Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching: Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Program Description

The M.Ed. in Accomplished Teaching is an online degree offered cooperatively by Columbus State University, Georgia Southern University, and Valdosta State University, all fully accredited institutions in the University System of Georgia. The 36-hour program is based on the Georgia Framework for Accomplished Teaching which supports six domains: content & curriculum, knowledge of students & their learning, learning environments, assessment, planning & instruction, and professionalism. This innovative degree program provides advanced professional and pedagogical studies that develop expertise in the knowledge and skills of accomplished teachers. The degree emphasizes application of acquired knowledge and skills in the teacher's classroom and school. It leads to teacher certification at the fifth year level.

Working educators choose the online M.Ed. in Accomplished Teaching because of its accreditation, quality, and fit with their busy lifestyles. With full-time enrollment, the program can be completed in four consecutive semesters. Courses are offered on a continuing basis, allowing for part-time enrollment. All coursework, including exams, is completed online. Some courses require field experiences within the P-12 setting. Teachers enrolling in the program must be in a classroom setting with students a minimum of 20 hours per week each semester. This requirement can be fulfilled by being a classroom teacher. Students must have access to Webcam software and hardware to enable remote classroom observation and conferencing

Important note about Georgia certificate upgrades:

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) has established several new certification fields (including curriculum and instruction under which the Accomplished Teaching program will fall) and has developed new rules for these fields. The PSC is also developing certification tests that candidates will have to pass in order to add one of these new fields to a clear renewable teaching certificate. Until January 15, 2013, CSU may continue to admit students into the current Accomplished Teaching program, and completers of this program will earn a certificate level upgrade regardless of state approval status for the program. All candidates enrolled by January 15, 2013 must complete all master’s degree program requirements by September 1, 2015. CSU is currently working with the other two institutions offering the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching and revising the program to meet the new Curriculum and Instruction rules. We will submit the program for PSC review in Fall 2012. For the most current information on certificate upgrades in Georgia, go to the PSC website at http://www.gapsc.com/Policies_guidelines/pg_certificateUpgrade.asp.

Important note for Alabama teachers:

As of Summer 2010, Alabama no longer accepts degrees from out of state for certificate upgrades. Teachers completing a M.Ed. degree at CSU must first apply for Georgia certification at the master's level (i.e., T-5 or S-5 in Georgia), then transfer the new certificate to Alabama through the reciprocity agreement to receive the upgraded Alabama certificate.

Admission Requirements

Admission requires a current clear renewable teaching certificate and an application fee. To seek admission to the M.Ed. in Accomplished Teaching, Apply Online Now.

Note: If you have never taken an online class at CSU, you will need to complete the Smarter Measure Assessment before you can register for classes. You can access the survey by going to www.online.columbusstate.edu. Under the Resources tab, click Smarter Measure Assessment, and follow the directions. The user id is csuready and the password is cougars. Students will be identified by their Cougarnet email address.

Online Options

The M.Ed. in Accomplished Teaching is an online degree.

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the M.Ed. program, candidates may apply to upgrade their teacher certification to the T-5 level (i.e., the letter "T" indicates that the certificate is in a teaching field and the number "5" indicates that the candidate's highest degree is a master's degree recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission).

Faculty

Requirements for Graduation

Students admitted as candidates for the Master of Education degree must satisfactorily complete a planned program of study and a minimum of 36 semester credit hours. At least 18 of these hours must be in courses numbered 6000 or above. A graduate student's program, planned cooperatively with an advisor from the College of Education, will emphasize development both in the teaching field and in professional studies. Specific questions concerning Georgia Professional Standards Commission requirements for teacher certification should be directed to the Office of COE Services and Field Experiences, or to the department that offers the student's area of study.

This Degree is subjected to the following requirements:

• Students must earn a 3.0 GPA calculated on all graduate work attempted. "Academic Forgiveness" policy does not apply to graduate studies.
• Students cannot graduate with a grade of "C" or below in more than two (2) graduate courses (may be appealed to the College of Education Graduate Council).
• A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of transfer credit or courses taken at CSU prior to full admission to a masters degree program may be applied toward the degree. Courses with earned grades of "C" or below cannot be transferred. The student's advisor and the coordinator of the program in which the student is enrolled must approve any courses transferred.
• All students must complete an electronic portfolio as the culminating project.
• All degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) years of first enrollment.

Program Requirements

The M.Ed. degree requirements are located in the Academic Catalog.

Accreditation

All educator preparation programs in the College of Education and Health Professions are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Additional Information

For additional information about the program and admission at CSU, contact Dr. Elizabeth Hipps at (706) 568-5092 or email EDAT@columbusstate.edu. Additional information about the program may also be found on the Georgia ONmyLINE website. You can read about additional information and policies such as Graduate Student Classifications, Transferring Credit, Readmission Requirements and International Students.

M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction in Accomplished Teaching Handbook

Textbook Information for courses offered by Columbus State

Textbook Information for courses offered by Valdosta State

Graduate Academic Regulations
Registration Graduate Assistantships Study Loads Class Attendance and Withdrawal Grades and Grade Point Averages	Course Eligibility Repetition of Courses Academic Misconduct Academic Standing Residence and Time Limits Graduation
Graduate Admission
General Requirements Classification of Students Transfer Credit	Readmission Requirements International Students Residency Requirements