The Curriculum and Instruction Master’s in Education (M.Ed.), Secondary Education
Licensure Specialization, program is designed to allow graduate students to meet the
State of Tennessee initial licensure requirements in secondary education while pursuing
a master’s degree. Further, the program is designed to foster the development of teaching
skills that result in increased pupil performance. By analyzing curriculum choices
and strategies, along with best teaching practices, those who complete this program
will be better equipped to provide an environment in which students engage in relevant
and meaningful learning activities. The program is structured as an on-campus cohort
program and, depending on a student’s prior coursework, should last around five semesters.
Not sure which Curriculum and Instruction (Ed. Leadership) M.Ed. program is right
for you?
Note: Let your contact know which specialization you wish to pursue. However, when
you apply, choose Curriculum and Instruction (Ed. Leadership).
- I want a master’s degree. I have completed a teacher preparation program, and I already
have an initial or professional level K-12 teaching license OR I don’t need a teaching
license for my current workplace situation (private school setting, state institutions,
etc.), but I want to learn more about curriculum and instruction.
- I want a master’s degree in an online course format.
- Online Program - Contact the M.Ed. Online advisor listed on this page.
-
- I want a master’s degree in a classroom cohort format.
- Cohorts - Contact M.Ed. On-site Cohort advisor listed on this page.
- I want a Tennessee teaching license to teach secondary education.
- I want a master’s degree.
- I already have a master’s degree.
- Non-Degree Job-Embedded (Licensure Only)- Contact the M.Ed. Secondary Ed. advisor listed on this page. Note: You will not choose Curriculum and Instruction (Ed. Leadership). Please choose Non-Degree Job-Embedded.
- I want a master’s degree. I have an intent-to-hire letter to be a secondary education
teacher in a school system with a Tennessee practitioner teaching license while completing
a preparation program with an approved Educator Preparation Provider (EPP).
Job-embedded program combines teaching and learning
For Layla Smallwood, the opportunity to begin teaching much earlier than she anticipated
is reason enough to endorse the job-embedded graduate education program leading to
secondary licensure. She’s a social studies teacher at Nashville’s Glencliff High
and is excited about her classes of mainly juniors and seniors. “I have been able
to work full time as a teacher in my desired field of study while also attending graduate
school,” Smallwood explains. “This program allows for independence and flexibility
in the classroom and during field experiences. It is such a fantastic program to be
a part of, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities MTSU provided. The
program offered me (and so many other students) an alternative classroom experience
that continuously cultivates an atmosphere of experience, learning, and teaching,
while simultaneously creating a supportive community of students and staff,” she says,
recognizing the “positive impact on my educational career” and acquisition of “valuable
teaching strategies and life skills that I will never forget.”
Cohort member appreciates program organization
The MTSU program leading to secondary school licensure allows students with varying
experience and needs to continue working as they take classes. Kim Fults shares, “This
program allows me to go ahead and teach as I earn my degree for a teaching license.
Biology was my undergraduate major, but I didn’t want to go back and get another bachelor’s
degree; then I was told about this program.” She remembers meeting with Dr. Kyle Butler
to get details and realizing “it was the program for me. … It is great that the classes
are at night, on weekends, or online,” says the mother of two, whose firefighter husband
works 24-hour shifts. Citing the importance of being able to plan, Fults says, “The
professors do a great job letting you know what is expected up front, and they realize
that we are adults and unexpected things happen in life. I would most definitely recommend
this program to anyone, and actually I have already done so!”
Related Media
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MTSU College of Graduate Studies
Graduates of the Secondary Education Initial Licensure Program have a high success
rate of becoming a teacher immediately upon graduation. Courses offered are intended
to prepare graduate students with the tools and network connections needed to excel
upon entering the educational field. Graduates may be employed in a variety of positions.
