Master's in Secondary Education

Master of Arts in Secondary Education

Put your expertise to work as a licensed teacher.

30 Credits. 18-24 Months.

This fully accredited program offers you the same high level of academic excellence as our traditional secondary ed program at an accelerated pace, allowing you to complete licensure requirements and a master鈥檚 degree in just two years.

Highlights:

Accredited: USM鈥檚 MA in Secondary Ed is accredited by KSDE and CAEP
Achieve Your Goals: The accredited program leads to KS initial teacher licensure
Life-Changing: Bring your existing experience to a new career. Help fill in-demand teaching jobs in STEM and other fields
Convenient: Attend classes remotely from home or in-person at USM-Johnson County.
Affordable: USM's MA-Secondary Ed. program tuition is $410 a credit hour

Classes start in January, March, and August. Classes are held in-person at USM-Johnson County.

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USM is Unique

USM offers the only face-to-face master鈥檚 degree programs in the Kansas City area that leads to secondary Kansas initial teaching licensure.

Requirements

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for full (regular) admission to the Secondary Education program at the 花椒直播.

A bachelor鈥檚 degree from a regionally accredited institution
Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
A passing score on the PRAXIS II: Content Pass Score, as determined by KSDE (Check for more)

To apply, you'll submit:

A completed application and $25 application fee
Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions
Two letters of recommendation
An interview with the education director or division chair
An essay describing the candidate's philosophy of teaching and learning

We recommend that application materials be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the term in which you wish to enroll.

Our program is designed to meet the needs of busy individuals balancing work and family commitments.

Eight-week accelerated paced courses; two courses per term
Each course meets one night per week
Semester-long placements in local schools

Student-teaching is a 15-week full-day intensive experience during your last semester in the program.

Coursework

Courses with an * indicate teacher licensure requirements, candidates must achieve at least a grade of 鈥淐鈥� in these courses and maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program.

This course examines the interrelationships of learning theory, curricula design, and assessment to develop coherent educational programs. Building on social and cultural foundations, candidates analyze learning principles and apply them to curriculum and plan alternative assessment of program outcomes. Three credit hours

This course focuses on the social and technological changes in schools and education systems. Candidate鈥檚 will research, discuss, and develop projects related to technology in instruction, assessment, personal/professional productivity, and communication.

This course is designed to assist teacher candidates in meeting the needs of the diverse learners in today鈥檚 classroom. Examples of diversity in the classroom include students identified with special education needs, students who are English Language Learners, students from multicultural backgrounds, students who live in poverty, and students with other unique learning needs. Following the Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) model, teacher candidates will examine current research-based strategies with emphasis on data collection, professional collaboration and assessment techniques to determine appropriate interventions that best meet student instructional, social and behavior needs in the classroom setting. Three credit hours

Candidates complete twenty-five hours of observation in a school setting. Candidates will observe students and teachers in schools and use theories about developing, learning and motivation to describe their experiences. They will also analyze factors relevant to student diversity and other characteristics, as well as elements of school and classroom climate and their potential impact on students. One credit hour

Examination and application of theories of learning and human development through adolescence with implications for teaching and learning environments addressing individual and diverse needs, testing and measurement instruments, and assessment strategies. Three credit hours

The general purpose of this course is to strengthen students' understanding of the relationships among classroom environment, classroom behavior, and learning. Specifically, this course examines classroom management and evidenced-based instructional strategies that create supportive learning environments to provide developmentally appropriate guidance for school-age populations with emphasis on positive behavioral supports and interventions.

Student teaching is an integrated experience which completes the professional teaching sequence. At this point the prospective teacher marshals his or her resources鈥攊ntellectual, spiritual, cultural, social, and professional鈥攖o meet a challenge. The student teaching semester provides content and methods designed to foster student 鈥渋ntegration of faith, learning and behavior鈥�. During the student teaching experience, the student teacher evolves from the role of student into that of teacher. Candidates complete the Kansas Teacher Work Sample (K-TWS) during enrollment in this seminar.

This course emphasizes the reading, writing speaking, listening, thinking, and viewing processes and their interconnections to facilitate learning in content areas through the use of research-based strategies. Using a variety of texts, both print and non-print, teacher candidates design and implement appropriate and effective instructional strategies within an interdisciplinary unit format to meet the needs of all learners including those with special needs, English Language Learners, and learners with socio-economic challenges. Three credit hours

Emphasis is on the reflective and intentional decision-making criteria for secondary content areas, with application for curriculum design, modes of instruction, technology, classroom management and assessment. Secondary Methods is designed to integrate theory and practice of the teaching of the content areas in the secondary classroom. Strategies that link theory and practice will be introduced for making decisions about curriculum, instruction, classroom management, technology and assessment so that classrooms become constructivist learning communities. Reflective teaching and use of technology in the classroom will be emphasized. A minimum of 30 hours of aiding and supervised practicum in a secondary content classroom is required. Three credit hours

