Graduate programs in education offered by Kennesaw State University are fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and meet the Georgia Professional Standards Commission program standards.

The Kennesaw State University Professional Teacher Education Faculty are committed to quality undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation grounded in the liberal arts tradition. Programs, developed and implemented through multiple collaborations, integrate strong academic preparation, pedagogical study, and school-based professional experiences. The programs foster development of the knowledge, skills, and understanding required of the Professional Learning Facilitator. The faculty develops educators who exhibit strong commitment to professional growth and excellence through scholarship, service, and research and who will serve the needs of diverse learners in a dynamic, pluralistic, and technological society.

In graduate programs, the Professional Teacher Education Unit prepares professional learning facilitators who extend their understanding of the theoretical and methodological aspects of their disciplines and profession, who examine education and their teaching in the broader context of theory and research, and who employ this knowledge in making decisions as instructional leaders who will enhance the education program for all students, advancing knowledge in their field.

The Bagwell College of Education offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with programs of study in Early Childhood Education (P-5), Middle Grades Education (4-8) and in Special Education. Certified teachers may register for non-degree course work leading to add-on and/or endorsement programs in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Teacher Support Specialist, Gifted Education, Learning Disabilities, Behavior Disorders, Mental Retardation, and Interrelated Special Education (Interrelated). The Bagwell College of Education also offers tailor-made recertification, certificate add-on, and certificate renewal programs. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies in Education for further information.

Early Childhood Education (P-5)

Middle Grades Education (Grade 4-8)

Special Education (Interrelated)

Graduate Education Course Descriptions

Applicants who wish to take graduate courses but do not want to pursue a degree program may be admitted to non-degree graduate study. This graduate level admission category is designed to allow certified teachers to pursue course work to:

• renew a teaching certificate,
• add a teaching field or endorsement to a certificate,
• take courses for personal enrichment.

The non-degree graduate level category is not designed to satisfy requirements for either initial teacher certification or the M.Ed. degree. Qualified non-degree applicants may take endorsement or add-on course work to satisfy certification requirements of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Kennesaw State University does not guarantee the transferability of these courses to other colleges or programs of study.

 

Classification as a non-degree graduate student cannot be used to:

1. Earn initial teacher certification.
2. Satisfy more than 9 hours of credit toward meeting the requirements of a master's degree in the Bagwell College of Education.

Admission Criteria

1. Baccalaureate degree from an acceptably recognized accredited college or university.
2. A minimum undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
3. Teaching Certification

Non-degree to Degree Status
A student who wishes to change from non-degree to degree status must follow all the procedures and meet all the requirements specified for the degree program. A maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit (6000/7000 level) with grades of B or better earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward the requirements of an M.Ed. degree.

Academic Requirements
Non-degree graduate students are expected to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in their course work. Although graduate students may occasionally earn a grade below a B, the university expects those instances to be few in number. Failure to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 in any course work will result in the following changes in the student's academic standing at Kennesaw State University.

Academic Warning
The first time a graduate student earns a grade lower than B in any graduate or undergraduate course, that student will be placed on academic warning and advised of the consequences that will result if additional grades lower than a B are earned.

The second time a non-degree graduate student earns a grade lower than B, that student will be given a second letter of warning indicating that the next grade below a B will result in permanent academic exclusion from graduate course work at Kennesaw State University.

Academic Probation
If the cumulative graduate grade-point average drops below 3.0 or the undergraduate GPA falls below 2.0, that student will be placed on academic probation and advised of the significance and potential consequences of this action. For students on probation, semester and summer term GPAs of 3.0 for graduate course work and 2.0 for undergraduate course work are required. Students can have their probationary status removed by raising their cumulative GPA to a least 3.0 graduate and 2.0 undergraduate by the end of the next 20 hours of required course work.

Academic Exclusion
Non-degree graduate students in education will be dismissed from further graduate study at Kennesaw State University and will not be eligible for readmission as a graduate student under the following conditions.

