• UNM 2012-2013 Catalog
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Graduate Programs

The Department of Teacher Education offers graduate programs in Elementary Education, Secondary Education and Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education.

Degrees Offered:

M.A. in Elementary Education

M.A. in Secondary Education

Ph.D. and Ed.D. in Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education

Educational Specialist Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction

Elementary Education

The Elementary Education Program offers graduate degrees that contain components for licensure as an elementary educator in the State of New Mexico as well as for practicing teachers for continued professional development.

M.A. in Elementary Education (for Licensed Teachers)

32+ Credit Hours

M.A. in Elementary Education with Alternative Route to K-8 Licensure
36 Credit Hours

Prospective M.A. students must apply for admission and be formally admitted by the program faculty.  Candidates are required to develop and follow a planned program of studies made up of courses selected with the approval of a faculty advisor.  Courses taken without an advisor's prior approval may not be accepted toward completion of the M.A. degree.

Graduate Advisement:
For program information and application materials contact:

Department of Teacher Education
Hokona Hall-Zuni, Room 121
(505) 277-4533
ted@unm.edu
http://coe.unm.edu/departments/teacher-ed.html

Interested students may choose one of two program options in the M.A. in Elementary Education.  The M.A. in Elementary Education with Alternative Route to K-8 Licensure is for students who wish to obtain an elementary teaching license and a Master's degree.  The M.A. in Elementary Education is for students who already hold a teaching license.

Application Deadlines:

Summer/Fall Semester                February 15
Spring Semester                         September 15

Admissions Criteria:

M.A. in Elementary Education (for Licensed Teachers)

1. Meet UNM Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) requirements;
2. Have an overall GPA of 3.0 in the last 2 undergraduate years in the major field of study; and
3. Hold a valid teaching license.

M.A. in Elementary Education with Alternative Route to K-8 Licensure

1. Pass the New Mexico Teacher Assessment: Basic Skills Examination;
2. Meet UNM Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) requirements; and
3. Have an overall GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of university coursework.

A complete paper application packet must be submitted to the Department of Teacher Education.  Admission is based on space availability.

Curriculum Requirements for Plan I and Plan II

Each program is offered under the general requirements of either Plan I (with thesis) or Plan II (without thesis).  Students working under Plan I (thesis) will satisfy Plan I requirements as set forth in preceding parts of the College section of this catalog and other sections describing specific requirements of the Elementary Education Graduate Program.

Plan I: 26+ credit hours, plus 6 credit hours of thesis, including final oral examination.

1. A minimum of 24 hours of course work. (Many Programs of study require more than the minimum).
2. A thesis (minimum 6 hours credit).
3. EDPY 511 or other approved research course (excluding EDUC 500).
4. One curriculum course: MSET 507, EDUC 511, EDUC 542, EDUC 574 or LLSS 582.
5. At least 6 hours of 500-level courses.
6. A minimum of 7 hours in a minor content field.
7. Not more than 5 hours of workshop credit.
8. Oral examination.

Plan II: 32+ credit hours, including EDUC 590 Seminar, plus Master's examination.

Candidates working under Plan II will satisfy the requirements as set forth in earlier pages of this catalog, with the following specifications:

1. A minimum of 32 hours of course work. (Many Programs of study require more than the minimum.)
2. EDUC 500-or one 3-hour problems course EDUC 591).
3. EDUC 500 or EDPY 511.
4. One curriculum course: MSET 507, EDUC 511, EDUC 542, EDUC 574 or LLSS 582.
5. LLSS 583.
6. EDUC 590 or EDUC 579.
7. A minimum of 3-9 hours in a minor content Field.
8. At least 12 hours of 500-level courses.
9. Not more than 8 hours of workshop credit.
10. Written comprehensive examination.

NOTE: Changes in state requirements or state reform initiatives in education may require periodic revisions of the curriculum and admissions process.

Core Course Grade Replacement Information

All core courses must be passed with a B or better.  Students who fail to receive a B or better may request a grade replacement per UNM policy as described in the Graduate Program section of the UNM Catalog.

