2023-24 Academic Catalog

Master of Education

Overview

The Master of Education program is designed to fulfill the professional development needs of educators who specialize in different aspects of P-12 education and other educational related fields. There are two different specialties from which candidates can choose:

  • 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)

Degree Outcomes for a Master of Education Student

  • P-12 Classroom teacher leader
  • Building/District leadership
  • Online teaching pioneer/settler with pedagogical expertise

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Dynamic student access to Professional Learning Networks
  • Strengthen professional identity of each teacher to include the habits of scholarship (use and evaluation of research, participation in research, evaluation of programs)

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 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

Transfer credit may be allowed in the Master of Education program on a case by case basis 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

The 30 hours required for the Master of Education program consists of 15 hours of core courses and 15 hours of a selected specialization. The 15 hours of core courses must be taken from George Fox University. The core courses within the Master of Education program are delivered online.

All work leading to the Master of Education is regularly completed within a pre-determined semester cycle within a cohort model. Any extensions required must be approved by the MEd faculty. A leave of absence enables a student to be absent from the program for one year but after that time, students must reapply to the program, accepting responsibility for all changes made to the program. Length of program may vary from 4-7 semesters depending on start date.

Course Requirements

The Master of Education program is generally 4-7 semesters in length with 30 total semester hours of coursework required for graduation. Of those 30 hours, 15 are in core education foundations courses, and 15 in a chosen area of specialization.

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 advanced teaching licenses in Oregon. (In some cases, additional professional tests may be required.) This MEd program may also allow 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 30 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Achieve no grade lower than a B in all core courses. If a grade of a B- or lower is received in a core course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).

Curriculum Plan

Career Outcomes:

  • P-12 classroom teacher leader
  • A district technology leader
  • Online teaching pioneer/settler

Learning Outcomes:

  • Increased student access to technology
  • Digital instructional strategies and tools, such as blogs, webs, podcasts, feedback channels, and other Web 2.0 tools, become the new norm in learning and assessment
  • A strong understanding of and adherence to ethical foundations of technology usage

Sequence of Study:

  • Each student will choose one of the specializations listed below which most aligns with her/his professional goals. The course of study will then follow that selected specialization.

Course Requirements

Required for all concentrations

Complete the following:

Students will be introduced to the six "lenses" of the EDFL Conceptual Framework and Professional Dispositions. Each student will develop a deeper understanding of personal vocation and mission in light of this overall framework by engaging each of these "lenses" to evaluate their current dispositions and work. The intent is for each student to establish a foundation of self-understanding and to become a self-reflective and analytical practitioner and learner.
This course will focus on designing curriculum units and instructional plans for a standards-based curriculum while utilizing research-based best practices for teaching, learning and assessment. There will be an emphasis on the development and implementation of an integrated interdisciplinary unti for the candidate's specific teaching or educational assignment that utilizes concept-based curriculum strategies and instructional techniques to "teach beyond the facts for the thinking classroom." In addition, students will be participating in a Professional Learning Community that will focus in on a data collection cycle to inform and evaluate practice. Students will develop assessment instruments and procedures that relate to their own disciplines. Current methods of formative assessment - including portfolios, rubrics, and other forms of authentic assessment - will guide and inform discussions.
This course examines how belief structures undergird the methods educators use to motivate people to learn. Through the light of ethical theory, students examine how organizational leaders respond to the situations they face. Students also reflect on and apply their own values and ethical understanding to shed light on case studies that represent situations they often face as educational leaders.

Complete the following:

This course will introduce students conceptually to research as a way of thinking for classroom or school improvement. As consumers of research, students will learn to search databases, analyze data, identify and summarize results to inform educational decisions. Students will be exposed to both qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, and begin to develop a literature review for their research project.
This course is designed to develop conceptual and technical skills needed for designing and implementing action research studies in classrooms, schools, and other educational settings. The focus is on the following: observing and recording behavior in school settings; problem definition and focus; sampling; data storage and retrieval systems; and trustworthiness of action research. Emphasis is placed on defining and investigating problems which require the educator to investigate strategies for improving their practice and student learning. Prerequisite: MEDU 530, Overview of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology.
This course is part two of the master's research project in which the student continues to work under the direction of the advising professor. In this final stage the student completes a written paper, publishes the work on an open-source site, and publicly presents results of the research project.