Examples include, but are not limited to,
- classroom teacher
- curriculum specialist
- instructional coach
- teacher mentor
- textbook reviewer
- training and development specialist
MTSU graduates are employed through various school districts throughout Tennessee
including:
- Bedford County Schools
- Cannon County Schools
- Coffee County Schools
- Franklin County Schools
- Franklin Special School District Schools
- Lebanon School District
- Metro-Davidson Schools
- Murfreesboro City Schools
- Rutherford County Schools
- Sumner County Schools
- Tullahoma Schools
- Van Buren County Schools
- Warren County Schools
- Wayne County Schools
- White County Schools
- Williamson County Schools
- Wilson County Schools
The Womack Educational Leadership Department offers the Master of Education (M.Ed.)
degree with major in Curriculum and Instruction and a specialization in Secondary
Education Licensure. Courses are delivered on-line, on weekends, and through the traditional
format of one evening per week. The program is 33-39 credit hours depending on student's
status, prior coursework, and hours required for the teaching practicum. Completion
of this program fulfills the professional education requirements necessary for an
initial license in secondary education.
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS button to the right.
Other graduate degrees
An M.Ed. with a major in Curriculum and Instruction is offered; also available is a concentration in English as a Second Language.
Also available under the major in Curriculum and Instruction leading to the Specialist
in Education degree (Ed.S.) is a specialization in Culture, Cognition, and the Learning Process.
In addition are both on- and off-campus cohorts.
The Womack Educational Leadership Department offers both the Master of Education (M.Ed.)
and Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) with a major in Administration and Supervision.
The specialization in Higher Education can lead to either an Ed.S. or M.Ed.
There is also an Instructional Leader Licensure program specialization delivered through off-campus cohorts meeting at various locations.
Also under the Administration and Supervision major is a concentration in Agricultural Education Leadership leading to the M.Ed.
The major in Library Science leads to a Master in Library Science (M.L.S.)
A major in Professional Counseling includes programs leading to an Ed.S., with concentrations
also available in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) College of Education’s teacher licensure preparation programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and are eligible for accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction with specialization in Secondary Education Licensure program at MTSU is designed to meet the licensure requirements set by the Tennessee Department of Education. Students should be aware that licensure requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change. MTSU has not made a determination whether a specific program will meet all of the requirements of another US state or territory. MTSU recommends that students who plan to seek licensure outside the state of Tennessee contact the appropriate licensing agency and discuss their plans with their advisor. To obtain current information about each state’s and territory’s licensure requirements and any additional regulations, students should consult the US Department of Education’s website for state contacts at https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.
Graduates of MTSU teacher education programs certified to teach in Tennessee are eligible for certification reciprocity in many states. Reciprocity is not an automatic or complete transfer of certification, thus individuals should consult the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) site at https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing.html and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) site at https://www.nasdtec.net/page/Interstate as well as the US Department of Education state contacts site for information about any additional state requirements.
Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education Licensure Path Specialization, M.Ed.
Terry Goodin, Program Director
(615) 898-2943
Terry.Goodin@mtsu.edu
The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to foster the development of teaching skills that result in increased pupil performance. By analyzing curriculum choices and strategies, along with best teaching practices, those who complete this program will be better equipped to provide an environment in which students engage in relevant and meaningful learning activities.
The Secondary Licensure Path Specialization is designed to allow graduate students to meet the State of Tennessee initial licensure requirements in secondary education while pursuing a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Candidates in this program must meet all requirements in the major areas of study, any undergraduate requirements, and all education courses needed to obtain an initial teaching license. In addition to any academic courses needed, students must meet admission requirements for both the College of Education Teacher Education Program and Educational Leadership's graduate program; successfully complete and pass all required clinical experiences; and pass all parts of the required culminating exams (Praxis II [NTE] Exams, Graduate Comprehensive Exams, and the edTPA Exam). The program is 33-39 hours depending on student's status, prior coursework, and hours required for the teaching practicum. Completion of this Master's program does not guarantee licensure, but fulfills all education requirements necessary for an initial license in secondary education.
The program is structured as an on-campus cohort program and, depending on student's transcript analysis, should last around five semesters. Applications for the program are being accepted throughout the year for the next fall semester cohort.
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in secondary education licensure path requires
- an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college;
- an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above, or for those who have started but not completed a graduate degree, a GPA of 3.00 or above on the last 60 hours of coursework (undergraduate and graduate) completed, or a completed graduate degree GPA of 3.00 or above;
- a satisfactory score on the Miller Analogies Test, the Graduate Record Examination, or the Praxis II content area exam(s) for which the candidate is seeking licensure;
- successful admission to the College of Education Teacher Education Program.
Specifics on these requirements can be found online (www.mtsu.edu/programs/curriculum-instruction-med-secondary-licensure/index.php).
