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2012-2013 Academic Catalog and Handbook

Master of Education

Master of Education

(MEd degree)

Purpose

The Master of Education program is designed to fulfill the professional development needs of educators who specialize in different aspects of K-12 and higher education. There are eight different specialties from which students can choose:
  • Curriculum and Instruction (Students may elect to complete the TSPC requirements for the Initial or Continuing Teaching License.)
  • Literacy
  • Reading (meets TSPC requirements for the Reading Specialist Endorsement along with passing the Reading Praxis exam)
  • English as a Second Language (meets TSPC requirements for the ESOL Endorsement along with passing the ESOL Praxis exam)
  • Library Media (meets TSPC requirements for the Library Media Endorsement along with passing the Library Media Praxis exam)
  • Secondary Education (meets TSPC requirements for the standard teaching license)
  • Educational Leadership (meets TSPC requirements for the Initial Administrator License along with passing the Educational Leadership Praxis exam)
  • Higher Education

Program Objectives

Educational Objectives

To enable students to:

  • Hone the personal development and professional teaching skills needed to guide students in today's world
Professional Objectives

To enable students to:

  • Fulfill their professional development needs as educators who specialize in different aspects of K-12 and higher education

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the MEd program must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in most recent 60 semester or 90 quarter hours (and an explanation if the grade point is below 3.0). In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:

  • Master of education application form and application fee
  • One- to two-page essay as described in the application
  • One official transcript from all colleges or universities attended
  • Three references (forms provided in the application materials).

Applicants seeking to meet TSPC licensure or endorsement requirements upon completion of the program must also complete the following:

  • Verification of valid Oregon teaching license or the equivalent, such as an expired or out-of-state license, education degree, or documented and appropriate teacher experience (applicants to the program that do not have a teaching license should submit a letter of explanation as to how the program would meet their professional goals.)
  • Completed Teachers Standards and Practices Character Questionnaire

Transfer Credit

Upon approval by the department, transfer of up to 10 hours credit is allowed toward the Master of Education program from accredited graduate schools. Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the registrar's office for information on eligibility of transfer credit.

Residence Requirements

Of the 36 hours required for the Master of Education program, a minimum of 26 hours must be taken in resident study at George Fox University. All work leading to the Master of Education must be completed within seven years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires approval of the Educational Foundations and Leadership (EDFL) Faculty. However, only one such extension may be considered due to special circumstances, such as ill health. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Course Requirements

The Master of Education program is generally 2-3 years in length with 36 semester hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 7 are in core education foundations courses, 8 in prescribed research courses, and 21 hours in a chosen area of specialization or electives.

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to the core requirements, students must complete the following requirements:

  • No later than completion of 10 semester hours, a degree-seeking student must complete the MEd degree application process.
  • Each degree-seeking student will be assigned a graduate faculty advisor who will assist the student in planning his or her proposed course of study.
  • The approved course of study must be completed to earn the degree for each specialization.
Licensure in Oregon and Other States

Upon completion of the MEd degree, students will be eligible for the Oregon Continuing Teaching License. (In some cases, additional professional tests may be required.) The flexibility of the program often allows students to meet the licensure or recertification requirements of other states as well. Non-Oregon students will need to check each particular state's licensing criteria before designing the MEd program.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with the MEd degree students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Achieve no grade lower than a C in all core courses. If a grade of a C- or lower is received in a designated course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).

Curriculum Plan



Foundations Core (7 hours)
EDFL 507 Foundations of Educational Practice 2
EDFL 703 Bibliographic Research and Writing 2
 
Students must select one of the following courses:
EDFL 670 Ethical Foundations of Education 3
EDFL 671 Ethical Perspectives on Educational Leadership 3
Research Core (8 hours)
EDFL 700 Qualitative and Quantitative Research 3
 
Students must select one of the following specific research design courses:
EDFL 706 Experimental Research Designs 2
EDFL 707 Survey Research Designs 2
EDFL 708 Program Evaluation Research Designs 2
EDFL 709 Ethnographic and Case Study Research Designs 2
EDFL 710 Historical Research Designs 2
EDFL 716 Action Research Designs 2
 
Research course work to be completed with advisor and research project committee:
EDFL 711 Master's Project Proposal 1
EDFL 712 Master's Project Research 1
EDFL 713 Master's Presentation 1
EDFL 714 Master's Research II (registration continuation as needed) 1-4
EDFL 715 Master's Research Continuation (continuation as needed) 1
 
Note: EDFL 715 is for students who do not complete their M.Ed. research in EDFL 712. Students are required to enroll in EDFL 715 each term until the research is finished; EDFL 715 is repeatable until the research is finished.

