Master of Science in Education

OVERVIEW

These online graduate education programs enable teachers and administrators to expand their career opportunities in three distinct areas: public K-12 schools, Catholic schools, and health care education.

Engage in a quality learning experience personalized by professional faculty. The faculty, who have practical experience in education, work individually with you as partners in your learning. Courses blend content with your professional experience, allowing for immediate application in your work setting. Courses are available to both students seeking the desired master's degrees or those fulfilling or renewing certification requirements.

At a Glance

  • Don’t wait to begin your path toward career advancement. Apply now and start during any of the five 10-week terms scheduled each year (offered in January, March, May, July and October).
  • No on-campus residency is required.
  • The tuition in this MSEd program is specifically designed with personal and school department budgets in mind. Affordable education for all is a founding principle of the Sisters of Mercy, sponsors of Saint Joseph's College. We are proud to bring you a reasonably priced, high quality graduate education.
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How much will this program cost?

Total Cost: $14,817 to $16,164*

*Excludes the cost of textbooks and nursing clinical fees. Assumes no transfer of credit, and, at the graduate level, that all preparatory requirements have been met. Prices are subject to change. Click here for full tuition and fee details.

How long will it take?

  • MSEd*: Full-time, 1 yr 6 mo. Part-time, 3 yr or less depending on track (AE&T and SE tracks would be 2 yr 9 mo).

* These timelines assume all prep classes have been met and that the student takes no breaks between terms. Full-time is two courses per term, part-time is one course per term.

CURRICULUM

Each concentration has specific objectives. The overall outcomes for the online MSEd program are as follows:

  • Gain Knowledge and Skills in the Education Profession
  • Engage in Reflective Practice
  • Think Critically
  • Write with Clarity

School Educator (33 credits)

This specialization provides all the tools necessary for a practicing educator to become even more successful or for anyone who desires to become a practicing educator. This highly praised degree program is in-depth, current, and has a faculty of practicing professionals who become partners with all students on their journey towards their master's degree. This program is accredited, affordable, flexible, professional, and very personal. This School Educator specialization does not result in initial teacher certification but components of this concentration may be used to meet Maine's "alternate route" requirements for professional certification, which are similar to those of a number of other states.

Catholic School Leadership (36 credits)

The Catholic school principal is both the spiritual leader of the school as well as the educational leader. The Catholic School Leadership degree concentration is focused on these dedicated educators 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, president, or similar leadership positions. This degree is also designed for current school leaders within the Catholic school system who wish to upgrade their skills or for principals from public schools who are moving into the rewarding Catholic school setting.

School Leadership (36 credits)

Designed for Principals, Headmasters, Teacher-Leaders, and many other leadership positions in education, this degree satisfies many states' requirements for building administrator certification. A highlight of this degree concentration is the School Leader Internship which provides students with an opportunity to intern in an educational setting under the supervision of a mentor. The standards of the Interstate School Leader Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) frame this degree.

Health Care Educator (33 credits)

This specialization is for professionals in allied health fields who wish to educate the public, provide in-service training at their workplaces, or teach in allied health departments in community colleges. This degree specialization provides one of the few professional online allied health care education master's degree programs in the country, reflecting the college's history of preparation in both the health care and education fields.

"Alternate Route" Secondary Certification

The online Master of Science in Education program will meet many states' professional requirements for "alternate route" secondary certification. We would be glad to work with your state's certification office to see if the alternative pathway is an option. You may work to fulfill Maine's alternative route. Many states allow for certification reciprocity.

Available courses to fulfill the alternative route for Maine 7-12 teaching certification:

  • ED 512 Educating the Exceptional Student in the Classroom (3 credits online)
  • ED 523 Teaching Methods in Secondary Education (3 credits online)
  • ED 590 Student Teaching (12 credits - 15 weeks in a classroom)

In addition, alternative route applicants in Maine need to hold a bachelor’s degree, earned 24 credit hours of post-secondary course work in the endorsement area, pass 3 Praxis exams, and complete a background check. The Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam is required in Maine for the alternative pathway for certification as it is in many other states. Visit the Praxis website for more information.