Master's Examination

After completing 9-18 credit hours, a student must consult with his/her advisor on the preferred Master's examination or thesis option.  If a student fails to successfully complete the exam and cannot make the required revisions to pass the exam by the required deadline, that student has one attempt during one calendar year to retake the M.A. Examination.

M.A. in Elementary Education (for Licensed Teachers)

This program option is designed for an applicant who already has a teaching license and may have teaching experience. This individual is interested in furthering his/her professional growth by completing a Master’s Degree that incorporates advanced study of specific areas of education such as: elementary education, mathematics education, science education, curriculum and instruction, and/or educational technology.

The M.A. in Elementary Education is designed to be a journey in personal and professional growth. In their program of studies, students will engage in purposeful work in each of the major core content strands: Social Justice, Diversity, and Transformational Practices; Instructional Strategies; Curriculum; Technology; Research; focused electives in a specialty area; and a culminating final capstone experience.  The goal is that students will improve their teaching and their thinking about the teaching process, resulting in greater depth of meaning for their students.

NOTE: Changes in state requirements or state reform initiatives in education may require periodic revisions of the curriculum and admissions process.

M.A. in Elementary Education With Early Childhood Education Concentration

Requirements for this degree and concentration may be found in the Early Childhood and Multicultural Education section of this Catalog.  Information may be obtained from the Department of Individual, Family and Community Education.  Students interested in this concentration must complete the application process noted above for the M.A. in Elementary Education.

M.A. in Elementary Education With Mathematics, Science and Educational Technology (MSET) Concentration

MSET is a concentration for elementary teachers interested in the fields of mathematics, science and educational technology.  Students will complete core content classes as determined by their faculty advisor, as well as elective classes in MSET or in the Departments of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics.  Students interested in this concentration must complete the application process noted above for the M.A. in Elementary Education. 

With the approval of the faculty advisors, students select a support content area in Mathematics, Science, or Educational Technology and complete 12 credit hours of graduate level courses.

M.A. in Elementary Education with Alternative Route to K-8 Licensure

This program is for individuals interested in obtaining a K-8 elementary teaching license and completing a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. A student in this program is one who already has a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral Degree. Students complete licensure courses, advanced field experiences through student teaching, and then begin Master's degree courses.

*can be taken for Graduate credit.

EDUC 330L does not count for graduate credit, but is required for the elementary teaching license.

When a student has completed the licensure course requirements listed above (21 hours), he/she is eligible to apply for an alternative teaching license from the State of New Mexico Public Education Department Professional License Bureau at http://www.ped.state.nm.us/licensure/.

NOTE: Changes in state requirements or state reform initiatives in education may require periodic revisions of the curriculum and admissions process.

Secondary Education

The Secondary Education Program offers licensure programs at the graduate level as well as M.A. programs for experienced classroom teachers.  Students seeking licensure as a secondary teacher (grades 7-12) must choose a teaching endorsement in Communicative Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies or World Languages (e.g., Spanish, French and German).  Licensed teachers interested in deepening their professional knowledge of teaching and learning can apply for the M.A. in Secondary Education program.

M.A. in Secondary Education

M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure

Graduate Advisement:

For program information and application materials contact:

Department of Teacher Education
Hokona Hall-Zuni, Room 121
(505) 277-4533
ted@unm.edu
http://coe.unm.edu/departments/teacher-ed.html

Application Deadlines:

M.A. in Secondary Education                           

Summer/Fall Semester                 February 1
Spring Semester                          October 1

M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure       

Summer/Fall Semester                 February 1

Applications after these dates will be considered on a needs and space available basis.  Steps in the admission process for M.A. degrees in Secondary Education can be found at our department website.

Admissions Criteria:

M.A. in Secondary Education

1. Meet UNM Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) requirements;
2. Has achieved a GPA of 3.0 as an undergraduate; and
3. Hold a valid teaching license.

M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure

1. Meet UNM Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) requirements, including an overall GPA of 3.0 as an undergraduate and a 2.5 GPA or higher in a teaching field;
2. Be within 6 credit hours of completing course requirements for a teaching field; and
3. Register for, take and pass the Basic Skills section of the New Mexico Teacher Assessment. The second and third sections, the Assessments of Teacher Competency and Content Knowledge, may be completed during or after the field experience courses.

