Education, Leadership in Higher Education Specialization, MEd

Description of Program

The MEd program is designed for students focused on developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for leadership roles within diverse fields of PK12, higher education, and adult learning environments. Students in this program will critically analyze a broad range of theories, current trends, practices, and knowledge specific to their discipline. Each specialization prepares graduate students for making informed, ethical decisions and improvements to current educational, organizational, and societal issues.

Program Learning Outcomes

The MEd program in the School of Education has a common set of learning outcomes across all specializations. Upon completion of the MEd program, students will be able to:

1. Examine educational issues to make informed, ethical decisions and recommendations in diverse instructional and organizational settings.
2. Apply professional skills, dispositions, and technology options for leading and educational diverse groups.
3. Analyze current research, theories, and instructional practices in educational and organizational environments.
4. Communicate with diverse audiences about educational theories, research, and practices.
5. Investigate evidence-based solutions for addressing educational, organizational, and societal issues.

Basis for Admissions

In addition to general requirements for admission to an MEd program, applicants to the MEd program with specialization in PK-12 Principal Leadership must have:

• A prior GPA of 2.5 or better,
• A public school teaching license/certificate,
• A minimum of 3 years’ successful, full-time teaching experience, and
• Additional requirements as specified in the NCU PLCS Application form.

Time to Completion

Northcentral University allows 5 years to complete all 30 credit hour master’s programs (36 credit hours if enrolled in the PK-12 Principal Leadership specialization that prepares candidates to meet Arizona State certification requirements). Students who are considering any degree program are strongly encouraged to check specific state requirements carefully to be sure any degree program they consider will be accepted for purposes of certification or recertification, promotion, or advancement on school district salary schedules.

The MEd degree program has the following graduation requirements:

• A minimum of 18 credit hours (36 credit hours for the PK-12 Principal Leadership Specialization) of graduate instruction must be completed through Northcentral.
• Successful completion of any PK-12 core course signature assignments with a “B” or better. (Signature assignments in all PL specialization courses must also be completed with a “B” or better.)
• Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University. (The PL specialization does not permit transfer credit.)
• The PL certification specialization has additional degree requirements. Please see the PL Handbook for specific information.

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the master’s degree for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. (This does not apply to the specialization in PK-12 Principal Leadership, in which case all courses must be taken at NCU for certification purposes.)

Students who are unable to complete a degree program within the stated time limits are dismissed. If a student believes they have extenuating circumstances they may document the circumstances and send a request for consideration to their respective School Dean or designee. Exceptions to the policy are determined on a case-by-case basis and are granted only once.

Normal Time to Completion

Normal time to completion for this program is 40 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most Northcentral students are working adults balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

The normal time disclosed above reflects the experience of students who may have entered under different program requirements. In the quest for continuous improvement, academic leadership has revised the program to optimize curriculum and pace, facilitate student learning, and improve chances for success. Therefore, the program is now designed for students enrolling today to take advantage of these revised course structures, lengths, and schedules. New students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 15 months.

Rio Salado College Post-Baccalaureate Transfer Students

The Northcentral University Post-Baccalaureate Master of Education (36 credit) program of study is part of an articulation agreement designed for Rio Salado College (RSC) teacher preparation post-baccalaureate transfer students. This collaborative educational partnership is designed to serve as a master’s degree completion program specifically for RSC students. The Master’s Degree in Education allows for up to 18 credits to be transferred to NCU embracing the principle that transfer students should not be required to repeat competencies already achieved.

The credits may apply to the following specializations:

• Curriculum and Teaching
• Early Childhood Education
• Special Education
• English as Second Language
• General Education

The Curriculum and Teaching, Early Childhood Education, Special Education and English as a Second Language are PK-12 specialization accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).

Rio Salado students pursuing this program of study should work closely with an enrollment advisor specifically assigned to work with this unique partnership. The enrollment advisor will work with Rio Salado students to request a complete evaluation of credits toward this Post-Baccalaureate Master of Education Degree.

The following courses are required in all Master of Education specializations:

Certification and Licensing

The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The MEd program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country. The one exception to this is the MEd program with a specialization in PK-12 Principal Leadership which has been approved by the Arizona Department of Education to prepare candidates for certification as PK-12 school principals in the State of Arizona. Certification requirements vary by state. Students are advised to contact their state department of education or local school district for guidance in obtaining certification or licensure, or for approval in fulfilling district level incentive programs. Prospective candidates are responsible for learning and following any requirements for licensure, recertification, etc. in the state(s) where they wish to apply the degree.

There are several reasons why an educator would want to pursue a graduate degree in education that does not lead to state licensing or certification.

Reasons may include:

• “Move up” steps on the salary schedule.
• Improve skills and professionalism in general or to pursue a “leadership” position inside or outside the classroom (school-based or district level, or non PK-12).
• Advance as a “teacher leader” through a graduate degree (already has a bachelor’s degree and certification).
• Meet the needs of increasingly diverse students.
• Work outside of a traditional PK-12 classroom environment (i.e. trainer, educational consultant).

School of Education Curriculum

The School of Education curriculum emphasizes a combination of learning theory, instructional strategies, and technology integration for educators working with any grade level, and within professional associations, organizations or as a consultant. The emphasis is on students transforming theory immediately into practice and faculty tailoring instruction to enhance student understanding and achievement. The program aims to produce graduates who understand the scope, pace, and magnitude of the transformation of education within the world that is taking place; and to assist students to meet the challenges of state and national standards (if desired), while meeting the learning needs of educators who work beyond the classroom.

State of the Art Content

The School of Education sequence of courses undergoes constant review to ensure that while maintaining depth of focus, the program continually includes latest educational innovations and provides participants the tools to incorporate them into pedagogy. The curriculum content and related URL links are current and pertinent. All School of Education courses are continually updated to reflect the latest developments in instructional technology to support instruction.

MEd students may select a specialization track from the list of courses offered via the School of Education. All MEd students are required to take either ED 6002-8  or ED 6003-8  as the Capstone Course for their program, with the exception of those who select the PK-12 Principal Leadership certification specialization. (PL candidates complete a 16-week capstone internship in PL 6010-8  and PL6011-8, which includes completion of an action research project.)

Required Foundation Course – 3 credit hours

• EDU5000-8 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Education

Required Capstone Course – 3 credit hours

• ED6002-8 - Action Research Project Capstone or
• ED6003-8 - PK-12 Specialization Action Research Capstone