Description
The Masters of Arts in Teaching Elementary Online program is designed to prepare individuals to teach in an elementary school setting. The program is a career path in which students enrolled will focus on subjects (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts) to be taught to students in grades pre-kindergarten through six (depending on school district/division). Students will be provided with pedagogical knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively plan instructional activities to support learning for all school-age children. Curricula will incorporate school policy, child development courses along with coursework towards global awareness, instructional technology, planning and assessment, and working with at-risk children. In addition, the graduate of this program will receive a Commonwealth of Virginia professional teaching license and will be eligible to teach in public elementary schools in Virginia.
The program provides comprehensive course offerings that align with requirements set forth by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) standards.
ADMISSIONS
Admission criteria to the Master of Arts Degree Program in Elementary Education (Pk-6) are in accordance with the Graduate Council of Norfolk State University and the Admissions Committee of the School of Education. The criteria for admission are as follows:
Regular Status
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. A foreign student should possess equivalent credentials as documented on an evaluated transcript.
- A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a four (4) point scale.
A complete application file will include the following:
- Application to Norfolk State University
- Non-refundable application fee.
- Bachelor’s degree (Liberal Arts) from a nationally accredited institution of higher learning. Students with non-Liberal Arts degree may be required to take additional coursework.
- Passing score of 450 or higher (reading and writing) on the Virginia Communications and Literacy Assessment (VCLA).
- Three (3) recent letters of recommendation (e.g. supervisor, former professor, and advisor) dated within the last year.
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended (unofficial transcripts can be accepted for review purposes).
- Personal Statement regarding professional goals.
- Resume (updated)
All application materials should be received by May 1 for consideration in the fall, and by November 1 for consideration in the spring. Candidates for admission may be requested to come to the school for a personal interview. Also, an applicant may request an interview.
Non-Degree Status
A person with a baccalaureate degree, seeking to take particular courses but not working toward a graduate degree may be granted such permission to take up to nine (9) credit hours. These courses may be taken for credit or on a non-credit basis.
A person seeking admission to the degree program but who does not meet all requirements for regular admission may be admitted in a non-degree status. Non-degree students may be allowed to take up to nine (9) credit hours of course work and must earn a grade point average of 3.0 or better after which the student may petition the Committee to have his/her status changed to regular admission.
Transfer Credits
Generally, a maximum of six (6) credit hours of credit of graduate work earned at another accredited institution may be accepted as transfer credit, provided the conditions of the Graduate Council are met. However, decisions regarding the transfer credit will be made by the Graduate Program Coordinator with the approval of the department head, the Graduate School.
Summary of Graduation Requirements
| Subject Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | 30 |
| Practicum | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 |
Curriculum
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 605 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| EED 500G | Language and Developmental Reading | 3 |
| EED 501 | Diagnostic Reading | 3 |
| EDU 501 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EED 503 | Teaching and Learning in the Pre K-3 | 3 |
| EED 603 | Teaching and Learning in the Pre-K-3 | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| EED 601 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Math | 3 |
| EDU 636 | Classroom and Behavior Management | 3 |
| EED 500 | Teaching Social Studies in Elem Schools | 3 |
| UED 691 | Research/Writing | 3 |
| EED 696C | Practicum | 9 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |