Elementary Education (Grades P-5), M.Ed. (Online)

Location(s): Fully Online

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Georgia Southern University’s online master’s degree in elementary education is a fully online program for current teachers or education professionals looking to advance their career.

Our M.Ed. in Elementary Education can be completed in one year (summer/fall/spring/summer), and is designed for candidates who hold a renewable Induction or Professional Level Four Certificate or equivalent in elementary education. The curriculum makes up an approved program of study by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and meets the PSC’s certificate upgrade requirements.

This elementary education (P-5) master’s degree program is based upon the concept of developmentally appropriate practices and the value of diverse, intensive field experiences working with diverse student populations. You will experience program outcomes meant to drive your teaching career forward.

Degree Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

Certificate Upgrade Information: An educator who holds a level four Georgia certificate in Elementary Education will qualify for a level five certificate upgrade upon successful completion of all program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Possess or be eligible for a renewable Georgia level four certificate in Elementary Education, or posses an equivalent out-of-state teaching certificate in Elementary Education. Candidates who have completed all requirements for the Georgia level four teaching certificate have until the end of the first semester to obtain the certificate. Candidates with an out-of-state certificate will not receive Georgia certification upon program completion.
Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 500 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
Submit a completed “Disclosure and Affirmation Form” that addresses misconduct disclosure, the Code of Ethics for Educators, and tort liability insurance.

Provisional Admission

Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of “B” or higher in their first nine (9) credits of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.

Program of Study

Professional Education Core Requirements: 9 Credits Hours

Specialized Content for Teaching: 18 Credits Hours

(Professional Education Prerequisites)

Electives: 9 Credits Hours

Students have 9 hours of electives and are strongly encouraged to use these elective credits to begin and/or complete an endorsement. Students are not required to complete an endorsement to complete the MEd in Elementary Education program.

Total Credit Hours: 36

Endorsements or Certificate Electives:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement: Applied Linguistics for ESOL/TCLD (TCLD 6233 ), Cultural Diversity and ESOL/TCLD (TCLD 6231 ), and Methods for Teaching ESOL/ TCLD (TCLD 6235 );

Online Teaching and Learning Endorsement: Theories and Models of Instructional Design (ITEC 8134 ), Pedagogy of Online Learning (ITEC 8135 ), and Field Experience in Online Teaching and Learning (ITEC 8136 ).

Reading Endorsement: Approaches to Literacy Instruction (READ 7131 ), Linking Literacy Assessment with Instruction (READ 7132 ), and Literacy in the Content Areas (READ 7330 ).

Gifted In-Field Graduate Endorsement: Nature and Needs of Gifted and Talented Learners (ESED 5130G ) Curriculum for Gifted and Talented Learners (ESED 5131G ) Methods for Teaching Gifted and Talented Learners (ESED 5132G ) Assessment and Procedures for Teaching Gifted and Talented Learners (EDUF 5133G )

Teacher Support and Coaching Endorsement: Introduction to Teacher Support and Coaching (ESED 8230 ) Teacher Support and Coaching Internship (ESED 8232 );

Teacher Leadership Endorsement: Transformational School Leadership (EDLD 7530 ) Utilizing Data in Leadership (EDLD 7535 ) Developing Professional Learning Communities (EDLD 7537 ).

Other Program Requirements

Successfully complete assessments identified at each program transition point.
Maintain an active account with the COE electronic data management system.
Claim Georgia Southern University as your program provider in your MyPSC Account during your first term of enrollment.

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.

Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu