Apr 01, 2025  
Graduate Catalog | 2024-2025 
    
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Graduate Catalog | 2024-2025

Elementary Education, M.Ed.

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education is designed for experienced teachers who wish to become instructional leaders, advanced practitioners, and global educators.  Upon completion of the program, students will qualify for the North Carolina advanced Standard Professional II teaching license in Elementary Education.

1)  Instructional Leader

This degree program enables graduates to develop leadership skills as well as specialized content knowledge to effectively impact elementary education.  Graduates of this program will also be advocates for students’ cultural and academic needs as well as advocates for effective and relevant educational practices and policies.

2)  Advanced Practitioners

Completion of this degree program will enable graduates to acquire deep theoretical and content knowledge to become advanced practitioners in specific emphasis areas. Graduates will have the capacity to facilitate student learning through inquiry-based practices. Graduates will also possess knowledge and practice that will prepare them to enter Ph.D. programs throughout the country and world.

3)  Global Educators

Graduates of this degree program will contribute to a rigorous and critical analysis of learning in their classroom, the school, and global society. The program enables graduates to promote an educational milieu that values culture, reflective practice, and multiple worldviews.

Program Goals

  • Master teachers are self-directed and ethical in their personal and professional growth as educators.
  • Master teachers are responsive to children’s differences as influenced by development, exceptionalities, and diversity.
  • Master teachers are well-grounded in the technology, content, and pedagogy of the elementary curriculum and emphasis area.
  • Master teachers are effective in urban, rural, and suburban cultural contexts
  • Master teachers are self-reflective, educational advocates, and educational researchers.
  • Master teachers are collaborative and impactful educational leaders.
  • Master teachers are globally aware of the impact of local education.

Concentrations

Concentrations available in the M.Ed. in Elementary Education program include:

  • Academically or Intellectually Gifted
  • Anti-Racism
  • Elementary Mathematics
  • Literacy
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Admission Requirements

  1. Official transcripts of all previous academic work beyond high school with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  2. Completion of a Bachelors in Elementary Education from an approved program
  3. Official reports of GRE or MAT examination
  4. An essay describing statement of purpose for undertaking graduate study
  5. Apply online: graduateschool.uncc.edu

GRE/MAT Waiver

The GRE or MAT requirement is waived for applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above.

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies  section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Degree Requirements

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education is a 30 credit hour online program. The program of study includes 15 credit hours of required core courses, with the remaining credit hours from a selected concentration and elective courses.

Core Courses (15 credit hours)

Phase I. Developing Perspectives (6 credit hours)

Phase II. Collaborative Inquiry (6 credit hours)

Phase III. Investigative Leadership (3 credit hours)

Concentration Courses (11-15 credit hours)

Academically or Intellectually Gifted Concentration* (12 credit hours)

Anti-Racism Concentration* (12 credit hours)

Elementary Mathematics Concentration* (15-18 credit hours)

Note:

ELED 6316 - Mathematical Modeling: K-5 Leadership  must also be completed in order to earn the North Carolina Add-On License

Literacy Concentration (15 credit hours)

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Concentration (STEM) Education (15 credit hours)

*Note:

*This concentration leads to the North Carolina Licensure if the student successfully completes all of the related licensure requirements.

Elective Course (3 credit hours)

An elective course may include any non-required course selected from a variety of graduate-level course offerings within the College of Education, designed to support concentration, additional research courses, and advanced knowledge in specific content.  Advisor approval for elective courses must be granted via permit.

Capstone Requirement

The capstone experience for the M.Ed. in Elementary Education is fulfilled by successfully completing the Teacher Inquiry Project in the ELED 6303  course.  Only students in their final semester of coursework are eligible to enroll in ELED 6303 .

Degree Total = 30 Credit Hours

Clinical Field Experiences

Students in the M.Ed. program participate in structured field experiences that require them to apply coursework in their classroom settings, analyze K-5 student learning, and reflect on their practice in the context of theories on teaching and learning. Students deepen their understanding of the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions that foster student learning. These experiences broaden their ability to help all students learn, including children with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic groups. These structured field experiences are designed to take place in multiple settings within the candidate’s school community or districts, after-school programs, alternate youth centers, or in the schools and classrooms in which the candidates work.

Advising

All students are assigned an advisor upon formal admission to the program. Students are required to attend the advising seminar at the start of each semester.

Licensure

The master’s (M.Ed.) program in Elementary Education is a K-6 instructional degree that leads to the “M” level teaching license.

Research Opportunities/Experiences

Faculty members in the Department of Elementary Education faculty are deeply committed to research in urban schools. As a result, candidates will have opportunities to become involved in classroom-based research.