Elementary Education, MSEd

Program Description

The graduate program in Elementary Education is designed primarily for practicing educators who desire to continue their professional growth toward master teacher with deeper knowledge and advanced skills in elementary teaching. With a curriculum focusing on theory, practice and content knowledge, candidates completing this degree are prepared for greater responsibility within their district, the role of mentor to colleagues and preservice teachers or pursuit of doctoral studies.

The program requires a minimum of 33 semester hours with 15 hours of required courses and 18 hours of elective courses. All required courses may be competed online; elective courses are offered in a combination of face to face or online. Students may apply their elective course hours towards earning a MSU Graduate Certificate in one of the following areas: Curriculum and Instruction, Gifted and Talented Education, Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics Specialist, Environmental STEM for Teachers, Literacy, Student Mental Health, Family and Community Support, or TESOL. Or students may earn a graduate certificate in a different area that is approved by the Coordinator of the Elementary Education Graduate Program.

Successful completion of focus area coursework provides eligibility for an MSU Graduate Certificate. Graduate certificates may be earned independently or as part of the MSEd in elementary education program. Students must formally apply for admission to a graduate certificate program separately from the admission to the MSEd, Elementary Education program. The graduate certificate is awarded upon successful completion of course work in the focus area and the certificate will be placed in the official university transcript.

Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to this program, a student must submit a Graduate Application and meet the following criteria.

1. Students must possess a bachelor’s degree and must meet the requirements for admission to graduate study.
2. A minimum GPA of 3.00 for courses taken in the undergraduate area of study. Candidates who do not meet the GPA requirement must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) earning a minimum combined score of 290. Results from the GRE must be provided prior to the candidate’s registering for more than nine hours.
3. Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet the university requirements for admission as defined by International Services.
4. A letter of intent describing the applicant’s professional goals and teaching philosophy, future plans, background information, teaching experiences, and/or other related experiences with children.
5. A copy of an appropriate teaching certificate or eligibility for teacher certification by a state agency should be submitted. Application without certification or eligibility may be accepted with permission from the Coordinator of the Elementary Education Graduate Program or the Director of the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences.
6. One confidential letter of recommendation from a professional familiar with the candidate’s academic abilities and teaching potential.
7. A resume.

A candidate who does not meet all of the above criteria, but who demonstrates outstanding potential, may be fully admitted on the basis of individual merit and successful completion of the first nine hours (3.00 GPA or higher) by the Coordinator of the Elementary Education Graduate Program or the Director of the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences.