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2016-17 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Education (MEd), MA or MS
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The purpose of the Master of Arts or Science in Education (MEd) programs is to provide students with strong graduate-level courses of study related to various fields of education by fostering scholarship, instructional excellence, cross-cultural sensitivity, and professional leadership. The School of Education offers a MEd degree for people who hold a teaching license, and it offers a MEd professional track degree for people who work in other educational activities or organizations. Key to the program is an emphasis on educational leadership within the classroom, the school district, the broader community, the workforce, and the profession as a whole.
Both MEd programs require a minimum of 45 credits of graduate study. The programs may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. Courses are offered via distance learning and in face-to-face venues in Ashland and Medford. Students may focus on a variety of emphasis areas, including curriculum and instruction, early childhood education, ESOL/bilingual studies, reading, special education, and special studies. Other program options are available for students not holding a teaching license.
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to demonstrate the following:
- instructional excellence;
- use of action research and assessment to evaluate and validate instructional pedagogy, programmatic choices, and educational policies;
- integration of research-based educational theory and social, psychological, anthropological, and sociological foundations into educational practice;
- understanding of the needs of diverse and special student populations, as well as the ability to describe and implement instructional approaches that explore our interconnectedness, while also accommodating and appreciating our racial, ethnic, and cultural differences;
- leadership skills within the school and the local community; and
- contributions to the profession through leadership in local, state, and national organizations and to the knowledge base through publications and presentations at professional events.
For those teachers who possess an Oregon Initial License and a master’s degree, there is a separate 12-credit program for meeting the requirements of the Oregon Continuing Teaching License. (See below.)
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Overview of the MEd Programs
The Master’s Degree in Education programs comprise four major elements:
- The Core Competency Areas: research, assessment, pedagogy, diversity, foundations, and leadership.
- Field-Based Practica and Follow-Up: includes professional portfolio production, reflective dialogue training, and an advanced curriculum work sample.
- Individualized Professional Development Plan: technology, specializations, authorizations, subject area endorsements, or areas of special interest.
- Opportunities for students to explore special programs and offerings.
General Outline of the MEd Programs
Core Competency Areas
(18 credits)
Research 3 credits
Assessment 3 credits
Leadership 3 credits
Diversity 3 credits
Foundations 3 credits
Pedagogy 3 credits Field-Based Practica and Follow-Up
(6 credits)
Comprises a variety of options, all based on the assumption of the importance of formative evaluation opportunities in changing instructional proficiencies and subject matter delivery. The field-based portion includes practica experiences, as well as benchmark and portfolio completion.
Individualized Professional Development Plan
(15 credits)
Secondary Education Endorsement Areas
Art
Biology
Business
Chemistry
English as a Second Language
Foreign Language
Health Education
Integrated Science
Language Arts
Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Physics
Social Studies
Speech
Elementary Education Areas of Concentration
Curriculum and Instruction
Early Childhood
English as a Second Language
Special Education
Special Studies
Postsecondary and Educational Services Areas of Concentration
Adult/Postsecondary Education
Early Childhood Professional
Educational Services
International Education
Social Services or Training
Electives 6 credits Requirements for Admission to the MEd Programs
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Complete and submit the SOU application for graduate admission and application fee to the Admissions Office. Transcripts of undergraduate and previous graduate work must accompany the application.
- Possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 90 quarter hours (60 semester hours) of undergraduate work.
- Pass one of the following tests for entry into the master’s program:
- Praxis II Multiple Subject Assessment for Teachers (MSAT) Content Knowledge and Content Area Exercises with a total score of at least 310 and no score less than 147 on each section of the test.
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with a minimum score of 1200 on combined verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections and a minimum score of 400 on the verbal section.
- Former NTE Core Battery Tests: Test of Communication Skills with a score of at least 667 and the Test of General Knowledge with a score of at least 666.
- Praxis II Specialty Area Exam(s) in endorsed subject.
- Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Multiple Subjects Exam (MSE) with a score of at least 240 on each of the appropriate subtests.
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a score equivalent to the mean for the major area of study in Education.
- National Evaluation System (NES) Elementary Education Test (subtests 1 & 2).
- National Evaluation System (NES) Subject Knowledge Test in appropriate discipline.
- Complete the Character Question form provided with admission materials. (Only for licensed teachers)
- Submit two favorable recommendations from immediate supervisors employed by educational or social agencies attesting to the applicant’s competence to work with school-aged children.
- For candidates to the licensure options, submit a copy of your Oregon Basic or Initial Teaching License.
- Apply for admission to the education program within the first 12 credits of graduate work. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in delayed completion of the degree program.
Program Completion Requirements for the Master’s in Education Degree
Candidates for the Master in Education must register for ED 503 Thesis/Project to complete a thesis or project during the last year of their program following Southern Oregon University’s Guidelines and Style Manual for Theses and Projects.
Master of Arts or Science in Education: Professional Non-licensure track
The MEd Professional Track is a non-licensure Master’s degree. This program is an interdisciplinary program that offers students the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to explore and leverage multiple perspectives within the expansive discipline of education. Students are introduced to career opportunities and are prepared as future leaders through an individualized program in education. Some examples of emphasis include early childhood education, health education, postsecondary education, environmental education, family literacy, community education, educational management, policy, technology, and learning.
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