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Advanced Teacher Education, Master of Arts in Education

Advanced Teacher Education (0500)

  • Graduate
  • Master of Arts in Education
  • Education & Behavioral Science
  • Teacher Education, School of

Overview

This program is designed to develop advanced educators who can positively impact student learning in their classrooms and schools. Courses and experiences include professional learning communities in which candidates interact with other graduate candidates from various content areas and grade levels to discuss and work on real world challenges and promising practices they encounter in schools.

The program is divided into two instructional components. The first component, professional education, provides 15 hours of study collaboratively developed between WKU and the administration of the specific school district in which the candidate is employed. This includes a study of education in positive behavioral supports, teaching strategies, and curriculum development.  The second component, the concentration, directs the candidate into an individual program in content, pedagogy, and/or areas of professional growth concurrent with the goals of each candidate. Programs are tailored to each student's interests and personalized to meet their individual needs. The degree can be used for a Rank change (for KY teachers) and for pursuing additional certifications.

This program is exempt from the maximum of 12 hours denoted in the Duplication of Coursework policy.  All concentration hours may be duplicated on one additional graduate degree or certificate at the same level.

Concentration(s)

  • Addictions Education (ADED) (also a WKU certificate #0492)
  • Advanced Behavior Management (ABM) (also a WKU certificate #1736)
  • Agriculture (ATEA)
  • Athletic Administration & Coaching (AAC)
  • Chemistry (ATEC)
  • College and Career Readiness (CCR) (also a WKU certificate #1737)
  • Earth Science (EASC)
  • Elementary Education (ELED)
  • Elementary Mathematics Specialist P-5 (KEM) (also a WKU certificate #0485 and an endorsement/certification #132)
  • English (ATEE)
  • Environmental Education (KEV) (also an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
  • Gifted and Talented Education (KE37) (also a WKU certificate #1764 and an endorsement/certification #132)
  • History (ATEH)
  • Instructional Design (INDE) (also a WKU certificate #0418)
  • Instructional Computer Technology (KCT) (also an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (KIE) (also an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Learning and Behavior Disorders (KLBD) (also an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Literacy P-12 (ATEL) (also a WKU certificate #1750 and an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Middle Grades Education (MGED)
  • Moderate and Severe Disabilities (KMS) (also an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Secondary Education (SSED)
  • Social Studies (ATES)
  • Teacher Leader (KTLE) (also an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (KE36) (also a WKU certificate #0416 and an endorsement/certification #132)
  • Trauma & Resilience (TRRE) (also a WKU certificate #1787)

Program Admission

Applicants must be accepted to WKU graduate studies and hold a valid teaching certificate. A copy of the certificate or statement of eligibility must be submitted with the application.1

1

Applicants whose certificates have expired may be admitted, but they may enroll for only six hours before they must apply to the EPSB for re-issued certificates. After completion of six hours, a student admitted with an expired certificate must submit a copy of the re-issued certificate before being allowed to register for any additional courses. 

Program Requirements (30-37 hours)

During the program, students will complete 15 hours of coursework that are school-district driven and a minimum of 15 hours of specialization coursework chosen by the student. Students should consult with their advisors regarding course work to meet their professional goals.

Course List
Required Courses
EDU 502Positive Learning Environment3
EDU 503Professional Development Experience6
or EDU 694 National Board for Certification Exploration and Support
EDU 580Advanced Special Topics3
EDU 560Capstone in Education3
Concentration Courses 115-22
Total Hours30-37

1

18 hours in a content discipline are required for credentialing to teach at the postsecondary level. 

Course List
Electives2-6
For concentrations that are less than 15 hours, students will complete an advisor-approved elective to meet the 30 hour requirement for the degree. Students may select from the following:
Any course with prefix EDU, GTE, ELED, LITE, ID, IECE, SEC, LTCY, MGE, SPED, ENVE, TCHL, REC, CNS, SLP, SWRK, AGRI, AGEC, RSA, GEOS, HIST, ENG, PS, GEOG, PSY, BIO, CHEM, PHYS, FACS, ECON, EDAD, EDFN, LEAD: 4XXG, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX
Total Hours2-6

Concentrations

Addictions Education (also a WKU certificate #0492) (12 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
CNS 637Theories of Addiction3
CNS 647Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning3
CNS 667Counseling Substance and Process Addictions3
Course related to the program content and advisor approved.3
Total Hours12

Advanced Behavior Management (also a WKU certificate #1736) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
SPED 501Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis3
SPED 502Positive Behavior Supports3
or EDU 502 Positive Learning Environment
SPED 503Behavior Assessment3
SPED 504Instruction to Improve Behavior3
SPED 505Ethics Surrounding Behavior Issues3
Total Hours15

Agriculture (13 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
AGRI 491GData Analysis and Interpretation3
AGRI 528Population Genetics3
AGRI 590Experimental Design3
AGRI 598Seminar1
AGEC 561Agricultural Production and Economics3
Total Hours13