Student teaching in an integrated experience which completes the professional teaching sequence. At this point the prospective teacher marshals his or her resources鈥攊ntellectual, spiritual, cultural, social, and professional鈥攖o meet a challenge. The student teaching semester provides content and methods designed to foster student 鈥渋ntegration of faith, learning and behavior鈥�. During the student teaching experience, the student teacher evolves from the role of student into that of teacher. This is a full time semester long experience in a secondary school with an assigned mentor teacher taken during last semester of program. Eight credit hours

"花椒直播 Education graduates are students that I look for when I have student teachers in my building as well as when I look to hire new educators. They possess a sense of passion to both receive and impart new knowledge to others."

鈥� Melanie DeMoss, Principal (retired), Olathe School District

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Master's in Secondary Ed. Program Highlights

USM Education Class

Affordably Priced

USM's Master's in Elementary Education is $410 a credit hour. Some Program fees apply.

USM Gets Results

See the university's education outcomes.

View Outcomes

Conveniently Paced

Attend classes remotely at home, or in-person at USM-Johnson County. 30 credits. 18-24 months. See a sample plan of study:

Contact your program adviser for more detailed and specific information

Possible sequence for students starting in Summer

Prerequisites

Human Development Course
Passing Score on the Praxis II content test

Summer

Summer Term 1

ED 748 Psychological Foundations of Education (3)
ED 745 Practicum I (1)

Summer Term 2

ED 738 Instructional Technology (2)
ED 720 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)

Fall

Fall Term 1

ED 720 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)
ED 789 Secondary Methods鈥擯racticum (placement in Jr/Sr High setting) (3)

Fall Term 2

ED 776 Reading Across the Content Areas (3)

Spring

All Term:

ED 766 Teaching as a Professional Collaborator (1)
ED 796 Student Teaching: Secondary (8)

Spring Term 1:

ED 744 Teaching Diverse Learners (3)

Spring Term 2

ED 754 Classroom Management (3)

Possible sequence for students starting in Spring

Prerequisites

Human Development Course
Passing Score on the Praxis II content test

Spring

All Term:

ED 789 Secondary Methods - Practicum (placement in Jr/Sr High setting) (2)

Spring Term 1

ED 744 Teaching Diverse Learners (3)

Spring Term 2

ED 754 Classroom Management (3)
ED 745 Practicum I (1)

Summer

Summer Term 1

ED 742 Foundations of Education (3)

Summer Term 2

ED 738 Instructional Technology (2)

Fall

All Term:

ED 766 Teaching as a Professional Collaborator (1)
ED 796 Student Teaching: Secondary (8)

Fall Term 1:

ED 720 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)

Fall Term 2

ED 776 Reading Across the Content Areas (3)

Possible sequence for students starting in Fall

Prerequisites

Human Development Course
Passing Score on the Praxis II content test

Fall

All Term:

ED 789 Secondary Methods - Practicum (placement in jr/sr high setting) (3)

Fall Term 2

ED 720 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)
ED 745 Practicum I (1)

Spring

All Term:

ED 766 Teaching as a Professional Collaborator (1)
ED 796 Student Teaching: Secondary (8)

Spring Term 1

ED 744 Teaching Diverse Learners (3)

Spring Term 2

ED 754 Classroom Management (3)

Summer

Summer Term 1:

ED 748 Psychological Foundations of Education (3)

Summer Term 2

ED 738 Instructional Technology (2)

Expert Faculty

Meet the faculty who will help you achieve your goals.

Cheryl Reding, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Unit Head of Education, Division Chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Cheryl.Reding@stmary.edu
913-758-6159
Mead 403A

Highlights:

B.S. 花椒直播 College
M.A. Benedictine College
Ph.D. University of Kansas

Gwen Landever, Ed.D.

Director of Graduate Education Programs
gwen.landever@stmary.edu
913-319-3007
USM-Johnson County

Highlights:

B.S.E. University of Kansas
M.S.E University of Kansas
Ed.D. Baker University

Melanie DeMoss, Ed.D.

Adjunct Faculty
melanie.demoss@stmary.edu
USM-Johnson County

Highlights:

Ed.D., St. Louis University
M.S., Emporia State University
B.A., Oral Roberts University

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredits the University of 花椒直播 education programs. CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Have Questions? Contact Us.

USM-Johnson County
11221 Roe Ave
Leawood, KS 66211
913-345-8288

Joe Perez
Admissions Counselor
joe.perez@stmary.edu
913-319-3003

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule A Visit
Attend an Info Session

Have Questions? Contact Us.

USM-Johnson County
11221 Roe Ave
Leawood, KS 66211
913-345-8288

Joe Perez
Admissions Counselor
joe.perez@stmary.edu
913-319-3003

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule A Visit
Attend an Info Session

花椒直播