Specialization (15 hours - select one)

Complete the following:

Thoughtful classroom practice depends on sound theory. This course examines some current competing theories, looks at the implications of various literacy theories as they impact classroom decision making, and, through reading and discussion, develop a personal understanding of literacy processes. The linguistic framework of reading and its place in the language arts will also be explored.
Classroom teachers become acquainted with a wide variety of methods for assessing student progress in reading and writing. Administration and scoring of these tests will be explored. Information about how testing results can facilitate teaching and learning is the goal.
This course focuses on current methods and materials for reading/literacy instruction. The strategies used by proficient readers will be explored and teaching methods will be modeled and implemented. Methods of assessment and strategies for remediation will also be explored.
This course focuses on the issues related to public and school-based concerns about literacy learning. The discussion of issues will lead to research-based applications that can be translated into the classroom practice at the elementary, middle, or high school level.
The content of this course includes: the organization of reading programs within the context of state and federal regulation and within the structure of the school-wide program; the types of testing used to diagnose and monitor student progress; the methods that can be used to involve parents, paraprofessionals, and volunteers; and the methods available to assess program effectiveness. Observations in a variety of school settings will be organized.

Choose one of the following:

Students who have successfully completed a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at George Fox University are not required to take READ 536/537 for this endorsement.
This course focuses on the reading and writing needs of the student at the middle level and in the high school. The teaching of critical reading and writing strategies will be included as well as assessment tools. This course is required for those pursuing the middle level and high school authorizations of the reading endorsement, but is appropriate for teachers of all levels.
This course explores theoretical principles and practices based on current research. Emphasis is on strategies for coming to print, print conventions, and reading aloud. Shared, guided, and independent reading and writing is also explored. These strategies are based on theoretical assumptions from the psychology of language and cognition development and linguistics.

Complete the following:

Enrollment in the reading practicum requires successful completion of READ 530, READ 531, READ 532, READ 534 and READ 538.
The reading practicum will provide a context in which to apply methods, assessment techniques, and teaching strategies in a school setting. It will also provide opportunity for an observation of a reading program in application. The practicum setting must include assessment, teaching, and evaluation of students at both authorization levels. Prerequisites: READ 530 History and Foundations of Literacy Learning; READ 531 Analysis of Reading and Writing Assessments; READ 532 Advanced Strategies in Literacy Instruction; READ 538 Organization of Reading Programs; or by permission.

Complete the following:

Students who have successfully completed a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at George Fox University are not required to take ESOL 572 for this endorsement.
Examines the fundamental elements, processes, and patterns of oral and written language for the teacher of English to speakers of other languages. Topics include phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, morphology, orthography and writing conventions, syntax, semantics, and discourse analysis. English is the primary focus of the course, with reference to other languages commonly spoken by students in Oregon classrooms.
Examines various factors, concepts, and theories about first and second language acquisition processes and their interrelationships. The course also focuses on the application of this knowledge in ESOL classes for maximizing ESOL students' language development and academic achievement. Prerequisite or concurrent enrollment in EDFL 570.
Examines the diverse and dynamic role of culture in the ESOL students' language development and academic achievement. The course also emphasizes the application of this knowledge for instruction and the involvement of community and its resources for maximizing ESOL students' academic achievement.
Examines strategies for planning, managing, and teaching English as a second language and discipline-focused content to ESOL students. Emphasis is placed on curriculum, teaching, and learning approaches that accommodate a diverse population within the classroom. This course also focuses on strategies for collaborating with educators and community members in order to provide comprehensive, challenging educational opportunities for ESOL students.
Examines principles, issues, and approaches useful for assessing the English competencies of ESOL students. Emphases are placed on developing appropriate assessment tools for the ESOL classroom and on properly interpreting tests that are used for program placement.

Complete the following:

Enrollment in a practicum requires successful completion of ESOL 570, ESOL 571, ESOL 572 (see note above), ESOL 573 and ESOL 574.

Note: Students can add the bilingual category to the ESOL Endorsement by showing competency in a second language approved by TSPC.

A supervised practicum in an approved school demonstrating knowledge and strategies developed in the ESOL courses. Candidates set goals for professional growth in the English-language teaching field. Prerequisites: successful completion of all required ESOL courses (or their equivalent).