TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY
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Education

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Program Description

The Department of Education at Truman State University offers the Master of Arts in Education, a professional teaching degree. All prospective teachers enrolling in the professional program must complete a strong liberal arts and sciences baccalaureate degree in an academic discipline.

The basic components of the professional teacher preparation program are 1) graduate pedagogical coursework, 2) advanced content in the teaching specialty 3) the internship experience; and 4) action research. Teaching specialties include English, elementary education, exercise science, foreign language (French and Spanish), health, mathematics, music, science, history/social science, special education, and visual arts.

Students who wish to become teachers should consult their academic advisor and the Department of Education (660-785-4386) as early as possible for information.

To read more about the Master of Arts in Education, please visit the Education section of the Graduate Catalog.

 

Philosophy of the Program

The mission of the MAE is to achieve excellence through a nationally competitive professional program which ensures that the graduate will be a true professional who possesses a broad realm of knowledge as well as mastery in a subject specialization, is skilled in the art and science of learning and instructing, and exemplifies outstanding professional practice and professional ethics.

The process of developing the professional program is marked by strong cooperation with the K-12 community and based on established education research and essential knowledge of sound professional practice. The program exemplifies an integrated approach to liberal education, professional studies, and specialty studies. The "theme of reflection…binds all of the curricula together. Each program weaves instruction, practice and evaluation of reflection in coursework, field experience and assessments." (NCATE, 2003)

 

Objectives of the Program

The Master of Arts in Education program prepares students to become teachers who are proficient in a teaching or specialty field and in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of liberal learning, and who demonstrate skills for effective professional practice. The program objectives are to:

1. Prepare teachers who are distinguished by their comprehensive liberal learning, developed through the challenging liberal studies component and integration of the undergraduate degree program;

2. Prepare teachers who have mastery of the subject specialization, developed through the baccalaureate degree and through graduate courses and experiences in their chosen teaching field;

3. Prepare teachers who demonstrate professional skills of high quality, developed through solid professional education curriculum offerings and meaningful clinical and internship experiences;

4. Prepare teachers who are stimulated to exchange and implement the results of research and new knowledge in the profession;

5. Prepare teachers who function with competence and confidence in confronting issues of the profession in a pluralistic society characterized by continuous change;

6. Prepare teachers who have leadership competence in making informed professional judgments;

7. Prepare candidates who are able to enter doctoral or other professional education programs; and

8. Prepare reflective teachers who are capable of continually and critically analyzing their own professional performance which allows them to grow in a professional manner; who are characterized by habits of life-long learning; and who engage in scholarly interaction and further learning experiences.

 

Student Outcomes of the Program

The graduates of the program are expected to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and personal qualities associated with outstanding performance in the profession of teaching. They will exhibit the following characteristics:

1. Competency in the teaching, learning, and evaluation techniques/skills/technology demanded for effective professional practice and performance as a master teacher as assessed by:
     a) the state-mandated national standardized exit examination for teacher education;
     b) the academic record;
     c) the student's digital portfolio;
     d) demonstrated competency in the classroom an school setting;
     e) positive recommendations from appropriate professionals.
 
2. Proficiency in communication skills as demonstrated by:
     a) the student's undergraduate and graduate academic and assessment record;
     b) the student's academic and professional work, e.g. research, papers, videotaped sessions,
          interpersonal skills assessment, and performance in classroom setting.
 
3. Appropriate depth of knowledge in a specific discipline and mastery of teaching as demonstrated by:
     a) the academic record and the graduate grade-point average of 3.00 or above;
     b) exemplary performance in the teaching internship;
     c) testimony by appropriate participating professionals regarding the integrity of the specialty knowledge and skills;
     d) demonstrated growth in the learning and academic achievement of the students taught by the candidate for the professional degree.

4. The skills, breadth of knowledge, and attitudes characteristic of a liberally-educated person as assessed through the university-wide assessment model and the portfolio assessment programs;

5. The ability to conduct professional research and to utilize, with appropriate applications, such research and professional publications as demonstrated through:
     a) the MAE candidate portfolio, the research component, and the comprehensive examination of the
          MAE Evaluation Plan;
     b) independent work and inquiry;
     c) faculty and student interaction.

