Master of Education in Career and Technology Education

Table of Contents:

• Program Description 
• Program Goals and Objectives
• Program Competencies 
• Admission Requirements 
• Application Deadlines 
• Program of Study
• Retention and Exit Requirements 
• Typical M.Ed. Program of Study 
• See also: Course Descriptions 

Program Description

The Department of Technology offers a Master of Education Degree program (M.Ed.) in Career and Technology Education (CTED).  The program will refine the student’s knowledge, skills and dispositions to become master classroom teachers, resource teachers, teacher consultants, specialists, trainers, and administrators in Career and Technology Education. 
 
Students are admitted to the M.Ed. program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).  Coursework is offered at UMES, the Maryland Center for Career and Technology Education Studies located at the Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI on Key Highway), and other satellite locations throughout Maryland.  The course of study may vary with the experience and qualifications that individual students bring to the program.

Program Goals and Objectives

The overall goal of the graduate program is to prepare individuals to become professional, reflective, innovative, and effective master teachers, trainers, administrators, and leaders who value diversity. The following program objectives assist in accomplishing this goal:

• Provide opportunities for teachers to gain professional knowledge, skills and dispositions required for the M.Ed. degree.
• Prepare individuals to build upon the content knowledge they have acquired in their baccalaureate degree by providing additional professional knowledge and content necessary for advancing careers in teaching, training and administration.
• Prepare teachers and leaders who are knowledgeable of research, theory and practice   related to effective classroom and laboratory instructional management.
• Develop teachers and leaders who are committed, continuous learners, and contributors to the enhancement of the teaching and training profession.
• Prepare teachers and leaders who demonstrate sensitivity and effective interpersonal skills in working with culturally diverse populations.
  

Program Competencies

Students who complete the M.Ed. program in Career and Technology Education will be expected to demonstrate successful achievement in the following:

• Knowledge of the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and the evolution of Career and Technology Education.
• Knowledge and application of the core technologies and the Maryland State Career and Technology Education Voluntary Curricula.
• Application of research and inquiry for the improvement of classroom and laboratory            instruction.
• Understanding of the learner’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development and the implications for learning and instruction.
• Knowledge of the social contexts in which education occurs, the philosophical perspectives which influence teaching and learning, and an understanding of personal beliefs related to the role of the teacher and the learner.
• Skills and knowledge necessary to assist learners with special needs and diverse cultural backgrounds in an instructionally-integrated setting.
• Ability to organize and manage a classroom and laboratory on the basis of research, best practices, expert opinion, personal attributes, and student learning needs.
• Development of a variety of teaching/learning strategies and techniques.
• Appropriate use of a variety of approaches to assess and evaluate instructional outcomes.
• Use of technology, including computers and media, for classroom, laboratory and professional needs.
• Application of theory and best practices in classroom laboratory situations through field experiences.

Admission Requirements

Students who enter the M.Ed. program must possess an earned baccalaureate degree in one   of the areas of Career and Technology Education such as agriculture, business education, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, technical education, technology education, or a related technical content area.  Matriculating students must meet all requirements for regular admission to the graduate program.  In some cases, provisional admission will be granted.

Applicants must fulfill the following for regular admission:

• Complete the graduate school application for a degree program.
• Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0, or possess a prior graduate degree.
• May require a writing sample essay that focuses on current educational issues, as determined by the Department’s graduate faculty admissions committee.
• Submit official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.
• Submit three letters of evaluation/recommendation that address:
  1. Personal qualities, such as character and academic abilities, problem solving, conceptual thinking, and the writing and speaking skills needed to support a rigorous graduate program.
  2. Personal determination and commitment needed to complete the program.

Transcripts and academic credentials of all applicants will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee. Individuals who lack appropriate coursework will be expected to complete the identified course content requirements prior to their enrollment in the capstone research portion of the program.

Application Deadlines

In general, application deadlines for admissions are as follows:

Applications will be accepted and reviewed at any time throughout the year.

Program of Study

The M.Ed. program combines Career and Technology Education content with professional education theory and practice.  Graduate level scholarship and research-based content will be presented throughout the program.  The essential elements of teaching and research, the core technologies, teaching/learning strategies, and Maryland State Career and Technology Education Voluntary Curricula will guide instructional decision- making.

Retention and Exit Requirements

Students enrolled in the M.Ed. program complete a state-approved program of study that includes at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit with a cumulative “B” (3.0) or higher grade point average.  There are six required courses for a total of 18 semester hours in curriculum, instructional organization, learning theory, administration and leadership, and research. The remaining four courses or 12 credits are electives selected by the students based on their previous educational experience and career goals.  Elective credits must be approved by the student’s graduate faculty advisor.  Overall, eighteen (18) credits will be required at the 600 level or higher and a maximum of twelve (12) credits can be competed at the 400 level. Students also take a written comprehensive examination and complete an action research seminar paper near the end of their program.

A maximum of six (6) graduate credits will be accepted for transfer into the program from non-USM institutions, provided these credits are directly related to the program and meet the criteria for transfer of credit.  No more than six (6) credit hours of “C” grades will be acceptable in the program. 

Students must complete the program within three calendar years of advancement to Master’s Candidacy, but no later than their five-year admission period.  Full-time candidates in the Career and Technology Education M.Ed. program will be expected to complete the program in one academic year including one summer.  Part-time students, who attend uninterrupted, will be expected to complete the program in three years. 

The following represents the typical program of study for students pursuing the M.Ed. in Career and Technology Education.

Typical M.Ed. Program of Study

The following are suggested electives but additional electives are available and allowable based on career goals. Selection of elective courses is based on previous education experience and requires the approval of the graduate advisor.