Graduate Bulletin

Middle Grades Education/Mathematics and Language Arts, Ed.M.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: April 1

Spring: October 1

Applications received by the stated deadlines are guaranteed a decision for the upcoming semester. Applications received after the deadline are reviewed if space is available.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom:  Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members and others who can provide insight into the applicant's academic competence.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Prerequisites for admission to the specialization in Mathematics and Language Arts for Middle Grades Education include undergraduate or graduate level courses, completed with a grade of "C" or better, as identified below:

• At least four courses (or 12 credits) each in the chosen concentration areas of mathematics and language arts.
• For math, students are advised to have completed at least three credits of calculus and the remaining credits in upper level math courses.
• For language arts, students are advised to have completed at least one composition course and one American or British literature course. Remaining courses include composition/writing, linguistics, and/or literature. Basic or remedial courses do not count toward the language arts prerequisites.
• At least two courses (or 6 credits) of science, including earth/space science, life science, or physical science.
• At least two courses (or 6 credit hours) in American Government, U.S. History, or World History.

The Middle Grades Advisor determines which courses count as fulfilling the prerequisites. 

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A baccalaureate degree is required. Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0.

Applications of students that do not meet the 3.0 UGPA requirement may be considered for admission by the Graduate School if they meet one of the following exceptions:

1. Standard exceptions:

a) 3.5 UGPA during the last two years of undergraduate study.
b) Minimum GPA of 3.25 for nine credits of graduate study, typically taken as a non-matriculated student in the College of Education.

2. Special exceptions: If a compelling case can be made for admission, a special exception may be considered, although such special exceptions are rarely granted.

Students may take up to, but not more than, nine credits of graduate study in the Middle Grades curriculum before applying. The credits transfer into the program if the student is admitted. Note, however, that students who enroll in courses before being admitted to the program are not guaranteed admission.

Statement of Goals:

In the Statement of Goals, applicants should indicate their goals and objectives for obtaining a master's degree and certification in Middle Grades Education. The statement should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should include the following elements: the applicant's specific interest in Temple’s program; her/his future career goals; any job-related experiences that are relevant to the program; and academic and research achievements and interests.

Standardized Test Scores:

A passing score on one Praxis II® (content-area only) examination is required. The selected test should correspond to one of the applicant's two chosen areas of specialization, including PA Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts (5156) or PA Grades 4–8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics (5158).

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Courses from accredited institutions may be transferred into the Ed.M. program as long as they are current (no more than five years old) and relevant. The faculty advisor determines relevancy of any course that a student wants transferred. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Coursework Waivers:

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor at the time of admission. The advisor reviews the student's credentials and determines which, if any, of the required courses can be waived. In general, this waiver covers the beginning-level courses in the program. Waiving a specific requirement, however, does not reduce the total number of credits needed to graduate.

Clearances:

A Pennsylvania criminal background check, a federal criminal history check, a child abuse clearance, and a TB test are required at admission. See http://education.temple.edu/services/clearances for more information.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 31

Required Courses:
Core Courses (27 s.h.):
EDUC 5255:  Tech in Classrooms: TPCK
EDUC 5404:  Teach Mathematics in the Middle Grades
EDUC 5409:  Capstone: Teach Math/Sci
MGRE 4108:  Teaching and Learning Science in the Middle Grades
MGRE 5101:  Citizenship, Cultures, and Social Studies Education
MGRE 5102*:  Reading and Writing in the Middle Grades
MGRE 5402:  Understanding the Adolescent Learner in Middle Schools
SPED 5111*:  Educating Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings
SPED 5187*:  Graduate Assessment Practicum in Early Childhood Special Education
TESL 8631:  Foundations of Language Teaching: Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners

Student Teaching and Seminar (4 s.h.):
EDUC 5275**:  Seminar in Supervised Teaching
EDUC 5888**:  Supervised Teaching

* Taken together as a 7-credit block.
** Must be taken simultaneously; only offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Student teaching and its related seminar are the culminating events for this program.

Middle Grades students must also take the following Praxis™ test during their student teaching semester:  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment (5152).                            

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

http://education.temple.edu/

Department Information:

College of Education

341 Ritter Hall
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122

edcert@temple.edu

215-204-8001

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Gwen Miller

gmiller@temple.edu

215-204-6387

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Christine Woyshner
christine.woyshner@temple.edu
215-204-6147

Chairperson:

Dr. Michael W. Smith

mwsmith@temple.edu

215-204-2296

About the Program

This specialization is for individuals interested in teaching middle grades students. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be certified to teach students in grades 4 through 8. In other words, middle grades certification qualifies a candidate to teach elementary grades 4, 5, and 6, as well as teach grades 7 and 8 in one of the following concentrations: math and language arts, math and science, or science and language arts.

The Ed.M. program is uniquely designed so that teacher certification in middle grades education can be earned simultaneously with the master’s degree. It is open to those who hold a baccalaureate degree outside education but who do not have a public school teaching credential. Individuals seeking a Pennsylvania Intern and/or Instructional I certificate should apply.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete this degree program on either a full-time or part-time basis. Classes are offered to accommodate working adults.

Department Information:

College of Education

341 Ritter Hall
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122

edcert@temple.edu

215-204-8001

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Affiliation(s):

The program is a state-approved teacher certification program. It meets the general requirements and state standards for academic certification as specified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Study Abroad:

Not required.

Ranking:

The College of Education is ranked in the Top 50 Best Graduate Education Programs by U.S. News & World Report.

Accreditation:

The program is accredited by the TEAC and is approved as a teacher certification program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Job Placement:

Graduates typically pursue teaching positions in elementary or middle schools for grades 4 to 8.

Licensure:

Intern Certificate:
Candidates may be eligible for a Pennsylvania Intern Certificate after completing supervised teaching and 18 hours of prerequisite courses; passing required Praxis II® examinations; receiving a successful rating on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's PDE 430 form; and passing criminal background, federal background, and child abuse clearance checks. The Intern Certificate allows the student to teach in public schools for up to three years. The Intern Certificate is issued only once and expires automatically in three years; no extensions are granted.

Instructional I Certificate:

Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and passing all Praxis™ examinations, candidates may apply for a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Students must matriculate within the first 9 credits of the program.

Financing Opportunities

Assistantships are available, but highly competitive and limited. These assistantships are generally offered to doctoral-level students.

Students who wish to apply for a scholarship should submit an application online.

Updated 7.12.13