Secondary Education

Statement of Mission

The Northwest Professional Education Unit (PEU) is committed to preparing highly effective professional educators who accept responsibility for educating all children. In order to prepare these professionals, the department, through the secondary education coordinator, has overall responsibility for coordinating secondary teaching education programs in all academic areas. These programs will prepare them for their roles as master professionals and facilitators of life-long learning in environments that are diverse and changing. The culminating indicator of master professionals is their ability to engage in effective assessment processes and reflection that improves instruction. The mission provides the conceptual framework for creating programs that develop master professionals who are effective in developing knowledge as a mediator of knowledge, perfecting their skills as a coordinator of learning and modeling professional dispositions as a promoter of dignity, responsibility and self-worth.

Secondary Education Competencies

Specific objectives of the M.S.Ed: Teaching programs vary somewhat by academic specialty options. Objectives common to all options include the following:

1. Demonstrate a greater depth of knowledge in the major curriculum areas.
2. Acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to implement teaching strategies that are multicultural and nonsexist in nature.
3. Have a broader repertoire of teaching skills, strategies and styles through simulated and direct classroom practice.
4. Develop basic knowledge and skills in conducting, interpreting, reporting and applying the results of educational research.
5. Develop an awareness of the various provisions for locating, identifying and serving youth with special needs.

Program Admission Requirements

1. Compliance with eligibility requirements of the Graduate School.
2. Acceptance to graduate study by the Dean of the Graduate School.
3. Undergraduate GPA of 2.50–3.00. See individual programs for specific requirements.
4. Students with a minimum composite verbal/quantitative GRE score of 280 and at least a 3.5 on the writing sample section of the GRE will be accepted unconditionally. The score must be submitted no later than the first trimester of enrollment. Students not meeting the 280 minimum may be accepted on the condition that they maintain a 3.00 GPA for the first eight graduate hours in the program.
5. Students must complete a writing assessment, administered by the department, during their first trimester of enrollment.

Comprehensive Examination

The examination will be scheduled and administered by faculty members in the College of Education and Human Services and the department in which the option is offered (Agriculture, English, History, Mathematics, and Science.) The degree candidate must pass both portions of the examination.

Diverse Field Experience

The Department of Professional Education is committed to preparing professionals to work with all students.  To facilitate multicultural awareness and understanding of issues related to teaching students from diverse backgrounds, the department requires a twelve-clock-hour field experience in a diverse setting for candidates in all Teaching: Secondary M.S.Ed. and GIST programs.