Master of Science in Education, Elementary Education, Middle School, 6-8, Initial Licensure
3101 Education Building
757-683-3284
Judith Dunkerly-Bean, Graduate Program Director
This master’s program in elementary education with a concentration in middle school education (grades 6-8) is designed for prospective teachers wanting to obtain initial middle school teaching licensure and a master’s degree at the same time. Available to students who have a non-teaching BS or BA degree, the program requires students to complete two content areas from the following:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| * | 23-29 |
| * | 21 |
| * | 21 |
| * | 21 |
| 44 |
Advisors in the Career and Advising Resource Center will evaluate an individual’s undergraduate transcript to determine which, if any, undergraduate academic content courses are needed to meet state requirements for licensure. No courses in the academic major or professional education classes in which the student has made below a C will be accepted toward licensure in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
Admission
All students must apply for and be admitted into the approved MSEd in Education, Elementary Education, Middle School, 6-8, with initial licensure program. The following criteria must be met for admission to the campus-based emphasis area:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university is required in the liberal arts and sciences (or equivalent) including a minimum of 21 semester hours (which meet Virginia’s stated coursework competencies) in two content areas (English, mathematics, science, and history/social studies) which will be listed on the license.
- Students must meet the required criteria for admission by passing the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments and earning the minimum required Grade point averages (GPA). For the most current information on the prescribed Virginia Board of Education admission assessment, visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website, http://www.odu.edu/oce and review the Teacher Education Handbook.
- A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.80 is required for admission.
- No courses in the academic major or professional education in which the student has made below a "C" will be accepted for admission in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
- An application for graduate studies and official transcripts must be submitted by the appropriate deadline for admission. Under certain circumstances, applicants who do not fully meet the requirements for regular admission to the program may be admitted on a provisional basis subject to conditions specified by the graduate program director for elementary/middle education.
Curriculum
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| Foundations of Education and Instructional Assessment | |
| Digital Age Teaching and Learning | |
| Human Growth and Development | |
| Language Acquisition and Reading for Students with Diverse Learning Needs | |
| TLED 583 | Seminar in Teacher Education (Co-Requisite with one Instructional Strategies) | 1 |
| SPED 620 | Advanced Foundations of Special Education: Legal Aspects and Characteristics | 3 |
| TLED 615 | Teaching in the Middle School | 4 |
| READ 680 | Literacy Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| LIBS 642 | Children’s Literature PREK-8 | 3 |
| FOUN 641 | Assessment and Evaluation of Student Learning | 3 |
| TLED 666 | Internship/Student Teaching and Seminar (Student Teaching) | 9 |
| 6 |
| Developing Instructional Strategies for Teaching in the Middle/High School: English | |
| Developing Instructional Strategies for Teaching in the Middle/High School: Social Studies | |
| Developing Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Middle/High School: Math and Science | |
| Total Credit Hours | 32 |
Due to changing University requirements, national standards, and the Virginia Board of Education licensure regulations, the programs in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies are under constant revision. Any changes resulting from these factors supersede the program requirements described in this Catalog. Students are encouraged to obtain current program information from their advisors and from the Office of Clinical Experiences website.
Additional Requirements
Continuance
- Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in the graduate professional education courses. A grade of “B” or higher is required in all practicum coursework. A minimum "B-" grade is required for the remaining graduate professional education courses.
- Students must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) modules during the first twelve graduate credit hours at Old Dominion University.
- Students must take and pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and the PRAXIS subject assessment examination for the appropriate Middle School content area prior to or while enrolled in the instructional strategies course. All assessments must be passed prior to the start of the Teacher Candidate Internship Orientation session.
- A clearance background check must be completed prior to placement in a field experience required for practicum courses and for the teacher candidate internship. For more information please review the policy in the Office of Clinical Experiences website.
-
Students must obtain certificates of completion in First Aid/AED/CPR, Dyslexia Awareness Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Recognition and Intervention Training, Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and Cultural Competence Training.**
Virginia Board of Education prescribed professional assessments:
- Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) – a passing composite score of 470 is required on this reading and writing assessment
- PRAXIS Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) Middle School English/Language Arts
- PRAXIS Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) Middle School Mathematics
- PRAXIS Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) Middle School Science
- PRAXIS Subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) Middle School Social Studies
To review more information on the Virginia Board of Education prescribed assessments visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website.
Exit
Requirements for graduation include the following:
- completion of the teaching portfolio comprehensive exam,
- completion of the Graduate Assessment,
- a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA, with a minimum B grade for practicum courses and a minimum B- grade for the remaining graduate professional education courses required,
- successful completion of the Teacher Candidate Internship,
- completion of an exit interview,
- completion of all course requirements, and
- submission of an application for graduation.
No courses in the academic major in which the student earned below a "C" will be accepted toward licensure requirements in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies.
Program Requirements
Students seeking initial licensure plus a master’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in middle school education (grades 6-8) must meet the academic concentration requirements in two of the following content areas with a minimum grade of "C". Transcripts will be evaluated by the education advisor to determine whether the academic requirements have been met by previous course work. Experiential learning credit may be available for some non-academic work.
English: English content must include coursework in language (history, structure or grammar), literature, advanced composition, and interpersonal communication or speech; 21 credit hours.
Mathematics: Mathematics content must include coursework in college algebra, probability and statistics, pre-calculus I and II, calculus I, number systems & discrete math, geometry, linear algebra and computer programming to satisfy the requirements for the Algebra I endorsement; 23-29 credit hours
Science: Science content must include courses in each of the following: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science (a laboratory course is required in two of the four science areas); 21 credit hours.
History/Social Science: History/social science content must include courses in American History, world history, economics, geography, international affairs, and current events; 21 credit hours.
All students, regardless of which two content areas selected, are required to take a Government/Civics course or complete the state and local civic education module.