An applicant who does not meet these requirements but wishes to apply must meet with the Secondary Education faculty member who is the advisor for the applicant's chosen content-teaching field.

Formal admission to graduate status occurs concurrently with admission to Secondary Education.

Curriculum Requirements for the M.A. Programs

M.A. programs are offered under the general requirements of Plan I (with thesis) or Plan II (without thesis) described in other sections of this Catalog.  Plan I requires a minimum of 24 semester hours plus thesis.  Plan II requires a minimum of 32 semester hours and a written exam.

1. All students must complete the M.A. core, which consists of classes in: a) educational research; b) curricular studies; c) pedagogical practices; d) educational diversity; and e) a synthesis capstone seminar.
2. Students considering a Plan I program must consult with a faculty advisor for an appropriate completion to their program.
3. A written examination must be successfully completed for all students in a Plan II program.
4. Not more than 4 credit hours of Problems (591) may be a part of the program.

Note:  Changes in state requirements or state reform initiatives in education may require periodic revisions of the curriculum and admissions process.

Core Course Grade Replacement Information

All core courses must be passed with a B or better.  Students who fail to receive a B or better may request a grade replacement per UNM policy as described in the Graduate Program section of the UNM Catalog.

M.A. in Secondary Education (Plan I or Plan II)

Prospective students must be licensed teachers.  Students may choose either Plan I or Plan II (see previous description).  In addition to the required core courses, students choose a specialty area of 12-15 credit hours from subject areas taught in the secondary schools such as language arts; social studies; mathematics; science education; technology education, etc.  The student can also define an area of interest and select courses focused on topics like teacher leadership/development and reflective practice.  They can also choose courses in other educational programs like educational administration and special education.  Students are required to develop and follow a planned program of studies made up of courses selected with the approval of a faculty advisor.  Courses taken without an advisor’s prior approval may not be accepted toward completion of the M.A. degree.

M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure (Plan II only)

Students holding a bachelor’s degree can complete requirements for a teaching license (grades 7-12) from the State of New Mexico and earn a Master's degree in Secondary Education.  Students must meet with a faculty advisor and complete an advisement form as part of the application process.  Admission is a competitive process as the Secondary Program cannot accept all who apply.  In this two-part program, students must complete licensure first before enrolling in courses leading to the M.A. degree.

The complete M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure includes three types of requirements: 1) teaching field courses; 2) professional licensure courses for a standard or alternative license; and 3) graduate courses, including Core Areas of Studies and related Licensure Specialty Area Courses.

• All post-baccalaureate students seeking Secondary Education Licensure must be admitted to the M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure program through the Office of Graduate Studies.  Students may choose to complete the Teaching Field and Licensure Requirements only.  Students in the full M.A. program have up to seven years to complete the entire degree.
• Teaching Field courses are usually completed as part of a baccalaureate degree program or other content coursework taken prior to, or in conjunction with, Professional Licensure Requirements.  They typically are not included in the graduate program requirements of the M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure.  The GPA for the Teaching Field must be 2.5 or above in order to be admitted and to enroll in the Professional Licensure courses taken in the Fall.
• Students must achieve and maintain a B or better average over all Professional Licensure courses in order to enroll in Advanced Field Experience (EDUC 595) and complete licensure requirements.
• Both undergraduate and graduate courses are included in the Professional Licensure Requirements.  Three undergraduate courses involve foundational aspects of teaching in secondary schools and are co-requisites to graduate courses.  The undergraduate courses are part of the New Mexico licensure program, but do not count towards the M.A. degree.
• If desired, up to 12 graduate credits hours from the Professional Licensure Requirements may be used to complete Specialty Area requirements for the Master's degree.
• When you have completed Teaching Field requirements and the Professional Licensure requirements listed below, you are eligible to apply for a Level I standard (24 hours) or Level I alternative (18 hours) teaching license from the State of New Mexico.

