2023-2024 Catalogue

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Wesleyan's unique Master of Education program invites practicing classroom teachers who believe in the power of authentic learning, who desire a shift from mundane educational trends, and who wish to become active inquirers to join us in a journey of self discovery, organic learning experiences, and active research around timeless and proven classroom practices.

The program is designed around 5 foundational beliefs:

1. The classroom as a community of inquiry.
2. The power of play and creativity in the learning process.
3. The importance of mindfulness and interacting with the natural world.
4. The value of building literacy through oral language skills.
5. The benefits of integration of content across the curriculum.

M.Ed. Learning Outcomes

Through course work and experiences in this program, the student will be able to:

1. Develop the values, commitments, and ethics that positively impact the educational community as well as the educator's own professional growth.
2. Develop an understanding of the relationship between content and content-specific pedagogy, instructional strategy, and teaching techniques.
3. Develop meaningful learning experiences that improve student learning and achievement, collaborate with other education professionals, and reflect on their practices.
4. Make data-driven decisions about student learning and achievement, continuous school improvement, and professional practice through the design and implementation of an action-research project implemented in their classrooms.
5. Align educational objectives to content and the Common Core Curriculum/Georgia Performance Standards.
6. Defend the effectiveness of their practices through student outcome and achievement and justify instructional choices in regard to the five foundational beliefs.
7. Demonstrate awareness through establishing a level of consciousness, connectedness, and understanding pertaining to a chosen area of expertise. This includes a candidate's ability to evaluate and analyze current research in this area and to contribute to this body of knowledge.
8. Convey the concept of agency by actively engaging in the educational process as change agents. Having agency implies that the candidate realizes she has the power to act within her classroom, school and community. Also, implicit in such a concept of agency is recognition of expertise on the part of the teacher. Being able to claim expertise strengthens agency as it equips an educator with a base of knowledge from which to speak with authority and conviction. Having agency means educators have the tools to fight against the de-skilling of teachers.
9. Demonstrate competence in articulating and advocating for sound professional practices and public policies for the positive development and learning of all children.
10. Demonstrate the process or state of acting or of being active through both physical and mental activity. By processing the theoretical concepts, research, and outcomes candidates ultimately take action toward implementing effective changes in the classroom, schools, districts, and ultimately the chosen area of expertise ultimately connected to the 5 foundational beliefs.

Program of Study. The M.Ed. program is designed to allow a cohort of candidates to earn a graduate degree in the area of elementary education (P-5). This summer-to-summer program requires a total of 35 semester hours taken in the sequence outlined.

Summer-to-Summer Program Leading to the M.Ed. in Elementary Education: Total Credits, 35

Year 1: Summer

• EDU 521: The Art of Inquiry, 3 hours
• EDU 532: Innovative Practices in Elementary Education, 4 hours
• EDU 533: Developing Learning Communities, 5 hours

Year 1: Fall

• EDU 522: The Art of Inquiry: Action Research, 1 hour
• EDU 536: Reading and the Brain: The Neuroscience of Literacy, 4 hours
• EDU 535: Advanced Pedagogy and Methods in STEM Content, 4 hours

Year 1: Spring

• MAT 513: Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis, 3 hours
• EDU 530: Stories Make the World, 4 hours
• EDU 523: The Art of Inquiry: Analyzing Data, 1 hour

Year 2: Summer

• EDU 524: The Art of Inquiry: Publishing and Presenting, 4 hours
• EDU 544: Exploring Educational Venues, 2 hours

The courses in the M.Ed. program do not build upon each other in any type of sequential content hierarchical way. The major outcome for the program is the publication of an educationally focused action research question. The candidates formulate, research, implement, and assess this question within their classrooms throughout the program therefore the EDU 521, 522, 523, and 524 sequence of research classes are spread across several semesters to provide the necessary support for this final requirement.

The course that introduces candidates to the rigor required in graduate level research is at the beginning of the program along with the development of learning communities and creative expressions class. This sequence provides candidates immediate exposure to some of the most current research in the field in specific content areas and in regard to current best practice and pedagogy. Being exposed to this research early in the program allows the candidate to formulate the question they intend to use as the foundation for the action research paper based on current issues and trends that are applicable to their interests and needs and supported by our foundational beliefs.

The probability and statistics course is purposefully placed in the spring semester to provide support for the candidates during the most probable time in which they will be collecting the data from the action research question. The data analysis section of the final paper is completed as part of the course requirements.

The final sequence of courses at the end of the program is meant to allow the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate what they've gained from the program. The research class is designed to provide the support the candidates need to pull together the rest of the action research conducted throughout the year into a publishable format. The exploring educational venues course puts candidates in a real instructional setting with real children and asks them utilize or analyze best practices observed or attained throughout the program in a meaningful way.

The Cohort. The candidate will enter and complete the program as part of the same cohort. Candidates will follow the prescribed course calendar along with their cohort members during the 14 month period of their degree program.

Deviations from the prescribed course calendar are not allowed except in cases of emergency. These will be decided on a case-by-case basis by majority vote of the Graduate Admissions Committee with the approval of the Provost of the College. Candidates are required to participate in all cohort activities, including the two travel/study experiences and occasional cohort meetings.

Admission Requirements

1. Complete all parts of the application form and mail to: Wesleyan College; Office of Enrollment Services; 4760 Forsyth Road; Macon, GA 31210-4462. We prefer that you apply online.

2. Applicants must provide the following:

1. three letters of professional reference
2. official transcript from the institution from which a Bachelor's degree was earned
3. a copy of a valid professional teaching certificate or evidence of having been the teacher of record in a classroom for at least two years.

3. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by an institutional accreditor with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4 point scale. Students from foreign universities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

4. Applicants must pass an assessment of graduate writing skills (embedded in the online application) to be administered by Wesleyan College faculty.

Tuition and Fees. Tuition and fees may change each year.
Tuition $15,000
Graduation fee $150
Tuition for the M.Ed. is a total amount for the entire program and is not computed by cost per semester hour. The tuition may be made in two payments. The first payment is due the day before orientation classes begin; the second payment due date will be announced at the first orientation session of each cohort. No adjustment of charges will be made after the first day of classes. The M.Ed. program does not provide tuition reimbursement. The full tuition includes the cost of all textbooks, and 2 trips (One self-planned, and one 2-day trip to the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta).

Graduation Requirements. The candidate must complete the 35 hours required for the M.Ed. with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average on all work attempted. A minimum of 29 hours must be taken at Wesleyan College.

Note that courses taken under previous Wesleyan Master of Arts in Elementary Education and Master of Arts in Middle Grades Math and Science Education programs do not transfer to the current M.Ed. program.

 

Find out more about this program.