Specialization (21 hours-select one)
Curriculum and Instruction
EDFL 503 Classroom Assessment 3
EDFL 506 Research in Effective Teaching 3
EDFL 630 Advanced Developmental Psychology 2
EDFL 631 Implementing Inclusion in the Regular Classroom 2
 
Students must select 8 hours from the following restricted electives:
EDFL 500 Instructional Supervision 3
EDFL 501 Curriculum Development 2
EDFL 502 Classroom Management 3
EDFL 505 Trends and Issues in Education 3
 
Students must also select 3 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum.
 
Note:
Curriculum and instruction students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) within the program electives.
Literacy
EDFL 530 History and Foundations of Literacy Learning 2
(must be taken in the first two semesters of the program)
EDFL 532 Advanced Strategies in Literacy Instruction 2
EDFL 533 Advanced Studies in Children's and Adolescent Literature 2
EDFL 534 Issues and Applications of Literacy Instruction 2
EDFL 536 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas 2
 
Students must select 8 hours from the following electives:
EDFL 500 Instructional Supervision* 3
EDFL 501 Curriculum Development* 2
EDFL 503 Classroom Assessment 3
EDFL 505 Trends and Issues in Education 3
EDFL 506 Research in Effective Teaching* 3
EDFL 515 Selected Topics in Curriculum and Instruction 1-3
EDFL 531 Analysis of Reading and Writing Assessment 2
EDFL 538 Organization of Reading Programs 3
EDFL 570 Applied English Linguistics: Oral and Literacy Focus 3
EDFL 624 Developing Curriculum With New Technologies* 2
EDFL 638 Testing and Measurement 2
EDFL 651 Strategic Planning for Education Systems* 2
 
Students must also select 3 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum that support the literacy specialization.
 
*Research, unit, and major project should have a reading/writing-literacy focus, if possible.
 
Note:
  • Literacy students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) within the restricted electives and electives.
  • Students who have completed the MEd in literacy can add the Literacy Endorsement by taking EDFL 531 Analysis of Reading and Writing Assessment, EDFL 538 Organization of Reading Programs, completing one of the reading practicums, and passing the Praxis test for the Reading Endorsement and meet current TSPC requirements. All courses must be completed within seven years after graduating with the MEd in literacy.
Reading
EDFL 530 History and Foundations of Literacy Learning 2
(must be taken in the first two semesters of the program)
EDFL 531 Analysis of Reading and Writing Assessment 2
EDFL 532 Advanced Strategies in Literacy Instruction 2
EDFL 534 Issues and Applications of Literacy Instruction 2
EDFL 538 Organization of Reading Programs 3
 
Early Childhood/Elementary Authorization Courses
EDFL 537 Emergent Literacy 2
EDFL 539 Early Childhood/Elementary Reading Practicum 2
 
Elementary/Middle Level Authorization Courses
 EDFL 540 Elementary/Middle Level Reading Practicum 2
Students must choose one of the following courses:  
EDFL 536 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas 2
EDFL 537 Emergent Literacy 2
 
Middle Level/High School Authorization Courses
EDFL 536 Reading and Writing in the Content Area 2
EDFL 541 Middle Level/High School Reading Practicum 2
 
Students must select 3 hours from the following electives:
EDFL 500 Instructional Supervision* 3
EDFL 501 Curriculum Development* 2
EDFL 503 Classroom Assessment 3
EDFL 505 Trends and Issues in Education 3
EDFL 506 Research in Effective Teaching* 3
EDFL 515 Selected Topics in Curriculum and Instruction 1-3
EDFL 533 Advanced Studies in Children's and Adolescent Literature 2
EDFL 570 Applied English Linguistics: Oral and Literacy Focus 3
EDFL 624 Developing Curriculum With New Technologies* 2
EDFL 638 Testing and Measurement 2
EDFL 651 Strategic Planning for Education Systems* 2
 
Students must also select 3 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum that support the Reading specialization.
 
*Research, unit, and major project should have a reading/writing-literacy focus, if possible.
 
