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• Advance Your Career: Earn the required 24 credits for instructional licensure and your master’s degree at the same time, boosting your qualifications and pay scale.
• Leadership Opportunities: Develop leadership skills for expanded responsibilities and potential leadership roles in your school community.
• Customized Learning: We understand that each educator has unique interests and aspirations. That’s why our program offers an individualized curriculum with 12 additional semester hours of graduate study that you can tailor to your specific needs and interests.

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies. In addition, you must:

• Have a 3.0 undergraduate QPA.
• Submit a statement of professional goals.
• Submit 1 letter of recommendation.
• Submit a resume.
• Copy of Teaching Certification.
• Schedule an interview with the program coordinator to clarify program requirements, discuss goals, evaluate academic records, and outline a long-range program.
• Students who do not meet the minimum admission requirements may be admitted non-degree upon the approval of the Graduate Advisory Board. The non-degree designation must be eliminated after completion of 12 semester hours in which a QPA of 3.0 or better is earned. No Cs may be earned during this period.

A minimum of 30 credits are required for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction without Certification.

The following courses are required:

• EDL 502 Data Driven Decisions
• EDL 503 School Law and Finance
• EDL 505 Curriculum Theory and Design
• PROFSTUD 591 Research in Education OR EDL 590 Educational Research

Elective Concentration (18 credits)
*Departmental Paper Required

• Course Sequence

Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Develop research skills and knowledge to improve professional practice
2. Apply data literacy and employment of data analysis to develop supportive, diverse, equitable, and inclusive school environments
3. Apply professional dispositions, ethics, and professional standards
4. Lead and develop a collaborative and culturally sensitive activity with one or more of the following; peers, colleagues, teachers, administrators, community organizations and parents

Additional student learning objectives for Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction – Alternative Education concentration

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Use critical concepts and principles of the discipline
2. Apply the Framework for Teaching to at-risk students

• Alternative Education concentration: A unique concentration that prepares educators to design and implement effective curriculum, teaching, and learning strategies for their work with at-risk students across all education settings.
• Social, Emotional, & Behavioral Wellness concentration: This concentration focuses on equipping educators with the skills to support students' holistic well-being, emphasizing emotional and behavioral health.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) (Certification): Perfect for those passionate about language diversity, this certification provides the tools and knowledge to teach English to non-native speakers.
• E-Learning Specialist (Certification): This certification is designed for educators aiming to become experts in online education, focusing on the development and delivery of effective e-learning experiences.
• Instructional Game Design (Certification): A unique certification that integrates educational theory with game design principles, aiming to create engaging and effective learning environments through gamification.

Curriculum and Instruction Retention

• Graduate students must take a minimum of nine semester hours per calendar year and a QPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained. Students not taking a minimum of nine semester hours per calendar year will be considered inactive after two years.
• Only courses with a minimum grade of C are considered applicable to this program.
• Transfer credits up to nine semester hours from accredited institutions may, upon approval, be accepted toward completing the degree requirements of this program. However, no courses will be transferred in which a grade less than a B was earned. Pass/fail grades are not accepted.

Curriculum and Instruction Program Completion

• Graduate students complete 30 semester hours of approved coursework, a departmental paper, and apply for graduation. All deficiencies, monetary and academic, must be satisfied before the degree can be granted. A candidate for a master's degree must complete the student portion of the Application for Graduation, sign the form and submit it to your program coordinator for verification of degree requirements.
• After approval, the application is submitted to the registrar by the following deadlines for each graduation:
  • May graduation — March 15
  • August graduation — April 1
  • December graduation — October 15
• Form must be received in the registrar's office by those dates. If not, names will not appear in the commencement program and the diploma may be delayed.

• Q: Do I need full-time teaching experience in order to apply?
  A: No full-time teaching experience is required for admission. Applicants do need to have their PA Instructional certificate.
• Q: How long does it take students to finish the program?
  A: The master’s degree includes 30 credits and typically takes most students roughly 18 - 24 months to complete.
• Q: How is the program delivered?
  A: The program is delivered 100% online through synchronous classes. Courses are typically offered during the evening, from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
• Q: When can I start?
  A: Applications are accepted for the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.
• Q: Do I need to take the GRE in order to apply?
  A: No- the GRE is not required for admission
• Q: If I'm using my employer's tuition reimbursement program, can my tuition bills be deferred until after the semester?
  A: Yes. Completion of the Application for Deferment will enable you to defer 75% of your tuition and fee charges (after paying 25% down) until 45 days after the conclusion of the semester. During this time, you should be able to secure reimbursement from your employer. The remaining payment will be drawn from your account automatically through the payment plan 45 days after the end of the semester, unless paid prior to that date. More information available here under the 'Tuition Statements, Charges, and Payments' section. If you have any questions, you can contact the Student Billing Office at 570-389-4013 or studentbilling@commonwealthu.edu.