Online Master of Science in Education Degree
Our online graduate education programs enable teachers and administrators to expand their career opportunities, and assists other professionals to meet certification standards or become educators.
Required Credits: 33
Summary
The online Master of Science in Education programs are designed for:
- Practicing teachers who wish to advance in their career or gain full professional certification
- Adults holding bachelor's degrees who wish to change careers into secondary-level teaching
- Current teachers who wish to move towards becoming a principal
- Teachers in Catholic schools who desire the opportunity to become the principal within their schools
- Practicing Catholic school principals who wish to upgrade their skills and knowledge
- Adults in the allied heath professions who desire positions educating patients and the public.
- Allied health professionals who desire becoming a staff trainer or in-service education coordinator in their place of employment
- Educators of all types who want to advance in their profession.
Flexibility is Our Key
The online Master of Science in Education programs are adaptable for a wide variety of professions beyond those listed above. Virtually every course can be tailored to the educational needs in your specific workplace. Successful students in our programs come from the following fields:
- Military trainers
- Corporate and Business educators and trainers
- Catechists and other Christian Educators
- Public Service and Nonprofit staff developers
- Community College Teacher
Choose from these concentrations:
The School Educator concentration was initially designed in part to meet Maine's "alternate route" requirements for professional certification, which are similar to those of a number of other states.
The School Leadership concentration satisfies many states' requirements for building administrator certification. Students may choose to complete an Administrative Internship. This internship provides students with an opportunity to intern in an educational setting under the supervision of a mentor.
The Catholic School Leadership degree concentration is focused on practitioners working within K-12 Catholic schools throughout the country and beyond who desire to move towards supervisory roles such as vice principal, principal, headmistress, headmaster, dean, or similar leadership positions. This degree is also focused at current school leaders within the Catholic school system who wish to upgrade their skills.
The Health Care Educator concentration provides one of the few hybrid health care-education master's degree programs in the country, reflecting the college's history of preparation for both the teaching and health care professions.
The program's online format makes it possible for students to avoid commuting, scheduling, and child care costs associated with more rigid online or classroom environments.
Courses available through this online master's program satisfy a number of states' course work requirements for "alternate route" secondary certification and those courses also serve to prepare for the E. T. S. Praxis II "Principles of Learning and Teaching" (PLT) exam.
Highlights
- Flexible - Courses are available to both students seeking the desired master’s degree or those fulfilling certification requirements. Flexible online format allows you to study at your own schedule, at your own pace and at your own location. No on-campus residency required; optional two-week summer sessions on lakeside campus to accelerate degree.
The program's online format makes it possible for students to avoid commuting, scheduling, and child care costs associated with more rigid online or classroom environments.
- Quality - Saint Joseph’s College offers quality online education that is surprisingly affordable.
- Accredited - Saint Joseph’s College has been providing quality education since 1912 and distance education for more than 30 years. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges.
- Monthly Start Dates- Begin right now, no need to wait for a new semester. Nearly every course begins each month. With monthly start dates, you are in control of your education.
- Personal - Engage in a quality learning experience personalized by professional faculty. Faculty with practical experience in education work individually with students, often developing lasting relationships.
- Relevant - Courses blend content with your professional experience, allowing for immediate application in your work setting. Most courses include discussion boards that facilitate student interaction.
- Alternative Path to Certification - Courses available to students seeking a degree or those fulfilling certification or continuing education requirements. Program concentrations are designed for maximum applicability toward states’ certification requirements for teaching or school administration. Courses available through these online master’s programs satisfy a number of states' course work requirements for “alternate route” secondary teaching and K-12 school leadership certification. Courses serve to prepare for the E. T. S. Praxis II “Principles of Learning and Teaching” (PLT) exam.
Admission Requirements
You may apply for and be granted admission at any time during the year, regardless of program choice.
For all graduate programs, applicants are required to have a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher learning accredited or accepted as accredited in the United States, with a cumulative grade point of 2.5 or better.
Students who do not meet the 2.5 cumulative grade point standard may be conditionally accepted and required to take introductory course work completed with a grade of 3.0 or better, prior to consideration of formal acceptance.