6. The ability to critically analyze student results and make decisions which positively impact future student performance, as demonstrated in the internship and research component;

7. Personal qualities of integrity, courtesy, compassion, and respect for all cultures as assessed through
     a) the MAE candidate portfolio and other elements of the MAE Evaluation Plan;
     b) biographical information;
     c) recommendations of participating professionals;
     d) videotaped sessions;
     e) other personal skills assessments.

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Admission Requirements

Students are admitted into the MAE on the basis of scholastically competitive criteria. Requirements for admission to graduate study are listed in the Academic Information section of this catalog. Admission to the MAE program is a three-step process:

1. Admission to the Truman State University Graduate School,

2. Recommendation of the faculty in the specialty area, and

3. Recommendation of the MAE Admissions Committee.

 

Information Considered in the Admission Process:

1. The applicant's grade point average and academic record (an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher is preferred, but a minimum of 2.75 is required to apply);

2. The GRE General Examination results;

3. The liberal arts and sciences foundation of each student's baccalaureate degree program; program deficiencies must be removed through satisfactory completion of appropriate coursework.

4. Three letters of recommendation;

5. The applicant's resume;

6. The Admissions Committee may require a personal interview.

7. Online Application, $40 Application fee,and the MAE Application/Personal Statement (Upload in the online application)

 

Note: Students applying to secondary specialty areas should check with the respective departments for supplemental materials that may be required.

 

MAE English specialty area applicants must submit a portfolio as part of the application procedure. Guidelines for the MAE admissions portfolio are available in the English & Linguistics Department Office.

To ensure a fall semester internship placement, MAE candidates are advised to submit application materials to the Graduate Office in MC 203 by October 31 of the previous year.

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More Information

For more information, contact the Education Department:

Education Department Chair                                                      Certification Office

Dr. Paul Yoder                                                                                 Sheila Berkowitz
Truman State University                                                                Education Department
100 E. Normal                                                                                 Truman State University
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221                                                           100 E. Normal
(660) 785-4386                                                                               Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
                                                                                                           (660) 785-4395

Also, you may visit the Education Department's website.

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Degree Requirements

Elementary Education

Gifted Certification

Truman has added gifted certification courses in St. Louis for teachers who are interested in earning gifted certification. Teachers pursuing certification must have MO certification and two years of teaching experience.

Middle School Education

Truman recommends MAE students take the following courses if they are interested in teaching at the middle school level:

Note: To become certified as a middle school teacher, students need to earn a satisfactory score on the appropriate state-mandated national standardized examination. Contact the Department of Education for specific information.

Professional Education Core:

Undergraduate Prerequisite Courses: 11 Credit Hours

The professional core curriculum for the Master of Arts in Education includes the following courses

Notes:
*Required prior to internship.
**Required prior to internship for those seeking secondary/K-12 certification.
***The course, Management of Instruction, is offered under a 608G number in each teaching specialty, and is required prior to internship. Admission to the MAE is required.
Note one: Concentration requirements are as follows:   
(Elementary Ed 6 hours)   
(Special Ed 6 hours)  
(Secondary/K-12 Ed 3 hours)
#Special Education majors will substitute SED 691G Applied Educational Psychology for Special Education.
##Special Education majors will substitute SED 693G Internship in Special Education.
$Students enroll in either 607G and 681G or in 632G. 632G is an optional replacement for 607G and 681G.

