Academic Programs - Middle School Education
Specialist in Education (EdS) Degree in Middle School Education
The specialist degree in middle school education is most appropriate for candidates who are already certified to teach children at the middle school, though other interested students are welcome to apply. The program will lead to T6 certification, but does not lead to certification for uncertified individuals. Students typically choose either the specialist or the doctoral program for their terminal degree work, though students with a specialist degree may opt to begin a doctorate after earning the EdS. The specialist program is most often selected by individuals who intend to focus their careers primarily on teaching and curriculum leadership at the pre-collegiate level. Doctoral programs are more frequently chosen by those who aspire to teach and conduct research at the college or university level.
The EdS degree program is a non-cohort program that can be completed either part-time or full-time. New students can be admitted during any semester or term. Most required courses are offered only on the Athens campus. During the school year, all courses are offered in the evening for the convenience of full-time teachers. Summer session courses are usually offered during the day.
Admissions Guidelines
Applicants for the EdS in Middle School Education must hold a master’s degree from an accredited college or university and should have a cumulative grade point of 3.3 on a four-point scale. Applicants should have a pre-August 2011 Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 900 total and at least 450 verbal and 450 quantitative, a post-August 2011 GRE score of at least 146 verbal and 140 quantitative, or a Miller Analogies Test score of at least 408. Either test must have been taken within five years of the date of admission. Applicants should also have at least two years of early childhood or elementary school teaching experience.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit to the Graduate School:
- The Graduate School application form
- Application fee
- Two official copies of transcripts from all institutions attended
- Official scores from GRE or Miller Analogies Test
- Three names of references who will write letters of recommendation
- For international students, official TOEFL or IELTS scores
The application form, information regarding the GRE and Miller Analogies Test, and other important information are all available at the Graduate Schoolwebsite.
Applicants must submit to the Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education:
- A 2-3 page personal statement describing why you are pursuing this degree, why the Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education is the best place for you to pursue your goals, and what you hope to gain from your experiences as a graduate student.
- A resume or CV
Deadlines: All application material must be received by March 1 for matriculation in either Summer or Fall terms, or by October 1 for matriculation in Spring term.
Program Planning and Advisement
Upon acceptance into the EdS degree program, students will be assigned to a faculty advisor. Students must communicate with their advisor every semester to plan coursework and to be cleared for registration.
Course of Study for the Master of Education in Middle School Education
The EdS program in middle school education consists of 10 courses (30 semester hours). The courses are taken in four areas: (a) educational foundations (3–6 semester hours); (b) characteristics, programs, and problems of the middle school (2–3 courses); (c) middle school subject matter (3 courses); and (d) research (3 courses). Students may also include courses that will earn further endorsements, though it is likely that not all courses for a particular endorsement will the fit within the semester hours in the program of study for the specialist degree. At least one course in the program of study must meet the diversity requirement (courses marked with an asterisk, below, meet this requirement).
Program Summary
| Educational foundations Characteristics, programs, and problems Middle school subject areas Research Total: |
3-6 semester hours minimum6-9 semester hours minimum 9 semester hours minimum 9 semester hours minimum 30 semester hours |
Educational Foundations (3-6 credit hours)
EFND 7010 Comparative and International Education
EFND 7040 History of Education in the United States
EFND 7110 Race, Class, and Education*
EFND 7200 Multicultural Education in the United States*
EFND 8010 Philosophy of Education
EFND 8040 Pragmatism and Education
EFND 8060 Social and Political Philosophies of Education
EFND 8070 Ethics and Education
EFND 8130 Education as Democracy
EPSY 6010 Foundations of Human Development for Education
EPSY 6800 Foundations of Cognition for Education
EPSY 7100 Individual Assessment of Development
Characteristics, Programs, and Problems of the Middle School (6-9 credit hours)
Required (up to three) unless taken in an MEd program:
EDMS 7030 The Middle School
EDMS 7050 Teaching Young Adolescents
EDMS 7080 Curriculum Planning for the Middle School
EDMS 7090 Instructional Strategies for the Middle School
EDMS 7100 Evaluation of the Middle School
Electives:
EDMS 7060 Academic Community Learning
EDMS 7120 Children’s Social Lives*
EDMS 7130 Teaching Styles in the Elementary Classroom
EDMS 7500 Action Research
EDMS 8020 Self-Instruction for Classroom Processes
EDMS 8050 Theory and Research on Teaching
EDMS 8070 Research and Perspectives on Teacher Education: PreK–Grade 8
EDMS 8100 Theories and Research on Teachers’ Thinking
EDMS 8120 Social Constructivist Approaches to Understanding Classroom Motivation
EDMS 8140 Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Learning Environments for Children and Young Adolescents*
EDMS 8150 Research and Theory in Family–School–Community Interactions*
EDMS 8180 Research in Multicultural Teacher Education*
EDMS 8190 Mentoring in Learning to Teach
Middle School Subject Matter (9 credit hours)
Consult with advisor about appropriate subject matter courses.
Research (9 credit hours)
ESOC 6990 Research Seminar in Social Studies Education
EDMS 7100 Evaluation of the Middle School
EDEC 7170 Evaluation of the Elementary School
ESSE 7500 Action Research* meets the diversity requirement
Candidates must pass the EdS exit examination in one of the last two semesters of coursework. The graduate school requires that a candidate be enrolled in at least one course during the semester the examination is taken. Candidates must contact their advisor to register for the examination. Candidates also must complete the departmental multicultural education exit survey in the same semester that the exit examination is completed.