Application Procedures
Applicants must be admitted to the College of Education Teacher Education Program prior to admission to this program.
Applicants must submit the following application materials to the College of Graduate Studies:
- an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials. When filling out the application, the degree sought is M.Ed: the major is Curriculum and Instruction; the specialization is Secondary Education Licensure Path. This degree is a non-thesis option.
- official transcripts of all previous college work;
- three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant's potential for completing the Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction;
- official scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or the Praxis II content area exam(s) for which the candidate is seeking licensure.
Specifics on these requirements can be found online (www.mtsu.edu/programs/curriculum-instruction-med-secondary-licensure/index.php).
Degree Requirements
The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with the secondary education licensure path requires completion of a minimum of 33 semester hours.
Once admitted to the program, candidate must
- complete 33-39 semester hours with no more than 30 percent of the total degree hours dually listed as undergraduate/graduate hours (see specifics in Curriculum section below);
- successfully complete all clinical experiences, including one semester of a Teaching Internship;
- successfully complete all courses and exams required for licensure;
- successfully complete a written comprehensive examination during the semester of graduation (exam may be retaken once).
Curriculum: Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Education Licensure Path
The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements.
Required Courses (9 hours)
FOED 6020 - Educational Foundations
3credit hours
Assists educational personnel in developing contexts and concepts in which educational problems and issues may be understood through awareness of findings in humanistic and behavioral studies.
FOED 6610 - Analysis and Application of Educational Research
3credit hours
Qualitative and quantitative research applicable to the field of education. Both producers and consumers of educational research with a literature review presented to support possible solutions to significant hypotheses or problems.
YOED 6680 - Issues and Trends in Teaching and Learning
3credit hours
Emphasis on examining current issues and trends in teaching and learning.
Specialized Core (24-30 hours)
YOED 6500 - Planning and Assessment
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education program. Offers preparation for teacher candidates to plan for instruction, to assess student learning, and to understand how classroom assessments and standardized testing impact instruction. Introduces lesson planning with respect to a wide range of contextual factors, and through the use of field experiences, provides opportunities for the analysis of planning and assessment procedures in real life contexts. Field experience required which includes a teacher enhancement plan supported by current literature on best practices and/or data collection from teacher-directed action research.
YOED 6000 - Classroom Management
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education program. Equips teacher candidates with a variety of classroom management strategies and techniques that will foster a positive learning environment in their classrooms. Provides an overview of behavior management models, theories, and research as a foundation for classroom practice. Facilitates, through the use of field experiences, the analysis of school-wide policies/procedures and insight on the real life classroom management expectations of the first-year teacher. Requires a field experience which includes a teacher enhancement plan supported by current literature on best practices and/or data collected from teacher-directed action research.
YOED 6300 - Problem-Based Instructional Strategies
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education Program. Offers preparation for students to develop and present instructional strategies that frame curriculum content in problem-solving contexts. Requires a field experience in a public school setting which includes a teacher enhancement plan supported by current literature on best practices and/or data collection from teacher-directed action research.
SPSE 6140 - Teacher Leadership for School Improvement
3credit hours
Assessing standard teaching practices, analyzing the relationship between effective teaching and effective schools, and developing strategies for instructional and school improvement. Includes experiences to help students become more reflective in their daily teaching.
YOED 6030 - Methods, Instruction, and Assessment for Teaching ELs in Regular Education Classrooms
3credit hours
Focuses on meeting the varied needs of English learners within the regular education (non-ESL) classroom. Examines appropriate accommodations, curriculum adjustments, techniques for building academic language within content instruction, communicative group work, differentiation, and formative assessment strategies to identify needs to inform instruction. Emphasis placed on collaboration between the regular education teacher and the ESL professional.
YOED 6120 - Residency I: Grades K-12 Graduate
6credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education program; successful completion of YOED 6000 and YOED 6500; overall grade point average maintained at a minimum of 2.75. Consists of completing and reflecting on a school-based clinical experience (in a problem-based learning format) in K-12 education.
YOED 6220 - Seminar in edTPA Professional Performance
6credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to teacher education program; successful completion of YOED 6000 and YOED 6500; overall grade point average maintained at a minimum of 2.75. Consists of an edTPA preparation experience in a problem-based learning format.
