Nov 24, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Education, MAED


Program Coordinators by Teaching Area:

  • Elementary Education: Carol Greene (207 Speight Building; 252-328-5316; greeneh@ecu.edu)
  • Curriculum and Instruction: Elizabeth Swaggerty (138 Speight Building; 252-328-4970; swaggertye@ecu.edu)
  • Health Education: Michele Wallen (3204 Belk Building; 252-737-1535; wallenm@ecu.edu)
  • Instructional Technology Education: Ron Preston (352-E Flanagan Building; 252-328-9355; prestonr@ecu.edu and Bill Sugar (291 Flanagan Building; 252-328-1546;  sugarw@ecu.edu)
  • Middle Grades Education: Carol Greene (207 Speight Building; 252-328-5316; greeneh@ecu.edu)
  • Physical Education: Bomna Ko (153 Minges Coliseum; 252-328-0017; kob@ecu.edu)
  • Reading Education: Elizabeth Swaggerty (138 Speight Building; 252-328-4970; swaggertye@ecu.edu)
  • Science Education: Bonnie Glass (352-D Flanagan Building; 252-328-9368; bonnieglass@ecu.edu and Ron Preston (352-E Flanagan Building; 252-328-9355; prestonr@ecu.edu)
  • Special Education: Sandra Warren (107-A Rivers Building; 252-328-2699; warrens@ecu.edu)

The master of arts in education (MAEd) degree is administratively located in the College of Education. The MAEd programs range from a minimum of 36 to 39 semester hours, depending on the teaching field. All MAEd degree programs require completion of course work in the following competency areas: research, trends, and issues in education; the diverse learner; and effective communication and leadership. The program is designed so that students and advisors have options in completing these competencies. Additional courses may be added to the following list of core courses as they are approved.

All MAEd teaching degree programs require completion of a final product. Depending on the teaching area selected, the final product may be in the form of a comprehensive examination (written or oral), a thesis, a research project, or a portfolio. See the description of teaching area specific courses (below) for information about how the final product requirement is satisfied in each teaching area.

A student may seek acceptance into the College of Education and one of several teaching areas offered in the MAEd. Minimum requirements for admission to the College of Education’s MAEd program include the following:

  1. All MAEd applicants (except those applying to the adult education MAEd program) must currently hold or be eligible for an initial teaching license. Entrance into an MAEd teaching area other than that of the initial licensure area may require prerequisite courses and a passing score on the area specialty PRAXIS exam for licensure.
  2. Overall GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate work from an institution accredited by a regional association.
  3. Satisfactory entrance examination scores on either the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test. This must be completed prior to admission or completion of 9 s.h. of graduate credit.
  4. A completed Graduate School application packet, including the written statement of purpose, a copy of the initial teaching license, and three letters of recommendation from persons who can attest to the applicant’s academic competence or ability to do graduate work.
  5. This degree makes a student eligible for M level licensure. Candidates must already hold A level license to be eligible for M level license.

Upon acceptance into a teaching area, the student is assigned an advisor.

MAEd programs administratively located in their respective departments are as follows:

Required core courses - 9-12 s.h.


Teaching area specific courses - 24-30 s.h.


(Choose from one of the following areas.)

Curriculum and Instruction - 27 s.h.


(Select one of the following concentrations.)

Choose 9 s.h. in an elementary content strand as follows:


Final product requirement:


A research project with an oral presentation (ELEM 6000  and ELEM 6001 ) or a thesis with an oral thesis defense(ELEM 7000 ).

Final product requirement:


A professional portfolio (HLTH 6997  and HLTH 6998 ) is required for completion of the final product requirement.

Final product requirement:


Either the development of a professional portfolio and an internship (EDTC 6992 ) or a thesis with an oral defense (EDTC 6995) and an internship (EDTC 6992 ).

Concentration Area:


Choose 12 s.h. from one concentration area or a minimum of 9 s.h. from one area and 3 s.h. from another.

Final product requirement:


A research project with a presentation and written documentation (MIDG 6001 and MIDG 6401 ) or a thesis with an oral thesis defense (MIDG 7000 ).

Physical education - 24 s.h.


Choose 9 s.h. from one option as follows:


Option I. Nonthesis (9 s.h.)

Choose 9 s.h. from approved list of electives (reading/literacy, academically intellectually gifted (AIG), adult literacy, instructional technology, supervision, library science, teaching English as a second language (TESL), or a combination of related study courses).

Option II. Thesis (9 s.h.)

(6 s.h. of thesis required and 3 s.h. of electives required from the approved electives list)

Final product requirement:


A professional electronic portfolio (READ 6406 , READ 6407 , READ 6418 , READ 6421 , READ 6422 , READ 6430 ) and presentation.

Final product requirement:


Action research project.

Choose 15 s.h. from one concentration area as follows:


Electronic portfolio requirement:


Demonstration of field-based master teaching, research, collaboration, and leadership skills developed throughout the SPED MAEd program

Final product requirement:


Completion of a thesis (SPED 7000 ) or a field-based project (SPED 7002 ); both require a presentation to faculty and students

Admission to Candidacy


Admission to candidacy for the MAEd will be met when the following have been completed.

  1. Unconditionally admitted to graduate standing.
  2. Accepted to a program area and assigned an advisor.
  3. Completion of 12 s.h. of graduate credit over and above any entrance deficiencies or conditions.
  4. This degree makes a student eligible for M level licensure. Candidate must already hold A level license to be eligible for M level license.

Transfer Credit


Transfer of credit regulations which have been established by the Graduate School apply to this degree program. Transfer of credit is only accepted when it is fulfilling a deficiency or content area of knowledge.

Residence Requirements


The residence requirement for a nondoctoral degree program is met when a student has earned at least eighty percent of the required graduate degree credit for his or her program through enrollment in courses offered by East Carolina University.

Continuous Enrollment (or Registration)


Graduate students who have previously registered for all credits in a graduate degree program but who have not completed all requirements (e.g., thesis, professional paper, internship, etc.) must continue to register each semester (except summer terms) until all degree requirements are completed and filed with the registrar. Under special circumstance, exception to continuous registration may be approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Students must be registered for the semester of graduation (except summer if registered for preceding spring semester).

Other Requirements for the MAEd


General requirements for the completion of the master’s degrees are as follows:

  1. 36-39 s.h. of course work, depending upon the teaching area.
  2. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
  3. Meeting specific teaching area requirements.
  4. Completion of a culminating project.

Students who do not have at least a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the MAEd program may be allowed to submit up to 6 s.h. additional graduate credit hours in residence on the East Carolina University campus or at an approved graduate center in order to accumulate a 3.0 average. These credits will be in the area(s) evaluated as being weak.