Fort Hays State University
Victor E. Tiger
Fort Hays State University



Quick Links

PROGRAMS:
Undergraduate

Graduate

Comprehensive Exam

Faculty and Staff

Syllabi

Student Clubs

Hays Professional Development School Alliance (PDS)

Workshops

Teachers for Tomorrow

Policy and Info

Tiger Tots

Instructional Resource Center (IRC)


 Home >  AcademicsTeacher EducationGraduate


Master of Science in Education

The Master of Science in Education is offered in three tracks: elementary, middle school or secondary. There are optional emphasis areas available in each track. Some of the emphasis areas are ESOL, Library Media Specialist, Reading Specialist, School Improvement Specialist and Subject Area Specialist.
The emphasis areas may lead to an endorsement or a program of professional improvement. All Master of Science in Educaiton course work may be taken off campus.

In addition to coursework found in most traditional programs, the Master of Science in Education is comprised of coursework infused with the educational philosophy and strategies associated with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The NBPTS provides a well-researched and broadly accepted set of principles and practices through which the Master of Science in Education directly addresses the current needs of teachers.

Each applicant for the Master of Science in Education degree must apply to the Graduate School. The applicant must comply with the regulations of the Graduate School and Department of Teacher Education. The regulations include that the applicant: (1) holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.00 on the last 60 hours of college coursework; (2) submits official transcripts of all college work completed and indication of a degree conferral; (3) submits evidence of completion of coursework required for licensure for a role in the public/private schools; (4) submits two letters of recommendation from educators, and (5) submits a brief statement of professional goals related to completion of the master’s degree and/or licensure. The chair of the Department of Teacher Education approves the application after a review of the applicant’s file, assigns an advisor, and forwards the application to the Dean of the Graduate School with a recommendation of approval or denial. With a recommendation of approval, the chair of the Department of Teacher Education designates a graduate committee responsible for developing the candidate's program and direction of study. A maximum of nine graduate hours may be transferred with approval of the Graduate School and the candidate ’s advisor.



Education Core Courses:

TEEL 811 Educational Sociology
3
EAC 803 Educational Research or
3
SPED 800 Research  
TEEL 859 Curriculum Planning and Evaluation (K-12)
3
TECS 800 Intro to Utilization of Technology in the Classroom or
TECS 805 Instructional Technology Theory and Practice
3
TEEL 845 Theories of Learning
3
TEEL 867 Instructional Design and Assessment
2
TEEL 873 Problems: Action Research I
1
TEEL 873 Problems: Action Research II
1
TEEL 873 Problems: Action Research III
1
Electives (to be negotiated with advisor) Emphasis Area
18/19
Total
38/39

A minimum of 38 graduate hours on an approved degree program are required. The student must meet all departmental and Graduate School degree requirements, including maintaining a minimum of 3.25 GPA on graduate coursework.

An action research project will be required of all students seeking a master of science in education degree. Meaningful, applied research will be conducted in a school environment prior to granting the master's degree. The Masters of Science in Education is assessed through a comprehensive examination process at the end of the program of study.


Library Media Licensure:

Applicants for a library media specialist endorsement must hold a currently valid professional teaching license, and complete the following graduate courses, with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in graduate coursework:

TELS 852 Selection of School Library Media Materials
3
TELS 853 Reference Retrieval
3
TELS 856 Cataloging for School Library Media
3
TELS 857 School Library Media Administration
3
TELS 859 Library Media Supervised Practice (Practicum)
3
EAC 859 Curriculum Planning and Evaluation (K-12)
3
TECS 800 Intro to Utilization of Technology in the Classroom
3
TEEL 861 Advanced Literature for Children and Young Adults
3
Total  
24

In order to meet Kansas State Department of Education licensure guidelines, Library Media Specialist students must complete a Master’s degree before applying for a conditional school specialist license and a post-graduation internship before applying for a professional school specialist license. After graduation with the MS degree and receiving the conditional library media specialist license, students must secure a position in a school library and enroll in two semesters of “Library Internship.” Upon successful completion of a two-hour internship in each of two semesters and working one additional year, students will be eligible to apply for a professional Kansas Library Media Specialist license.



Reading Specialist Licensure:

Applicants for a reading specialist endorsement must hold a currently valid professional teaching license and complete the following graduate courses, with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in graduate coursework:

TEEL 861 Advanced Literature for Children and Young Adults
3
TEEL 881 Content Area Reading
3
TEEL 882 Trends in Language Arts
3
TEEL 883 Clinical Reading Diagnosis and Remediation
4
TEEL 884 Literacy Development
3
TEEL 885 The School Reading Program (Practicum)
3
Total  
19

The requirements may also be met for prerequisite credit via the following three courses or their equivalent.

TEEL 680 Correction of Reading Disabilities Internship II
1
TEEL 681 Correction of Reading Disabilities II
3
TEEL 865 Teaching Reading Skills
3
Total  
7

The pre-requisite course requirement to be met is completion of TEEL 365 Reading and Language Arts Methods, TEEL 481 Correction of Reading Disabilities I, and TEEL 480 Correction of Reading Disabilities Internship I which are undergraduate courses.

In order to meet Kansas State Department of Education licensure guidelines, Reading Specialist students must have two years of recent classroom teaching experience (within six years), complete a Master’s degree before applying for a conditional school specialist license and a post-graduation internship before applying for a professional school specialist license. After graduation with the MS degree and receiving the conditional Reading Specialist license, students must secure a full-time teaching position and enroll in two semesters of “Reading Specialist Internship.” Upon successful completion of a two-hour internship in each of two semesters, students will be eligible to apply for a professional Kansas Reading Specialist license.



Other Non-Endorsement Areas of Emphasis:

  • School Improvement
  • Transition to Teaching
  • Middle Level Emphasis
  • General/Self Determined


International students in Department of Teacher
Education Programs

International students who do not hold Kansas teaching licensure may, under certain conditions, be admitted to graduate programs in the department. Such admission will not lead to a recommendation for Kansas licensure, unless the applicant completes an approved teacher education program, including the appropriate undergraduate courses. students applying for special admission under this regulation must acknowledge in writing their understanding of the stipulation relative to Kansas licensure.


Copyright © 2002-2008 Fort Hays State University - 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas 67601-4099 - 785-628-FHSU (3478)

Site Map - Contact Webmaster with any questions or comments concerning this Web site.