"Alternate route" secondary certification
Many people have asked us, “Do you have an online program that will get me certified to teach?” Here are the answers to that question:
- The online Master of Science in Education program will meet many states' professional requirements for “alternate route” secondary certification.
- In some states, if you hold a bachelor’s degree that is not in the field of education but now wish to teach secondary education, you must complete a number of professional education courses - which are available to you through our online M. S. in Education program or as continuing education courses.
- Other states have replaced completing specific courses for their “alternate route” secondary certification with passing the E. T. S. Praxis II
“Principles of Learning and Teaching”(PLT) exam. Taking a selection of our online graduate education courses remains one of your most efficient ways of preparing for that exam.
PLT (7-12) Exam Subject Areas and Applicable M. S. in Education Courses
- Students as Learners
ED512 Educating the Exceptional Student in the Classroom
ED522 Educational Psychology
ED550 Classroom Management for Effective Learning - Instruction and Assessment
ED505 Curriculum Design, Development and Assessment
ED523 Teaching Methods in Secondary Education
ED555 Assessment and Evaluation Techniques - Communication Techniques
ED515 Instructional Strategies
ED560 Intercultural Communication and Learning - Teacher Professionalism
ED534 Community Relations and Communication
ED570 The Reflective Educator
Note that while all these courses are applicable to the PLT, only rarely would all be necessary for passing it. For more information on alternate route certification, contact the M. S. in Education program director at 800-343-5498, ext. 7995.
“Alternate route” School Leadership Certification
Both the School Leadership Degree concentration and the School Leadership graduate certificate are guided by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards (ISLLC) . These standards are built into the online master’s degree courses at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. The School Leadership Internship specifically addresses each of the ISLLC standards in a practical, professional, and applied manner.
Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards (ISLLC) |
|
Standard 1 |
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community. |
Standard 2 |
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth. |
Standard 3 |
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment. |
Standard 4 |
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources. |
Standard 5 |
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner. |
Standard 6 |
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context. |
PLT (7-12) Exam Subject Areas and Applicable M. S. in Education Courses
- Students as Learners
ED512 Educating the Exceptional Student in the Classroom
ED522 Educational Psychology
ED550 Classroom Management for Effective Learning - Instruction and Assessment
ED505 Curriculum Design, Development and Assessment
ED523 Teaching Methods in Secondary Education
ED555 Assessment and Evaluation Techniques - Communication Techniques
ED515 Instructional Strategies
ED560 Intercultural Communication and Learning - Teacher Professionalism
ED534 Community Relations and Communication
ED570 The Reflective Educator
Note that while all these courses are applicable to the PLT, only rarely would all be necessary for passing it. For more information on alternate route certification, contact the M. S. in Education program director at 800-343-5498, ext. 7992.
While entirely optional, you can take some of the courses in Saint Joseph's summer residency with classroom settings. Courses meet for three hours on weekdays, and most students accelerate their programs by taking two classes. Summer students report an excellent experience, and many return for subsequent summers.
Graduate Certificates
Certificate in School Leadership
The 15 credit School Leadership Certificate program at the graduate level which includes all course requirements for the Assistant Building Supervisor certification as specified by the Maine Department of Education and fulfills many of the standards of the Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) used for certification in states throughout the country.
Curriculum & Course Description
Certificate in Catholic School Leadership
These programs are focused on practitioners working within K-12 Catholic schools throughout the country and beyond who desire to move towards supervisory roles such as vice principal, principal, headmistress, headmaster, dean, or similar leadership positions.
Curriculum & Course Description
Continuing Education Courses
Our graduate courses are available as continuing education courses required for practicing teachers to maintain certification.
Certificate of Advanced Graduate (CAG) in Interdisciplinary Studies
This is for the student who already holds a Master's degree and wishes to continue their studies. Some career tracks recognize the CAG for compensation rewards beyond the Masters. This certificate allows for students to self design their learning. All 18 credits must be earned at SJC. The first five courses will be taken from at least three graduate program areas (theology, nursing, education, health administration, business). Students can choose any combination from the courses listed; the design is interdisciplinary. The final course is always the CAG 600 Interdisciplinary capstone course, but the student will request which program area or faculty they wish to have supervise that final course. *Tuition costs vary depending on program areas.