Master of Education Master of Education General Information MASTER OF EDUCATION PROGRAM Director: Judith Mitchell Location: Education Building, Room 231 Telephone Contact: Cathie Soutas 626-6278 Mission Statement To support the University and the College of Education, the mission of the Master of Education program is to extend the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes of educators, including those in schools, business, industry, and higher education. The program is designed to advance the theoretical and practical applications of curriculum and instruction for all learners. Philosophy Statement The Masters of Education degree program at Weber State University is practice-oriented with the primary focus of enhancing knowledge, skills, and attitudes of educators. The goals of the curriculum reflect an emphasis on preparing master teachers • who are reflective of their own practices and their impact on students; • who engage students through a variety of strategies to ensure growth in knowledge and learning processes that they might become independent life-time learners; • who collaborate with peers and students in learning communities; • who are knowledgeable and current in their chosen areas; • who engage in research to improve educational practices and those of peers. In cooperation with the University, the program provides avenues for continuing professional development and continual learning for university faculty as well as students, and encourages the university values of teaching, scholarship, and service. The goals of the program are accomplished through courses, seminars, independent study, cooperative learning groups, individual and group assignments, and projects emphasizing a practical implementation of theory to the student's teaching environment. Courses are generally scheduled weekly at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. during the academic year and in two three-week daytime blocks during the summer. Elective courses, workshops, and conferences are open to educators who are not seeking an M.Ed, but wish only to improve their professional knowledge and teaching skills. Core courses (except for MEduc 601) are reserved for students admitted to the M.Ed, program. The 54-hour program of study consists of a 24 hour professional core requirement and 30 hours of graduate committee-approved professional education electives and/ or courses in the student's discipline. A portion of the core requirement is the completion of a Master's project, a practical application of knowledge and skills to develop curriculum, instruction and management strategies, etc. Program Admission Admission deadlines for the Master of Education program are February 1 for spring/summer quarters, May 1 for autumn quarter, and November 1 for winter quarter. Application for admission to the program is a separate process from class registration or matriculation at Weber State University. Application packets for program admission are available in the M.Ed, office. The Master's degree program in Education is a selective program with a limited number of openings available to qualified students. To be considered for admission to graduate study in Education, applicants must complete requirements 1 through 8 as listed below prior to the intended admission deadline. 1. Complete applications for Weber State University and the M.Ed. Program. 2. Provide verification of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. 3. Provide verification of a teaching certificate if applicable and the equivalent of one year's full- time professional teaching experience. 4. Request all institutions previously attended send official transcripts directly to the M.Ed, office. 5. Have three people familiar with the teaching experience submit completed program recommendation forms directly to the M.Ed, office. 6. Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 or above on the last 90 quarter hours of approved undergraduate/ graduate coursework. or Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 to 3.24 on the last 90 quarter hours of approved undergraduate/ graduate coursework and a minimum score of either 40 on the Miller's Analogies Test (MAT) or 480 each on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). 7. Pass a formal interview with the Program Director. 8. Pass a writing proficiency assessment. Additional Requirements for International Students: • Provide verification of a minimum TOEFL score of 550. • Provide verification of an evaluated and Weber State University-accepted Bachelor's degree. • Provide transcripts depicting all individual courses evaluated into the equivalent of American credits and letter grades. If the overall GPA is lower than 3.25, and the evaluated transcript cannot be calculated for the last 90 quarter hours of coursework taken, pass the Quantitative and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination with a minimum score of 480 for each portion. • Pass an oral language proficiency assessment. If an applicant does not achieve admittance, he/she may reapply by completing all requirements current at the time of reapplication. A maximum of three applications are allowed. At the time of admission, no more than 18 credit hours of approved coursework, including the transfer limit of 12 credit hours, will be accepted toward the M.Ed, degree. Candidates for the Master of Education degree must satisfy the following requirements: • Professional education core requirements (24 credit hours): MEduc 601 (1), 604 (3), 615 (3), 641 (3), 664 (3), 666 (3), 675 (3), 696 (3), 698 (2). • 30 additional credit hours of graduate professional education electives, supporting content courses, or specialized courses leading to a Special Education or Gifted and Talented endorsement. At the present time, Weber State offers graduate level content courses in English, HPER, Math, History, and Science. m MASTER OF EDUCATION COURSES-MEDUC 600. Classroom Management (3) Eclectic review of the popular teacher-pupil interaction models as they are classified into ideological camps and effect. Management and strategies for classroom discipline. 601. Introduction to Graduate Studies (1) Introduction to program goals, policies, and procedures in the M. Ed. Student Handbook, the library, writing style and format, and word processing facilities. Development of cohort groups, including a student mentor from MEduc 698. Assessment of student needs related to the program. 602. Current Topics in Education (1-6) 604. Educational Measurement and Evaluation (3) Evaluation of educational procedures, including principles of measurement, objectives of tests, and experience in test construction. 605. Action Research in the Classroom (3) Students will explore effective classroom-based research techniques, complete classroom-based research projects, and promote the ongoing application of action research to the improvement of teaching practice. 606. Effective Mentoring in the Classroom (3) Course will cover strategies for effectively mentoring student teachers and novice teachers by expert teachers. Expectations for the course include journal keeping, writing assignments, and mentoring project. Teachers who enroll for ED 505 will not be expected to do the writing assignments nor the project, and will receive a C/NC grade. 608. Teaching Interpersonal Skills (3) Study and application of interpersonal skills leading to the application and teaching of selected techniques and systems in the classroom. 609. Reading in the Content Areas (3) Use of reading as an effective means to help students comprehend their course material. Explores how to incorporate these skills into the curriculum of the content areas. 614. Human Development: Adolescence (3) Study of physical, mental, social, and psychological characteristics of adolescents, their needs and problems, and methods of working with adolescents who have behavior problems. 615. Curriculum Design and Instruction (3) An overview of the theories of curriculum development as well as a practical appraisal of curriculum design and implementation. 619. Theories of Instruction (3) Review of the various models of teaching as defined by Bruce Joyce and Marsha Weil. Exploration of theoretical and practical issues related to the classroom application of the various models. 620. Improvement in Early Childhood Education (3) An advanced course in Kindergarten program based upon the latest research in the areas of psychology, child development, education and sociology. 623. Computer Applications for Teachers (3) Designed for students that have had a prior introduction to the computer. Development of classroom applications, software evaluations, curriculum development and specific topics as deemed pertinent by the instructor and class. 624. Current Problems in Education (3) Study of selected issues in American education today, with special emphasis on practices in Utah. Students are expected to analyze the process of problem identification as well as the educational problems identified during the course. 635. Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Ability (3) For teachers, supervisors and other interested school personnel in remedial reading instruction. Concerned with causes of reading deficiencies, diagnostic tests and procedures used in remedial reading programs. Student Services Interdisc. Programs Applied Science & Technology Arts& Humanities Business & Economics Education Health Professions Science Social & Behavioral Sciences 158 159 Continuing Education