Minimum total hours of graduate credit required

  • Elementary Education: 38
  • Secondary Education: 34-35
  • Special Education: 40

All MAE students are required to be continuously enrolled in graduate-level or certification courses (as stated on the student’s Individual Plan of Study) at Truman after they complete their internships until and including the semester in which their research and portfolio receive final approval. Final approval occurs during the semester when the completed and signed Report of the Examining Committee form and the Digital Portfolio Approval form have been received in the Graduate Office before the published deadlines for that semester. This enrollment includes spring, fall, and the June summer session. Students may meet this requirement by repeatedly enrolling in ED 681G for 1 hour of credit, enrolling in another approved course, or receiving a waiver from the Department Chair of Education as approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

 

Internship

MAE students’ grades in courses are one indicator of success in meeting program requirements; another is professional deportment. MAE students who do not demonstrate professionalism necessary for success in the internship, as determined by supervising faculty and mentor teachers, may need to complete additional supervised experiences prior to the internship.

The internship is one of the capstone experiences of the professional teacher preparation program. Students are required to intern for a minimum of one public school semester in an approved school. With prior approval of the Department of Education, students may choose to seek a yearlong experience. The teaching intern has an earned academic degree, has experienced an orientation to teaching, and, in most cases, is provisionally certified. The Department of Education, University supervisors, and public school personnel coordinate internship placements. The specialty area supervisor (University representative) must approve the final placement. To ensure that program requirements are met, professional assistance is provided during the internship by the administrator, mentor teacher, and University representative. NOTE: Schools require some or all of the following screenings prior to placement in clinical experiences and/or internships: state and/or federal criminal conviction records, fingerprint record check, TB test results, Division of Family Service records and information from references, schools and employers. Failure to clear any of these screenings may result in not obtaining a recommendation for a teaching certificate, consequently preventing the completion of the internship and graduation from the MAE. For further information, contact the Director of Field Experiences.

 

Advanced Content in the Teaching Specialty

A minimum of twelve hours of graduate coursework in the specialty area is required. The specialty area requirements are:

English: 12 Credit hours

Elementary Education: 12 Credit Hours

Exercise Science: 12 Credit Hours

Required: (ES 502 and 503 are both required for teacher certification; students who complete one of these courses at the undergraduate level must take the opposite course to meet this graduate requirement.)

Note: ED 681G is not required for the Exercise Science MAE program.

and/or

Select six hours from the following:

Foreign Language

French: 12 Credit Hours

To increase the candidate’s understanding and mastery of the French language and Francophone culture, 12 hours of graduate French coursework are required, to be taken on campus and in an approved study abroad program. The candidate will take two of the following courses offered on campus, generally during the summer session:

For the remaining six credit hours

The candidate should select a study abroad program offering advanced-level study in language, literature, culture, methodology or applied French linguistics. Summer institutes for practicing teachers ideally meet the study abroad requirement. NOTE: Programs and courses must be approved by the French faculty prior to enrollment.

Spanish: 12 Credit Hours

To increase the candidate’s understanding and mastery of the Spanish language and its culture, 12 hours of graduate MAE coursework or the equivalent are required and will be determined by the Spanish faculty.

NOTE: A maximum of 6 graduate hours of the 12 graduate hours in Spanish required for the MAE Degree may be transferred from outside institutions toward the MAE in Spanish. No credit from other foreign languages will be accepted toward the 12 hour requirement in Spanish.

History-Social Science: 12 Credit Hours

or

Mathematics: 12 Credit Hours

Math: Select 9 hours from at least two of the following areas as indicated

Analysis: 0-6 Credit Hours

Algebra: 0-6 Credit Hours

Geometry-Topology: 0-6 Credit Hours

Applied Mathematics: 0-6 Credit Hours

Probability and Statistics: 0-6 Credit Hours

Special Topics: 0-3 Credit Hours

Music: 12-13 Credit Hours

Note: ED 681G is not required for the Music MAE Program.

Science: 12 Credit Hours

Select at least nine hours from the courses listed below

(PLEASE NOTE: BIOL 503/503G is required for Biology certification. If not completed within the BA/BS Degree in Biology, it must be taken as an MAE course.)

Special Education: 19 Credit Hours

All of the following courses are required and must be completed prior to internship:

Note: Special Education majors will not take ED 603G or ED 605G as listed in the MAE core curriculum.

Visual Arts: 12 Credit Hours

Select three to five hours from graduate courses in Studio Art to total 12: 3-5

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