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MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE (M.ED.)

The Teacher Education programs offered by Marist College are integrally linked to the College's Mission, emerging from a longstanding dedication to the preparation of teachers, and both shaped by and shaping the direction taken by the College as it has developed into an institution that is recognized as one of the leading private liberal arts colleges in the Northeast. Marist College introduces this new Master of Education Degree (M.Ed.) program to help address the continuing demand for well prepared teachers in New York State. Graduates of the M.Ed. program will meet the academic requirements for initial New York teacher certification in Adolescence Education (Grades 7–12) in a specific content area (Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Mathematics, Social Studies or Spanish). The program reflects the particular areas of focus for which Marist College teacher education is widely noted, including an emphasis on assessment, human development, technology as a tool of instruction, and students with disabilities, all of which are interwoven throughout the curriculum.

Students seeking the M.Ed. with initial teacher certification in Adolescence Education complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits as described below. In addition, students are required to demonstrate successful completion of the state's general education and specific content area requirements, and pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examination (NYSTCE) – Content Specialty Test (CST) for their respective content areas and the NYSTCE – Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), in order to matriculate into the program. Consistent with state regulations, this graduate program concurrently meets the master's degree requirements for professional certification. Because each teaching field has course distribution requirements specified by the State, candidates who do not have an undergraduate major in the field in which they are seeking certification are advised by the chair in the various arts and science discipline departments in order to ascertain needed course requirements in the content area. In addition, an elective course requirement enables the academic advisor to specify particular requirements based on an individual candidate's interests, needs, and experience.

All students will complete the Pedagogical Core requirements and other required courses described below. In addition, all students are required to complete, submit, and defend an electronic portfolio based on the INTASC (Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium) Standards.

Admission to the program will occur on a rolling basis.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Admissions requirements for the Master of Education degree are as follows:

• the completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
• completion of an academic major or its equivalent in the area of certification sought;
• completion of the content core (30 credits) in an undergraduate major or equivalent for which you are seeking initial certification in one of the following subject areas -Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Spanish;
• passing score on both the LAST and the CST in the area of certification sought;
• submission of two letters of recommendation;
• an application essay describing prior educational experience and professional goals;
• an interview with faculty admissions committee.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for the Master of Education Degree, a candidate must:

• complete all requirements not later than five years after matriculation;
• complete a minimum of 36 graduate credits as prescribed in the curriculum requirements, including the pedagogical core curriculum;
• maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade–point average in graduate courses;
• submit and defend an electronic portfolio to the satisfaction of program faculty during the candidate's final semester.

Candidates who fail to maintain a 3.0 or higher grade–point average, or do not demonstrate the dispositions necessary to assume the responsibilities of a classroom teacher, are subject to dismissal from the program after review by the Department of Education.