Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Sara Young
Email: syoung3@worcester.edu

The Education Department at WSU is committed to creating a teaching/learning-based environment that will provide caring, competent, creative teachers for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond. The programs provide theoretical and practical knowledge of adolescents’ developmental needs, abilities, and interests. Practitioners who are schooled in reflective practices and contemporary, research-based classroom techniques, strategies, and resources become skilled educators. Lifelong learning is a requirement of being an effective teacher/scholar and professional development is integral to teacher growth.

The Master of Education in Secondary School Education is for High School teachers who already possess a Massachusetts initial or professional license that includes secondary school grades (i.e. 5-12, 8-12, or all grades) or the equivalent license from another state. Unlicensed high school teachers in New England who wish to apply can do so with current professional letters of recommendation that speak to their employment and teaching experience. People who seek their initial license should complete the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for Initial Teacher Licensure in Middle or Secondary School prior to applying to the M.Ed. program as the M.Ed. in Secondary Education is not an initial license program.  The program reflects Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines for advancing Education Licenses. Students have used the degree for career advancement, professional licensure, curriculum leadership, and other professional and personal goals. WSU's Department of Education collaborates with relevant departments in the Liberal Arts & Sciences to provide content area courses in areas such as Math, English, History, Biology, and Spanish. Please discuss your content area with the program coordinator to ensure that WSU can meet your needs.

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate study at WSU, candidates must possess the following attributes:

• Copy of a Massachusetts initial or professional teaching license that includes high school grades (i.e. 8-12, 5-12, or all grades) in the relevant field of licensure or the equivalent license from another state. Unlicensed secondary school teachers in New England who wish to apply submit 2 current professional letters of recommendation that can speak to their employment and teaching experience.

Items Needed to Apply:

• Online application found at www.worcester.edu/apply
• Essay explaining reason for pursuing this degree program
• Application fee
• Contact information for two references from professional or academic sources
• Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Applicants with a GPA under 2.75, must submit two letters of reference from professional or academic sources
• Official transcript evaluation for any transcript from outside the United States
• An English language proficiency test if the student’s academic background is not in English
• Copy of a Massachusetts initial or professional teaching license in secondary education  (all grades, grades 5-12 or grades 8-12)  in the relevant field of licensure or the equivalent license from another state. Unlicensed secondary school teachers in New England who wish to apply submit 2 current professional letters of recommendation that can speak to their employment and teaching experience.

Program of Study

The M.Ed. in Secondary Education provides secondary teachers the opportunity to advance their knowledge in pedagogy, content and research. This program requires a total of thirty-six (36) credits. Four of the courses (13 credits) are in core education requirements focusing on high school curriculum, diversity, differentiation and inclusion, and English language learners. Five courses (15 credits) support the content field of licensure. All students take ES  950 Disciplinary, Multimodal and Critical Literacies Across the Content Areas as well as four (4) classes in their field(s) of licensure (i.e. Math, Biology,  World Language/Spanish, English, History/Social Studies, Health, Business) to meet the content area requirements. The final classes in the program are the advanced education and research requirements. Students select one research sequence in consultation with their graduate coordinator.  Students who plan to continue their education in doctoral or CAGS/Ed.S programs should select the ED982 Research in Education/Ed. Research/Thesis pathway where as students who prefer to focus on research based practice should select the ED964/ES909 pathway. All students take a one credit portfolio course encompassing both content and pedagogy as the final course in the M.Ed. in Secondary Education program.

Students in Secondary School Education have the following program outcomes which they meet at their grade level at a professional level:
1. Candidate demonstrates subject matter knowledge for the content they will teach.
2. Candidate applies and evaluates pedagogical principles and can integrate them with content in planning, implementing and assessing.
3. As caring individual, candidate demonstrates high expectations for all learners. They evaluate and meet the individual needs of diverse learners.
4. Candidate reflects upon and evaluates teaching practices in order to improve learner outcomes.
5. Candidate uses evidence from research and practice to address challenges and improve student outcomes.
6. Candidate develops and demonstrates in practice the affirmation of diversity and promotes equity in schools and in the larger world (e.g. race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, language, family structure, religion, ability, age, etc.).
7. Candidate uses technology and digital media strategically and critically in research, teaching, and learning.
8. Candidate collaborates with colleagues and community members to advance professional practice (e.g. across the curriculum, interdisciplinary, community service, etc.).