The Master of Education is a program designed to develop educational leaders within a Christian framework. The programs can be completed in 12-24 months online. The Master of Education in School Counseling offers some courses online while the rest are offered in an online synchronous format (with an on-campus option).
The Teacher Certification, Educational Leadership, and School Counseling specializations prepare educators for certification in Texas through a fully TEA-accredited program.
M.Ed. – TEACHER CERTIFICATION
This specialization enables graduate students to earn one certification in various levels, including EC-6, 4-8, or 7-12. In addition, these students will also learn classroom management strategies, curriculum development, implementation, and assessment, as well as the educational theories upon which these strategies are based. All coursework is online. At the conclusion of the coursework, students have the option of clinical teaching or paid internships in a face to face format.
** Students in this program must be admitted to the graduate program and the School of Education. Deadlines for admission are April 15 for summer, July 15 for fall, and October 15 for spring.
TEA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
M.Ed. – EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION
This specialization will enable graduate students to take the principal certification exams and prepare to serve as a school administrator. Students who already have a master’s degree and would like principal certification can enroll to take only the 18 hours needed to take the examination. This specialization includes online courses and practicum experience.
** Students in this program must be admitted to the graduate program and the School of Education. Deadlines for admission are April 15 for summer, July 15 for fall, and October 15 for spring.
TEA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
M.Ed. – CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Graduate students pursuing the curriculum and instruction specialization will study curriculum development, assessment, and evaluation. Students pursuing this track will also develop skills needed to take leadership roles helping other teachers develop curriculum to better meet the needs of the students in their school. The curriculum will provide students information on current legal rulings and issues but will also expand their knowledge in theoretical thinking and current research in the field. This degree can be completed in 12 months completely online.
TEA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
M.Ed. – SPORTS LEADERSHIP
Graduate students pursuing the sports leadership specialization will be prepared for leadership roles in sport related fields. Courses will cover important concepts of education, such as equity and diversity, and important aspects of sports management and coaching.
TEA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
M.Ed. – SPECIALIZATION IN ENGLISH, MATH , OR HISTORY
Graduate students can earn a Master of Education in the fields of English, Math, or History. These degree programs include 12 hours of education courses and 18 hours of content specialization.
English and History can be completed online within 12 months, and Math can be completed in 24 months. Students pursuing these 18 hour specializations will be prepared to teach college-level courses.
TEA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
M.Ed. – SCHOOL COUNSELING
ETBU also offers a M.Ed. in School Counseling.
** Graduate students in this program must be admitted to the graduate program and the School of Education.
TEA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
Cost | Admission Requirements | Transfer of Credit
NEXT STEPS
Request Information | Apply Now
Reasons a candidate will be withdrawn from the ETBU educator preparation program (EPP) are as follows:
- A candidate who chooses to withdraw from the EPP must notify the certification officer by stating their intentions by written letter or ETBU Tigermail. A copy of the notification will be placed in the candidate’s department file.
- If a candidate chooses to enroll in a different EPP, the receiving program will need to request a TEA Candidate Transform Form to be completed by the ETBU certification officer. At that time, the certification officer will be required to inform the receiving program if the candidate was in good standing.
- If a candidate is not meeting the requirements of the EPP (e.g., disciplinary reasons and/or academics), the candidate will begin the Departmental Student/Candidate Review Process. Upon completion of the process, the EPP will determine whether the candidate will be required to withdraw or continue in the program.
- If a candidate is inactive and fails to communicate with EPP and/or advisor for one semester, the candidate will not be able to return to the EPP and TEA will be notified.
- If a candidate is not successful in passing 50% of their required certification exams by the written deadline, they will be automatically withdrawn from the EPP.
Courses
To see course descriptions, visit the Academic Catalog.
The courses that comprise the curriculum for the Master of Education degree were designed by the faculty of the School of Education to meet current United States Department of Education requirements as stated in the Higher Education Act, Texas Education Agency rules and regulations, Texas Standards, as well as area market demands. Students will take 12 credit hours of foundation courses and a minimum of 18 credit hours of courses specific to their chosen track.
Foundation Courses for the Teacher Certification, Curriculum and Instruction, and Sports Leadership Specializations– 12 hours
EDUC 5302 Educational Psychology and Learning Theory
EDUC 5312 Research Methods
EDUC 5334 Equity and Diversity in Education
EDUC 5387 Texas School Law OR EDUC 5350 Language Acquisition *
* International students will take EDUC 5350 instead of EDUC 5387.