Note:
Reading students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) within the restricted electives that support the reading specialization and the electives.
English as a Second Language/Bilingual
EDFL 570 Applied English Linguistics: Oral and Literacy Focus 3
EDFL 571 Second Language Acquisition and Development 2
EDFL 572 Intercultural Communication in the ESOL/Bilingual Context 2
EDFL 573 Planning and Managing ESOL/Bilingual Curriculum and Instruction 3
EDFL 574 Assessing ESOL/Bilingual Student Learning and Language Proficiency 3
 
Students must select at least one of the following ESOL Practica:†
EDFL 578 ESOL/Bilingual Practicum - Early Childhood/Elementary 2
EDFL 579 ESOL/Bilingual Practicum - Middle/High School 2
 
Students must select 3 hours of additional ESOL electives.‡
 
Students must also select 3 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum.
 
†Students choose one or both of the practica depending on their interests. Enrollment in either practicum requires successful completion of EDFL 570, EDFL 571, EDFL 572, EDFL 573, and EDFL 574, and an application to the ESOL advisor the semester prior to the practicum. Current fingerprints and a PA-1 form are required for individuals not currently licensed and teaching in an Oregon public school.
‡In addition to the 15 hours required in the ESOL specialization an additional 3 hours of ESOL-related electives are required. Students choose the appropriate elective with the ESOL coordinator from any course in the EDFL department or any approved transfer credit.
 
Note:
  • Students can add the bilingual category to the ESOL Endorsement by showing competency in a second language approved by TSPC.
  • ESOL students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) within the restricted electives that support the English as a second language specialization and the electives.
Library Media
EDFL 550 The Dynamic School Library Media Program 3
EDFL 552 Information Literacy in the K-12 Curriculum 3
EDFL 554 Core Collection Development 3
EDFL 556 Resource Management 3
EDFL 533 Advanced Studies in Children's and Adolescent Literature 2
EDFL 567 Library Media Practicum I - Early Childhood/Elementary 2
EDFL 569 Library Media Practicum II - Middle School/High School 2
 
Students must select 3 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum.
 
Note:
  • Library media students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) within the restricted electives that support the Library Media specialization and the electives.
  • Oregon TSPC standards require two practica for the Library Media Endorsement, one at the elementary level and one at either a middle school or high school. Enrollment in either practicum requires successful completion of EDFL 550, EDFL 552, EDFL 554, EDFL 556, and EDFL 533; a copy of a current Oregon teaching license; and an application to the library media coordinator the semester prior to the practicum. The practica can be taken in any order.
Secondary Education
This specialization is designed for the high school or middle school teacher desiring to take graduate courses in their teaching content area and apply for a standard license to TSPC. This specialization requires a minimum of 10 semester hours of content area courses in the area of the basic teaching license. These courses would typically be taken as independent studies with a GFU faculty member or transferred from another graduate institution.
 
Students must select 8 hours from the following courses:
EDFL 500 Instructional Supervision 3
EDFL 501 Curriculum Development 2
EDFL 502 Classroom Management 3
EDFL 503 Classroom Assessment 3
EDFL 505 Trends and Issues in Education 3
EDFL 506 Research in Effective Teaching 3
EDFL 536 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas 2
EDFL 620 Technology in the Classroom I 2
EDFL 625 Technology in the Classroom II 1
 
Students must also select 3 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum that support the secondary education specialization.
 
Note:
Secondary education students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) within the electives.
Educational Leadership
EDFL 500 Instructional Supervision 3
EDFL 630 Advanced Developmental Psychology 2
EDFL 640 Leadership in Education 3
EDFL 646 Managing Instructional Budgets
 1
EDFL 647 Portfolio Capstone
 1
EDFL 648 Initial Administrator Practicum I 2
EDFL 649 Initial Administrator Practicum II 2
EDFL 682 Legal Perspectives on Educational Policy and Finance 3
 
Students must also select 4 hours of electives from the EDFL curriculum.
 
Note: Educational leadership students can complete their Continuing Teaching License (6 hours) if they hold the Initial Teaching License.
Higher Education
EDFL 519 Practicum 2
EDFL 634 Adult Development in Educational Organizations 3
EDFL 653 Organizational Change and Decision Making 3
EDFL 675 Faith and Learning Seminar: Faith Development 1
EDFL 687 Critical Issues in Higher Education 3
EDFL 694 History of American Higher Education 3
 
Students must select 6 hours from the following courses or another approved EDFL course:
EDFL 642 Student Life: Issues, Policy, and Planning 2
EDFL 643 Enrollment Issues: Marketing and Retention 2
EDFL 644 Advancing the Organization: Fund Raising 2
EDFL Course Descriptions
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