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 (ED 580) specifically addresses each of the ISLLC standards in a practical, professional, and applied manner.

Fast Track to MSEd

Undergraduate education students have the option to Fast Track to their MSEd. As an undergraduate you can earn graduate credits by taking our hybrid ED 555 course.  Learn more

VIEW COURSE CATALOG

IN THE NEWS

Kimberly Collins '20, MSED, photo credit Milken Family Foundation

Photo credit Milken Family Foundation

Kimberly Collins ’20, MSED, National Award Winner

Congratulations to alumna Kimberly Collins, who won a $25,000 Milken Educator Award presented by the Milken Family Foundation during a schoolwide assembly in May 2022. According to Milken Educators Awards, Kimberly prioritizes her students' needs and creatively adapts her teaching strategies to accommodate them. Kimberly, who teaches at the Virginia Beach Middle School, is an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) coordinator.

→ Learn more

Master of Science in Education-School Leadership Concentration Helps Principals Advance Careers

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine alumni steer the course for Yarmouth, one of Maine highest achieving school districts

Designed for principals, headmasters, teacher-leaders, and other professionals seeking leadership positions in educational administration, coursework covers a range of managerial topics such as organizational theory, school finance, community relations, and laws pertaining to civil rights and education. The Professional Standards for Educational Leaders frame the degree. These standards are recognized by many states and include what all school leaders, regardless of grade level or context, can do to strengthen organizations, support teachers, lead instruction, and advance student learning.

SOME OF OUR FACULTY

Gary Rosenthal, MSEd
Gary Rosenthal, MSEdDirector, Online Education Program
MSEd, Virginia Tech
BA, Virginia Tech
Tom Eismeier, MEd
Tom Eismeier, MEdOnline Education Faculty
MEd, Antioch University New England
MA, University of Chicago
BA, Princeton University
Angelica Collins, EdD
Angelica Collins, EdDOnline Education Faculty
EdD, South Carolina State University
EdS, Cambridge College
MS, Troy University
BS, Georgia Southern University

STUDENT STORIES

Kurt Soucy
Kurt SoucyFlight Paramedic
“I teach Basic EMS skills and Critical Care Medicine. The degree helped me to become a better instructor by learning how to develop different educational strategies. It also helped me to develop more staff training opportunities.”
Jenifer Taylor
Jenifer TaylorHealth Care Educator
Taylor credits Saint Joseph’s College for shaping her approach as a healthcare practitioner, “I care for patients in the most holistic way I know how. I was taught that at Saint Joseph’s College.”
Stanley Sluzenski
Stanley SluzenskiCharlotte, ME
“I didn’t know how applicable the courses in organization, planning, and leadership would be for me. But all of the papers and topics I could customize for my school. I’ve been teaching 18 years now and there is a definite correlation between level of education achieved and opportunity.”

CAREER MOVES

Public school teachers must be licensed, which typically requires a bachelor's degree and the completion of an approved teacher education program; private school teachers do not have to be licensed but may still need a bachelor's degree.

Many states offer alternative licensing programs to attract people into teaching, especially for hard-to-fill positions.

Teachers must have the ability to communicate, inspire trust and confidence, and motivate students, as well as understand students' educational and emotional needs.

Job prospects are best for teachers in high-demand fields, such as mathematics, science, and bilingual education, and in less desirable urban or rural school districts.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.  For further information, please visit the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements website at http://nc-sara.org/content/basic-questions-about-sara.

It is important to note that NC-SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for any courses or programs leading to professional licensure.  Saint Joseph’s College of Maine cannot know nor guarantee where our coursework will meet requirements for professional licensure, endorsements, or license renewal in states outside of Maine.  If you are planning on using our coursework towards a license or credential in your state, we recommend that you consult with the appropriate licensing agency or board in the state for which you seek to obtain licensure.

Link to Professional Licensure Boards/Requirements

U.S. Department of Education
https://www.ed.gov/

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