Foundation Courses for the Educational Leadership Track – 12 hours
EDUC 5322 Curriculum Design, Assessment and Evaluation
EDUC 5312 Research Methods
EDUC 5333 Technology in Today’s Classroom
EDUC 5387 Texas School Law
Teacher Certification Track (only for students pursuing certification) – 18 hours
READ 5318 Reading in the Content Area
EDUC 5333 Technology in Today’s Classroom
EDUC 5340 Studies in Effective Classroom Management and Instructional Strategies
EDUC 5102 TExES Preparation**
READ 5317 Developing Literacy Skills
Six Hours:
EDUC 5341 Curriculum and Assessment I with Internship and
EDUC 5343 Curriculum and Assessment II with Internship
OR
EDUC 5342 Curriculum and Assessment I with Clinical Teaching and
EDUC 5344 Curriculum and Assessment II
OR
EDUC 5345 Curriculum and Assessment I with Half-Day Clinical Teaching and
EDUC 5346 Curriculum and Assessment II with Half-Day Clinical Teaching
** EDUC 5102 is required for teacher certification but does not count toward the required thirty hours for the Master of Education.
Curriculum and Instruction Track (only for students pursuing the Curriculum and Instruction Track) – 18 hours
EDUC 5322 Curriculum Design, Assessment and Evaluation
EDUC 5323 Adapting Curriculum for Diverse Learners
EDUC 5324 Curriculum Leadership
EDUC 5325 Academic Coaching
EDUC 5333 Technology in Today’s Classroom
READ 5318 Reading in the Content Area
Sports Leadership Specialization (only for students pursuing the Sports Leadership Specialization) – 18 hours
EDUC 5315 Human Resources Leadership and Financial Management
EDUC 5316 Organizational Leadership and Community Relations
KINE 5301 Current Trends and Issues in Sports and Exercise Settings
KINE 5302 Sports Management and Marketing
KINE 5303 Coaching Behaviors and Sports Preparation
KINE5308 Sports and Exercise Leadership
Educational Leadership Track (only for students pursuing the Educational Leadership Track) – 18 hours
EDUC 5380 Strategic Operations
EDUC 5381 School Finance
EDUC 5382 Administration of Special Programs
EDUC 5384 The Principal
EDUC 5385 Practicum I
EDUC 5386 Practicum II
EDUC 5002 Principal Certification Test Preparation
Instruction for the courses in the curriculum for the Master of Education will be web-supported with course content delivered in a face-to-face seminar setting. Web support will consist of posting content area lectures, review of literature in the discipline, and external links to support material; discussion boards; electronic submission of assignments; and communication tools for virtual realtime support. Students will be required to attend weekly on-campus seminars as part of each course. Seminar sessions will be reserved for direct instruction, case studies, collaborative projects, discussion, clarification, and application of course content within the context of the P-12 school setting. The seminar format is designed to be a bridge between educational theory and practical application in the school classroom. EDUC 5102 is designed to prepare students to pass the state teacher certification test.
Students in the Teacher Certification Track will complete a two semester internship or one semester clinical teaching assignment in a regional P-12 partnership school. Each student will be assigned an individual mentor teacher during the internship/clinical teaching experience that will work with the intern/clinical teacher to deliver quality instruction and assess the intern/clinical teacher in the areas of instructional competency identified by state and national standards.
Students in the Teacher Certification Track, Curriculum and Instruction Track, and Sports and Exercise Leadership Track will take two research courses. The first course is offered in the spring semester and the second is offered during the Summer I semester. The second of these courses will culminate in the development of a research proposal that includes an introduction to the research problem, a comprehensive literature review, and a methodology section. This required proposal will detail a research design utilizing quantitative or qualitative methods suitable for investigation at the graduate level.
Students in the Educational Leadership Track will only take the first research course that is offered in the spring semester. These students will complete an action research project during the second course in their practicum experience.
PROCESS FOR CERTIFICATION (PERTAINS TO THOSE PURSUING SECONDARY OR ELEMENTARY CERTIFICATION)
East Texas Baptist University’s Master of Education degree with a certification track allows a person with a bachelor’s degree or higher to complete the requirements for an educator certificate by completing a graduate course of study while meeting the requirements for teacher certification in the state of Texas. All certification requirements are subject to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards, rules, and regulations. TEA has the authority to suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue a teaching certificate to a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime which directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of the teaching profession. All state agency and testing fees related to the attainment of certification in the state of Texas are the responsibility of the student.