(appropriate course selected in consultation with an advisor)
YOED 5510 - The Teaching Internship, Grades 7-12
3 to 9credit hours
Directed field experience which will meet specific needs related to individual needed competencies. Applicant must meet all prerequisites for directed teaching.
Cohort Course Rotation: Curriculum and Instruction, Secondary Licensure Path
Fall Semester
FOED 6020 - Educational Foundations
3credit hours
Assists educational personnel in developing contexts and concepts in which educational problems and issues may be understood through awareness of findings in humanistic and behavioral studies.
YOED 6500 - Planning and Assessment
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education program. Offers preparation for teacher candidates to plan for instruction, to assess student learning, and to understand how classroom assessments and standardized testing impact instruction. Introduces lesson planning with respect to a wide range of contextual factors, and through the use of field experiences, provides opportunities for the analysis of planning and assessment procedures in real life contexts. Field experience required which includes a teacher enhancement plan supported by current literature on best practices and/or data collection from teacher-directed action research.
Spring Semester
YOED 6300 - Problem-Based Instructional Strategies
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education Program. Offers preparation for students to develop and present instructional strategies that frame curriculum content in problem-solving contexts. Requires a field experience in a public school setting which includes a teacher enhancement plan supported by current literature on best practices and/or data collection from teacher-directed action research.
YOED 6680 - Issues and Trends in Teaching and Learning
3credit hours
Emphasis on examining current issues and trends in teaching and learning.
Summer Term
FOED 6610 - Analysis and Application of Educational Research
3credit hours
Qualitative and quantitative research applicable to the field of education. Both producers and consumers of educational research with a literature review presented to support possible solutions to significant hypotheses or problems.
SPSE 6140 - Teacher Leadership for School Improvement
3credit hours
Assessing standard teaching practices, analyzing the relationship between effective teaching and effective schools, and developing strategies for instructional and school improvement. Includes experiences to help students become more reflective in their daily teaching.
YOED 6120 - Residency I: Grades K-12 Graduate
6credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education program; successful completion of YOED 6000 and YOED 6500; overall grade point average maintained at a minimum of 2.75. Consists of completing and reflecting on a school-based clinical experience (in a problem-based learning format) in K-12 education.
YOED 6220 - Seminar in edTPA Professional Performance
6credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to teacher education program; successful completion of YOED 6000 and YOED 6500; overall grade point average maintained at a minimum of 2.75. Consists of an edTPA preparation experience in a problem-based learning format.
(appropriate course selected in consultation with an advisor)
Fall Semester
YOED 6000 - Classroom Management
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education program. Equips teacher candidates with a variety of classroom management strategies and techniques that will foster a positive learning environment in their classrooms. Provides an overview of behavior management models, theories, and research as a foundation for classroom practice. Facilitates, through the use of field experiences, the analysis of school-wide policies/procedures and insight on the real life classroom management expectations of the first-year teacher. Requires a field experience which includes a teacher enhancement plan supported by current literature on best practices and/or data collected from teacher-directed action research.
YOED 6030 - Methods, Instruction, and Assessment for Teaching ELs in Regular Education Classrooms
3credit hours
Focuses on meeting the varied needs of English learners within the regular education (non-ESL) classroom. Examines appropriate accommodations, curriculum adjustments, techniques for building academic language within content instruction, communicative group work, differentiation, and formative assessment strategies to identify needs to inform instruction. Emphasis placed on collaboration between the regular education teacher and the ESL professional.
YOED 6120 - Residency I: Grades K-12 Graduate
6credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to Teacher Education program; successful completion of YOED 6000 and YOED 6500; overall grade point average maintained at a minimum of 2.75. Consists of completing and reflecting on a school-based clinical experience (in a problem-based learning format) in K-12 education.
Spring Semester
YOED 5510 - The Teaching Internship, Grades 7-12
3 to 9credit hours
Directed field experience which will meet specific needs related to individual needed competencies. Applicant must meet all prerequisites for directed teaching.
Program Notes
Students enrolling in 6000-level courses must hold a bachelor's degree, and students enrolling in 7000-level courses must hold a master's degree.
Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.
Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance
This program is available .
For More Information or Explore Your Options
Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program. OR Work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.
The Online Advantage
With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person.
Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.