1. failing to raise the cumulative GPA to at least 3.0 graduate and 2.0 undergraduate by the end of the next 12 hours of course work following academic probation; or
2. failing to achieve a semester or summer term GPA of 3.0 graduate and 2.0 undergraduate while on academic probation; or
3. earning any combination of three grades less than B in graduate course work or C in undergraduate course work.

Students seeking add-on certification or renewing an expired or out-of-state certificate must
contact the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in order to obtain a written evaluation of required course work prior to advisement and registration at Kennesaw State University.

Students renewing a current Georgia certificate should contact their employing school system to identify appropriate course work prior to advisement and registration at Kennesaw State University.

To be issued a teaching license, it is necessary to pass a Praxis II test in the field in which the student wishes to be licensed. Note that the Teacher Certification Test is replaced by the Praxis II test effective September 1997. It is the student's responsibility to report their Praxis II test scores to the Office of Educational Field Experiences and to the Teacher Certification Officer in the Bagwell College of Education. Students who have previously passed the appropriate Teacher Certification Test will not be required to take the Praxis II test.

Effective March 1, 1999, all students seeking initial certification in Georgia must demonstrate they have passed the Praxis I test in addition to the Praxis II test. Praxis I is a comprehensive test dealing with reading, writing, and mathematics. It will normally be taken by education majors during the sophomore year.

For further information concerning Praxis I and Praxis II, education majors should contact their advisor, the Teacher Education Advisement Center, or the Office of Graduate Studies in Education and Teacher Education Services.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) is a professional degree providing intellectually challenging opportunities for teachers to acquire the knowledge, skills and their understanding through performance to apply interdisciplinary knowledge to the classroom setting. Distinctive programs are offered for Early Childhood Education (P-5), for Middle Grades Education (4-8) and in Special Education (Interrelated).

The requirements for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades Education and Special Education may be met by completing an approved program of 36 semester hours of graduate work. In addition, preparation and presentation of a thesis or portfolio or a comprehensive examination during the final semester of study is required for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood and Middle Grades programs and a thesis or portfolio preparation and presentation is required for the Special Education program. The following describes the thesis, portfolio and comprehensive examination as they apply to the M.Ed. programs.

Thesis
A thesis involves systematic inquiry designed to address a particular educational problem which may take the form of a research study, an evaluation study, the development, field testing and evaluation of practical materials, or the supervised implementation and evaluation of an instructional improvement or curricular innovation in a classroom. The student selects a Thesis Committee early in the program of studies. The Thesis Committee is comprised of three graduate faculty members, one of whom is the Chair. A summary of the thesis is presented formally during the student's final semester of study. Students may utilize Master's Thesis credit (EDUC 7990) under the direction of the Thesis Committee Chair as elective credit to pursue the thesis study. See the M.Ed. Thesis Handbook for further information.

Portfolio
A portfolio serves as a permanent record of the student's individual progress while working toward a Master of Education degree. The portfolio encourages the Kennesaw State University student as learning facilitator to implement a systematic, reflection-in action approach to problem solving and decision making. The portfolio provides a detailed authentic picture of the student's professional practice and reflective analysis of the integration of courses taken. Changes in classroom practice as well as in oneself are documented. The student selects a Portfolio Committee early in the program of studies. The Portfolio Committee is comprised of three graduate faculty members, one of whom is the Chair. A summary of the portfolio is presented formally during the student's final semester of study. See the M.Ed. Portfolio Handbook for further information.

Comprehensive Examination
The Comprehensive Examination consists of questions from each professional sequence and each teaching field course taken by the student. No questions are included from electives, directed studies, or special projects course work. Questions are general in nature and require written responses in essay format. To pass the Comprehensive Examination, the student must respond satisfactorily to two questions from professional sequence courses and two questions from teaching field courses. Responses can be prepared either on the computer or using paper and pencil. Students who are unsuccessful may retake the section(s) they failed. Faculty will provide feedback and guidance for students retaking a section. The Comprehensive Examination normally is taken during the student's final semester of study.