Steps to Becoming a Texas Educator through East Texas Baptist University’s Master of Education program (Teacher Certification Track):
1. Meet the screening criteria for admission and gain approval to the program. All general and specific admission requirements for the Master of Education program (certification tracks) in line with the State Board of Educator Certification and the Texas Education Agency must be met along with approval from the ETBU Department of Teacher Education.
2. Develop a certification plan. After meeting the screening criteria and being accepted into the program, students will meet with a graduate advisor to discuss their goals as a teacher. The advisor will advise students of the specific coursework, student teaching or internship, and tests that must be completed.
3. Complete the student teaching requirement (Option 1). If this option is chosen, the advisor or a field experience supervisor will assist in finding an appropriate clinical teaching placement, and will guide students through this process. Students holding bachelor’s degrees may qualify for a one-year paid internship as part of a post-baccalaureate program. If you qualify for a paid internship, please proceed to step 4.
4. Obtain a teaching position and apply for a Probationary Certificate (Option 2). If determined that students are eligible for a teaching internship based on progress and completion of any appropriate tests, an eligibility statement for employment purposes will be provided. Students will need to secure a teaching assignment at the grade level and in the subject area of their target certificates. Once a position has been secured, students will have an experienced, certified mentor assigned to work with them and additional supervision will be provided. If a teaching position has been secured for the internship, students will need to apply online for a Probationary Certificate, valid for one calendar year to meet state certification rules for students and the school. Students will need to create an online account, apply, pay fees, and meet the requirements for a criminal background check. The ETBU Department of Teacher Education will need to make recommendation online for the appropriate certificate.
5. Register for and complete the appropriate examinations. Students must be authorized to register for examinations when they are at the appropriate point in the program. This will vary based on the type of program they are enrolled in. Persons in postbaccalaureate programs may be allowed to complete the content subject tests earlier than persons in an undergraduate program. Testing fees by the state and/or testing organization will apply.
6. Complete all requirements for a Standard Certificate. Students will need to complete all coursework, clinical teaching or internship, and examination requirements indicated on their certification plans.
7. Apply for the Standard Certificate. Upon completion of all requirements, students will need to apply online. When qualifications are met, the program will recommend you online for the Standard Certificate. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to issuance of any certificate. All first-time applicants for an initial credential must be fingerprinted as part of a national criminal background check. A fingerprinting fee, certification fees, and/or other fees will be charged by the state.
8. Become a certified teacher. When a student’s certificate is approved, it will be posted to the agency website. Students will be notified by email when your certificate is official.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
The nature of graduate education is to foster an environment with the student as an active participant in the learning process as leader, researcher, and practitioner. As a result, more time is spent on the review of literature of the discipline with much of that reading being completed outside class. The activities of the course are more writing intensive, use case analysis, incorporate a reflective portfolio approach to authentic assessment, include an increased expectation of independent learning, and promote a search for outside resources to bring to class to inform discussion.
For students enrolled in summer seminar courses, knowledge is compacted and presented in an adult learning, accelerated format. It is necessary for much of the student work to be completed outside of the weekly seminar and class learning teams also meet in extended sessions to complete the course goals and objectives.
Students in both summer seminar and traditional semester courses will receive supplemental course instruction and faculty facilitation with online tools within Canvas.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
For the Master of Education, there are 30 graduate credit hours required. Students will complete 12 foundation hours in education, and then the student’s selected track will require a minimum of 18 credit hours beyond the foundation courses. The teacher certification track requires an additional one credit hour course to prepare students to take the state teacher certification exams. This course will not count toward the master’s degree.
Students must complete all credit hours with a grade of “C” or higher and maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average. Students must complete all requirements for the degree within five years of starting the program.
DISMISSAL FROM PROGRAM
Students may be dismissed from the program for the following reasons:
1. Failure to maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average.
2. Earning a grade of “D” or “F” in any one class.
| Name/Title | Division | Phone | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dr. Jennifer Holling Director, Master of Education Program Assistant Professor of Education |
School of Education | 903-923-2274 | Send Message | View Bio |