Education, MAE

Master of Arts in Education

Introduction

This program allows candidates to pursue a rigorous interdisciplinary program in the foundations of education. The degree is well suited to international students, experienced teachers, and liberal arts degree holders who wish to develop expertise in curriculum development, teaching practices, and program evaluation. The Master of Arts in Education program does not satisfy the requirements for teaching licensure in Oregon.

Upon admission into the graduate program, the candidate is assigned a faculty advisor to assist in designing the planned program of study. This planned program must be approved by the program coordinator and the Director of the School of Learning and Teaching before the end of the first semester following admission. Meetings should be scheduled with advisors at least once a semester.

Required Coursework

Candidates must complete, within a 6-year period, a minimum of 30 credits in individual planned programs, which include the following. All grades must be C or above; C- will not fulfill degree requirements.

Foundation Core (6 credits)

Courses marked with the * typically are not available to traditional MAE students, but are for students transitioning out of the MAT program into the MAE program.

EDUC 670 - Intro to Professional Inquiry 1 credit(s)
OR
EDUC 612 - Teaching & Inquiry I: Fundamentals 1 credit(s) *
OR
EDUC 602 - Teacher As Researcher I 1 credit(s) *
EDUC 671 - The Scholarship of Teaching 1 credit(s)
OR
EDUC 653 - Teaching & Inquiry II: Critical Perspective 2 credit(s) *
OR
EDUC 603 - Teacher As Researcher II 1 credit(s) *
EDUC 674 - Planning the Inquiry Project 2 credit(s)
OR
EDUC 614 - Teaching & Inquiry III: Analysis 2 credit(s) *
EDUC 672 - Classroom Student Teaching 1-15 credit(s)
OR
EDUC 675 - Completing the Inquiry Project 2 credit(s) *

Professional Education Coursework: 24 credits

Candidates may select courses from the EDUC, ESOL, EDLD, ESTM, EDTL, RDNG, or SPED prefixes, selected with advisor.

Thesis

The capstone experience is a thesis, giving candidates an opportunity to synthesize professional education in the clinical setting. All Master of Arts in Education candidates will be appointed an Advisor who will guide the development, implementation and presentation of a research project.

Additional Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted until November 1 for the spring semester and until July 1 for the fall semester.

Three recommendations, including one from each of the following:
- an individual with direct knowledge of applicant’s academic capabilities,
- an individual knowledgeable about applicant’s interest in schools and educational issues,
- an employer.
Statement of purpose explaining why the applicant is seeking this interdisciplinary degree.

Selection Process

The selection committee screens the applicant pool. Selection is based on the published minimum requirements for admission and the following criteria: depth and breadth of undergraduate preparation, strength of recommendations, and written communication skills and critical thinking skills as assessed in an essay. Selected applicants are invited for a personal interview and, at that time, asked to complete a timed writing sample.

Transfer of credits is considered and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The number of transferrable credits will be determined by the Program Director, although typically not more than 10.

Program Length: 1-2 years

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Master of Arts in Education will:

Refine skills in designing learning experiences that meet the educational needs of individual students within a collaborative learning community
Demonstrate how to design, implement, and analyze instruction that is based on state and national standards
Effectively collaborate in learning communities
Ability to contribute to school improvement.