Collaborative Model for Preparing Professional Learning Facilitators
The M.Ed. program is delivered through a conceptual framework known as the Collaborative Model for Preparing Professional Learning Facilitators. This model is designed to enhance the professional knowledge, skills and their understanding through performance of graduate students in education. These key areas are addressed in the following ways:

Knowledge

• applying learning theory to assist in meeting needs of learners
• analyzing the applicability and appropriateness of current trends, methods,   technologies and issues in education

Skills

• solving problems and thinking critically in relation to theory and practice
• developing a multicultural perspective
• integrating knowledge into specific classroom skills
• integrating multiple technologies into instruction
• reflecting on pedagogy
• collaborating with other professionals

Understanding

• developing an appreciation for diversity
• enhancing professional and ethical behavior
• continuing learning, service and research
• striving for excellence and scholarly rigor

Admission Criteria
1. Baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited in a manner accepted by KSU.
2. A minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
3. Must hold the appropriate teaching license: Early Childhood Certification for
   admission to the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades
   certification for admission to the M.Ed. in Middle Grades Education, or a
   valid Georgia teaching certificate for admission to the M.Ed. in Special
   Education. (Those applicants who do not hold the appropriate credential or
   who are not eligible for the appropriate licensure may complete a
   prerequisite program.)
4. Minimum score of 800 (verbal and quantitative) on the General Test of the
    Graduate Record Examination.
5. An acceptable personal statement of goals for professional development.
    Required forms for the personal statement are available from the Office of
    Graduate Studies in Education.

Individual degree programs may call for acceptable letters of recommendation and may specify higher grade point average and GRE score requirements. Individual degree programs may also have additional admission criteria.
 

NOTE: Candidates for the M.Ed. in Special Education are admitted in cohort groups in Fall semesters only.

Full Standing
Applicants who meet all of the above criteria may be admitted to full standing in a degree program.

Provisional Standing
Applicants to a degree program who are deficient in one or more of the required criteria, but who are considered acceptable for graduate study, may be admitted to provisional standing. To be eligible for provisional standing, a student must have a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum score of 700 (verbal and quantitative) on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. The requirements that must be met to make up the deficiencies will be determined by the M.Ed. Admissions Committee. A student may remain in provisional standing until nine semester hours of graduate work have been attempted. Upon completion of the initial nine hours of course work, with grades of B or better and the established requirements met, an applicant will be reconsidered for full standing in a degree program. A maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit (with grades of B or better) earned while in non-degree and/or provisional standing may be applied toward the requirements of a degree program.

Transfer Credit
Graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions must be evaluated and approved by the program director. A maximum of nine semester hours of transfer credit (with grades of B or better) may be applied toward a degree program. No courses will be accepted for transfer credit if they are more than five years old at the time of evaluation. Transfer credit includes all course work accepted into the M.Ed. program prior to admission in full standing (maximum nine semester hours), whether earned at another institution or at Kennesaw State University.

Candidacy
The minimum requirement for admission to candidacy is successful completion of nine semester hours of graduate credit in full standing in a degree program with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Individual degree programs may have additional requirements for candidacy (e.g., interview or examination).

The minimum requirements for completion of an M.Ed. degree include:

1. completion of a minimum of 36 hours of approved graduate course work;
2. completion of a minimum of 27 semester hours of the minimum 36 hours in full standing at Kennesaw State University;
3. an earned cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all graduate course work at Kennesaw State University;
4. successful completion of a professional portfolio, thesis or written comprehensive exam. Individual degree programs may specify particular requirements and options (e.g., oral or written exams, thesis or practicum) as well as additional requirements.

Early Childhood Education (P-5)

Middle Grades Education (Grade 4-8)

Special Education (Interrelated)

Graduate Education Course Descriptions