campus visits are required to complete the program.

• Special Requirements: Students must be employed teachers.
• Delivery: The program is fully online, with no on-campus attendance requirements. Students conduct all work online, including team projects, exams, discussion posts, and case studies. Students have access to online academic resources, such as the library. Courses are asynchronous; there are no scheduled online meetings except those you might make with peers for group work.
• Technology: Students must have access to a digital video camera to record performance for remote classroom observation. A webcam is an option for this requirement in some cases and can be useful for video conferencing with instructor or peers. Students must purchase the LIveText portfolio assessment application and should have high speed internet access. Additional software may be required.
• Transfer credit: A maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate coursework may be considered; they must be less than 7 years of age at the point of completing this program. Requests for transfer credit prior to entering the M.Ed. program must be documented in the form of an official transcript during the admission process. Eligibility is determined by the student’s academic advisor.
• Cost: Please see the Fees / Aid link for details.
• Financial Aid: Student loans are available through the VSU Office of Financial Aid - 229-333-5935.

Certification: Students enrolling Summer 2013 or after will be eligible for the Curriculum and Instruction (level 5) service certificate after completing this online degree and passing the appropriate Georgia content assessment.  Students who began taking courses in the program before January 15, 2013, and who complete the program by September 15, 2015, will still earn the Curriculum and Instruction degree in Accomplished Teaching and be eligible for a certificate upgrade. Further details are available on the relevant GaPSC guidance document.

Admission Requirements

It is a sequenced, two-semester admission process. For semester deadlines visit the VSU GOML Calendar

Quick Admit – Semester One - a provisional admission good for only one semester.

• You only need to submit the online application for admission , including a non-refundable $50 application fee paid by debit or credit card.
• You must have completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution, with a minimum of 2.5 grade point average.
• You must hold a clear/renewable teaching certificate (T-4 or higher) in any field in the State of Georgia. The Graduate School will verify your certificate through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GAPSC).
  • Teachers certified in states other than Georgia may be eligible. To qualify you must hold the equivalent of a Georgia clear/renewable teaching certificate. Please contact the VSU Graduate School at gradschool@valdosta.edu for additional information. VSU reserves the right to request additional documentation, if needed.
• You are NOT required to take the GRE or MAT.
• Applicants should be notified by email within a week after submission of all required materials.

Full Admission - Once Quick Admitted for Semester One, applicants must begin fulfilling the remaining Semester Two requirements. To be reviewed for full admission, applicants must:

• Submit to the Graduate School official transcripts from each institution of prior enrollment (undergraduate and graduate coursework). Transcripts of coursework completed at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School. Former VSU students are only required to submit transcripts of all coursework completed elsewhere.
• Submit to the Graduate School the student information section (top of page) and distance learning exemption (bottom of page), on the VSU Medical Form.

To be reviewed for Semester Two, applicants must complete all requirements prior to the application deadline for that term (VSU GOML Calendar). Students are encouraged to complete Semester Two requirements well in advance of the deadline.  Failing to do so will delay registration and may impact course availability.  The Graduate School requires a minimum of two weeks after the receipt of all materials to process Semester Two decisions. Notification is by postal mail.

Students are not permitted to register for Semester Two courses until they receive full, semester two admission and receive their full admission letter. Students who fail to fulfill all Semester Two requirements prior to the admission deadline will forfeit their place in the program, be required to sit out at least one semester, and will be required to submit a new application and fee for the following term.  Quick Admission for Semester One will not be offered more than once for the same program.

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Program of Study

Course Descriptions

EDAT 6000 Professional Decision Making 3 cr.
Preparation for making informed decisions about effective practices, assessment of learning, and professional actions that will enable educators to optimize both instructional performance and student achievement. This course will focus on the self-assessment of individual student understanding and application of master teacher outcomes based on National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

EDAT 6001 Using Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning 3 cr.
Advanced study of the critical role of formative and summative assessment implementation and evaluation in an effective standards-based P-12 classroom. The course addresses knowledge of assessment theory and skill in effective practice.

EDAT 6115 Knowledge of Students and Their Learning 3 cr.
A critical examination of research and theories relevant to effective teaching and learning, student and teacher motivation, at-risk students, classroom management, variability in student learning, self-esteem, behavioral learning, cognitive learning, social learning, brain-based learning, multiple intelligences, and assessment. The course requires a 30-hour field experience (15 hours in the content area, 15 hours in special education) in the public school classroom.

EDAT 6159 Multicultural Studies Across the Curriculum 3 cr.
An examination of professional literature, curricula, and teaching practices related to cultural diversity in education settings. The course critically examines how traditional education promotes or hinders student success and identifies elements of culturally responsive pedagogy and their application to curriculum development and learning. The course requires a 10-hour field experience in which teachers explore the cultural resources of the communities in which they work.

EDAT 6226 Curriculum Design for Student Achievement 3 cr.
An investigation of best practices in curriculum development, curriculum alignment reflecting state and national standards, and assessment in ensuring high student achievement. The course explores subject-specific pedagogical content, related content areas, and inclusion of resources and technology that enhance curriculum development and implementation in the classroom. The course requires a 30-hour field experience in the public school environment in activities related to curriculum development and alignment.

EDAT 7100 Research Methodology in Education 3 cr.
A survey of education and educationally-related research methods incorporating an applied approach to research design. The ability to read, interpret, conduct and report research is emphasized to improve practice in educational settings.

EDAT 7131 Enhancing Student Performance 3 cr.
Best practices for selecting and adapting curriculum instructions resources and assessments in order to maximize student learning. The course provides teachers with a way to identify, analyze, and use results from student assessments to plan instruction aimed at enhancing and demonstrating student learning.

EDAT 7132 Framework for Teaching 3 cr.
A study of teaching and learning strategies associated with effective teaching practices. Emphasis is placed upon the relationships that exist between student development, instructional practices, educational environments, continuous reflection and assessment, learning communities, and dispositions of the profession.

EDAT 7133 Trends, Issues, and Research in Education 3 cr.
Frameworks for designing and evaluating educational practices and programs within the context of current trends and issues in education. Emphasis is placed on specific research findings and their applications to practice, in addition to the development of analytical and communicative skills needed to improve teaching and learning.

Retention, Graduation, Dismissal & Readmission Policies

1. The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the candidate’s  advisor, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
2. No more than 9 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into the M.Ed. program.  Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic advisor.
3. To graduate from this program, a student must have a cumulative institutional graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
4. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences:
   • Students admitted Fall 2011and 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.
5. 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.