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  1. Home
  2. Education Specialist in Second...

Education Specialist in Secondary Education


IN THIS SECTION
  • Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure)
    • Master of Education — Moderate Disabilities (Non-Licensure)
  • Educational Leadership and Administration (Online)
  • Early Childhood Education (Online)
  • Early Education and Care
    • Master of Education in Early Education and Care
  • Education
    • Master of Education
  • Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction
  • Education Specialist in School Psychology
    • Education Specialist in School Psychology
  • Education Specialist in Secondary Education
    • Education Specialist in Secondary Education
  • Elementary Education (Online)
  • English as a Second Language
    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program for Initial Teacher Licensure in English as a Second Language (Pre-K-6 and 5-12)
    • Master of Education in English as a Second Language
  • Master of Education in Middle School Education
  • Master of Education in Secondary School Education
  • Middle School Education
    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program for Initial Teacher License in Middle or Secondary Education
  • Moderate Disabilities
    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program for Initial Teacher Licensure — Moderate Disabilities
    • Master of Education — Moderate Disabilities
  • Reading
    • Master of Education — Reading
  • Reading Specialist
    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for Initial Teacher License for Reading Specialist
  • School Leadership and Administration
    • Master of Education in School Leadership and Administration
  • Secondary School Education
    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program for Initial Teacher License in Middle or Secondary Education
  • Special Education (Online)

Advance your career.

The Education Specialist in Secondary Education program (formerly certificate of advanced graduate studies) at 91¿ì²¥ offers advanced study in education with a disciplinary focus to teachers in grades 5–12, curriculum leaders, international students, and those interested in educational research—all of whom have a master’s degree in education, a cognate area, or a field related to their teaching license.

The program offers you a wide range of disciplinary focus areas, including bilingual, multicultural, and English as a Second Language; biology; educational leadership; English; history; humanities; international and comparative education; mathematics; multi-literacies in content area, technological, and visual literacies; reading; Spanish; and STEM.

It grants you the flexibility to create your own personalized course of study that meets your unique interests and goals. What’s more, you will be able to advance your career at your own pace: You can complete the program either full- or part-time, and courses are offered in a range of formats, including in person, online, and hybrid (a mixture of both). You will also work closely with faculty, conducting original research on a topic of your choosing.

Graduates of this program go on to rewarding careers in educational research, curriculum leadership, and teaching. You may use your Education Specialist in Secondary Education credentials to further your career advancement—and as a possible pathway to professional educator licensure through the .

Admissions Requirements

Candidates for the Education Specialist in Secondary Education program will be required to meet the competencies established by the graduate program for all candidates seeking education specialist credentials at Worcester State.

In addition, applicants for this program must provide the following:
• Proof of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA from a regionally accredited institution or from a recognized foreign institution of higher education
• Proof of an earned master of education or master’s degree in a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Completed graduate application, including fee and essay
• Official transcripts (Official Course-by-Course transcript evaluation required for all college level courses taken outside of the United States)
• Two current letters of recommendation (Less than 6 months old)
• Results of an approved English proficiency assessment, if applicable

Program of Study

This program consists of a minimum of 10 courses for a minimum of 30 graduate credits, which are selected with the approval of the program coordinator. Courses include 1 course in the philosophical, sociological, or cultural foundations of education; 2 or 3 courses in secondary education areas such as curriculum, assessment, leadership, and/or instruction; 4 or 5 courses in a disciplinary focus such as math, history, biology, English, Spanish, reading, or language and culture; 1 course in research methods; and a 3- to 6-credit research project. At the conclusion of the program, students will select a portfolio or comprehensive exam option with the approval of the program coordinator.

Requirements of the Program

  1. Minimum of 30 credits plus comprehensive exam or professional portfolio (2 credits)
  2. Education Foundations (3 credits)
  3. Secondary Education (6–9 credits)
  4. Disciplinary Focus (12–15 credits)
  5. Research Design and Methodology (3 credits)
  6. Research Project (3–6 credits)

Explore sample courses in the Education Specialist in Secondary Education program

ED-981 Advanced Foundations of Education

The course explores historical, philosophical, psychological, legal, and cultural foundations for education and school practices.
3 credits

ED-987 Social, Political, and Cultural Issues in Education

Examines the social, cultural, and political forces that shape schools, and provides the context for teaching and learning. Additionally, the types of existing and desired relationships among schools, families, and communities are discussed.
3 credits

ED-997 Advanced Philosophical Foundations of Education

The course examines the basic principles of some major philosophers and demonstrates their effect on contemporary educational theories in the western tradition.
3 credits

ED-958 Middle School Curriculum and Instruction: Strategies and Modification

The course is designed to give students the ability to design and present instruction in ways that are commensurate with the developmental needs and readiness of early adolescent learners.
3 credits

ED-963 The Understanding and Teaching of Culture

The course focuses on approaches to cultural analysis and survey of techniques used to teach culture in the classroom.
3 credits

ED-965 Principles of Curriculum Development

The course focuses on aspects of curriculum development, society, culture, learning theories, taxonomies of educational objectives, structure, hierarchy, balance, politics, strategy for change.
3 credits

ED-975 Assessment, Differentiation, and Data Analysis in Secondary Schools

This course is designed to give high school teachers the ability to plan and implement overall assessment strategies appropriate for secondary school grades including formative, summative, performance-based, differentiated, and self-assessment strategies.
3 credits

ES-903 The Art of Teaching Adolescents

The course emphasizes underlying reasons and means for pursuing excellence in teaching middle and high school students: implications for discipline and leadership.
3 credits

EA-939 Action Research Project I

A 2-semester course during which students enroll for 2 consecutive semesters. During the 2 semesters, students work both in large groups and individually in developing their action research projects.
3 credits

Take the next step towards becoming an Education Specialist in Secondary Education

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