Curriculum Requirements for M.A. in Secondary Education with Licensure (45 hours)

Standard Licensure Component (24 hours):

  
Optional Alternative Licensure Component (18 hours):

Note: EDUC 362: Teaching Experience I and EDUC 595: Advanced Field Experience require off campus placement in a secondary school.  In EDUC 362: Teaching Experience I (pre student teaching), students are in the school every week assisting and teaching in one class (the same class) for the entire semester.  Days and times vary depending on the schedule at the school.  EDUC 595: Advanced Field Experience (3-6 credit hours) requires that students be at the school for the entire day, Monday-Friday, and complete related educational responsibilities for one semester.  For a standard license, students must enroll in 6 credit hours of EDUC 595.  Students pursuing an alternative license enroll for 3 credit hours.  In addition to the daily work in schools, students must also attend a seminar.

All students pursuing a Master’s degree program with licensure (33 hours) must also complete a core of graduate courses, including classes in: a) educational research; b) curricular studies in a general or specialty area; c) pedagogical practices in a general or specialty area; d) educational diversity; and e) synthesis seminar. Students may also complete up to 6 hours or more in related coursework.  Students must consult with a secondary education faculty advisor and complete an advisement form.

M.A. in Secondary Education With Mathematics, Science and Educational Technology (MSET) Concentration

MSET is a concentration for secondary teachers interested in the fields of mathematics, science and educational technology. Students will complete core content classes as determined by their faculty advisor, as well as elective classes in MSET or in the Departments of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry or Physics.  Students interested in this concentration must complete the application process noted above for the M.A. in Secondary Education.

Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education

Graduate Degrees and Post-Master’s Certificates

Ph.D. in Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education

Ed.D. in Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education

Educational Specialist Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction

Ph.D. and Ed.D. in Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education

The Ph.D. and the Ed.D. in Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education are offered in the Department of Teacher Education. These degrees provide for the study of teaching and curriculum and instruction in multicultural settings. Both the Ph.D. and Ed.D. and require a core of Foundational Studies, Curriculum Theory, Pedagogy in Teacher Education, Technology and Teacher Education and Multicultural Education/Social Justice.

Department Contact:

For program information and application materials contact:

Department of Teacher Education
Hokona Hall-Zuni, Room 121
(505) 277-4533
ted@unm.edu
http://coe.unm.edu/departments/teacher-ed.html

Applications: In addition to all materials required by the University of New Mexico Office of Admissions, the following must be submitted directly to the Department of Teacher Education: five letters of recommendation, a letter of intent, a professional writing sample, official copies of transcripts, GRE scores, and a curriculum vitae/resume.  Applicants may be asked to come in for a meeting or interview with Teacher Education faculty. 

Admission Requirements:

1. Meet graduate school and program requirements, including an overall GPA of 3.0;
2. Have three (3) years of K-12 experience in a classroom setting;
3. Hold a Master’s degree in education or related field
4. Provide GRE scores; and
5. Demonstrate evidence of potential to conduct scholarly research and produce academic writing.

A complete paper application packet must be submitted to the Department of Teacher Education.

  
Degree Requirements: The doctoral program requires 72 hours of coursework (not including the dissertation) comprised of 48 hours in the major doctoral core and 24 hours in a focused support area that will draw from academic areas outside of the College. Details for other requirements can be found in the College of Education’s description of Doctoral Programs. A midpoint evaluation is completed at 24 credit hours.

Core Course Grade Replacement Information

All core courses must be passed with a B or better.  Students who fail to receive a B or better may request a grade replacement per UNM policy as described in the Graduate Program section of the UNM Catalog.

Educational Specialist Certificate

An Educational Specialist Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction is offered for practitioners interested in studies beyond the master’s level, but not in a doctoral program. The certificate is intended to deepen knowledge and experiences in one area of interest to strengthen a practitioner’s contributions to schools, communities, and educational agencies. The certificate requires 30 hours beyond the master’s degree. Courses taken in this certificate program may not be transferred to the doctoral degree.

For more information contact:
Department of Teacher Education
Hokona Hall-Zuni, Room 121
(505) 277-4533
ted@unm.edu
http://coe.unm.edu/departments/teacher-ed.html

Department of Teacher Education Courses

Courses in the Teacher Education Program for Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Multicultural Teacher and Childhood Education use two course subject codes: EDUC (Education) and MSET (Mathematics, Science and Educational Technology).