The M.Ed. program is designed for certified teachers who plan to seek a masters degree.  The program was designed in collaboration with P-12 classroom teachers, district specialists, and university faculty and school administrators for preparing teacher leaders.  The program can lead to an endorsement for Teacher Leadership.

Specialization Areas

Students will work with a faculty mentor to develop a specialization unique to their professional needs.  The Master of Education in Teacher Leadership has a number of specializations such as:

1. Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
2. Elementary Education
3. Middle Grades Education
4. Secondary Education
5. English as a Second Language
6. Content Area or Teaching Specialty (e.g. Humanities, Biology, Women & Gender Studies, etc.)
7. Special Education Core
8. Autism
9. Assistive Technology
10. Orientation and Mobility (Admission to this program will end in Spring 2011.)
11. Learning and Behavioral Disorders
12. Moderate and Severe Disabilities
13. Visual Impairment (Admission to this program will end in Spring 2011.)

Program Highlights

• individualized to meet professional goals
• based on three levels of leadership development
• many specialized courses specific to content area and grade level
• preparation pathway to National Board Application
• courses taught by nationally recognized faculty
• focused on meeting needs of diverse learners
• emphasizes coaching and mentoring
• places your classroom and school as the focus of course discussions and assessments

CARDS 4 (Entry Assessment): Admission to School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies and to the Teacher Leader M.Ed. program; Self-Assessment on Kentucky Guide to Reflective Classroom Practice; Professional Growth Plan.

CARDS 5 (Mid-point Assessment- after Level I Leadership and 9 hours of Level II coursework): Successful completion of all Level I work and 6-9 hours of Level II work; self-assessment on standards 1-4 of the Kentucky Guide to Reflective Practice, Diversity Field Experience Reflection. Scored acceptable or target on Rubrics for Advanced Candidates (by advisor); acceptable Dispositions assessment, minimum GPA of 3.0.

CARDS 6 (Exit Assessment): Successful completion of all required coursework, adapted NBPTS Entry #4, updated and revised Professional Growth Plan, final self-assessment on all standards of the Kentucky Guide to Reflective Practice. Scored acceptable or target on Rubrics for Advanced Candidates (by advisor).

Notes
1. Minimum of 18 hours in 600-level courses is required.
2. Transfer credit must be officially accepted by the advisor (maximum of 6 hours) - final acceptance is dependent upon receipt of official transcripts.
3. A maximum of 6 hours taken in non-degree status can be applied toward a master's degree (upon approval of advisor).
4. All courses must be completed within 6 years of admission to the program.
5. To complete the program, students must have minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. No credit shall be accepted for carrying a grade lower than "C".
 

Faculty from the departments of Early Childhood & Elementary Education, Middle and Secondary Education, and Special Education contribute to this program.