Athletic Administration and Coaching (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
RSA 513Recreation and Sport Administration3
RSA 515Recreation and Sport Facility Development3
RSA 517Legal Issues in Recreation and Sport3
RSA 519Fiscal Practices in Recreation and Sport3
Select 3 hours from the following:3
RSA 501
Research Methods in Recreation and Sport
RSA 521
Public Relations in Recreation and Sport
RSA 523
Theoretical Foundations of Recreation and Sport
RSA 534
Facility Management
RSA 536
Event Management
RSA 538
Facility and Event Security Management
RSA 542
Investigation of Current Interscholastic Athletics Issues
RSA 543
Sports Medicine Administration for Interscholastic Athletics
RSA 544
Practicum in Interscholastic Sport
Total Hours15

Chemistry (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
CHEM graduate courses 315
Total Hours15

College and Career Readiness (also a WKU certificate #1737) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
CNS 500College and Career Readiness Foundations3
CNS 501College and Career Consultation & Collaboration3
CNS 502College and Career Program Development & Evaluation3
CNS 503Practicum in College and Career Readiness3
CNS 556Developmental Career Counseling3
Total Hours15

Earth Science (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
GEOS graduate courses15
Total Hours15

Elementary Education (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
ELED 503Organization of Elementary School Curriculum3
ELED 505Mat/Meth/Math/El Teach3
ELED 506Seminar in Elementary School Science3
ELED 507Advanced Materials and Methods in Social Studies3
LTCY 519Literacy Development and Instruction3
Total Hours15

Elementary Mathematics Specialist P-5 (KEM) (also a WKU certificate #0485 and an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
ELED 571Leadership, Math and Technology Education3
ELED 572Math and Technology Methods for Diverse Learners3
ELED 573Math and Technology Assessment3
Select 6 hours from the following:6
MATH 411G
Problem Solving for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers 4
MATH 507
Number Systems for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers
MATH 508
Rational Number Concepts for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers
Total Hours15

English (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
ENG 510Graduate Rhetoric and Writing3
ENG 516Literature and Pedagogy3
Select 6 hours from the following: 36
ENG 430G
19th Century American Literature
ENG 457G
British Literature since 1900
ENG 482G
Shakespeare
ENG 488G
Victorian Literature & Culture
ENG 489G
The British Novel
ENG 490G
American Novel
ENG 493G
American Poetry
ENG 495G
Southern Literature
ENG 497G
Women's Literature
ENG 504
Studies in American Literature
ENG 514
Studies in British Literature
ENG 524
Studies in World Literature
ENG 534
Studies in Genre
ENG 586
Seminar in British Writers
ENG 596
Seminar in American Writers
Select 3 hours from the following: 33
ENG 401G
Advanced Composition
ENG 402G
Editing and Publishing
ENG 410G
Composition Theory and Practice in Writing Instruction
ENG 412G
Theories of Rhetoric and Persuasive Writing
ENG 597
Special Topics in English
Total Hours15

Environmental Education (KEV) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (12 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
ENVE 520Introduction to Environmental Education3
ENVE 580Instructional Strategies in Environmental Education3
Select 6 hours from the following:6
ENVE 585
Special Topics in Environmental Education
EDU 570
Educational Assessment for P-12 Learners
RSA 532
Environmental Education Resources
REC 434G
Environmental Interpretation
GEOS 507
Geographic Concepts and Skills for Teachers
Total Hours12

Family and Consumer Science (15 hours)

Course List
FACS 510Professional Development Seminar in Family and Consumer Sciences3
FACS 511Grant Writing for Child and Family Programs3
FACS 550Youth and Family Theory and Research3
FACS 577Child Development Theory and Research3
EDFN 500Research Methods3
Total Hours15

Gifted and Talented Education (KE37) (also a WKU certificate #1764 and an endorsement/certification #132) (12 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
GTE 536Nature and Needs of Gifted, Creative, and Talented Students3
GTE 537Curriculum, Strategies, and Materials for Gifted Students3
PSY 432GPsychology of the Gifted and Creative3
GTE 538Practicum for Teachers of Gifted Students3
Total Hours12

History (ATEH) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
HIST graduate courses 315
Total Hours15

Instructional Design (INDE) (also a WKU certificate #0418) (12 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
ID 560Instructional Design Foundations3
ID 570Systematic Instructional Design3
Select 6 hours from the following:6
ID 572
Improvement Analysis in the Workplace
ID 575
Special Topics in Instructional Design
ID 577
Management of Instructional Systems
ID 583
Training Design and Development
ID 585
Distance Education Opportunities and Challenges
ID 587
Trends and Issues in Instructional Design
ID 588
Multimedia Design
ID 590
Practicum in Instructional Design
Total Hours12

Instructional Computer Technology (KCT) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (12 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
LITE 535Survey of Educational Technology Practices3
LITE 537Educational Technology Management3
LITE 508Informatics in Education3
Select 3 hours from the following:3
LITE 545
Educational Technology Production
LITE 547
Integration of Educational Technology
LITE 550
Emerging Technology in Education
LITE 737
Educational Technology Leadership
Total Hours12

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (KIE) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
IECE 521Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education3
IECE 523Planning Curriculum and Instruction in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education3
IECE 524Internship in Early Childhood Special Education3
SPED 523Curriculum/Methods in Early Childhood Special Education3
SLP 517Normal Language Development3
Total Hours15

Learning and Behavioral Disorders (KLBD) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
SPED 530Advanced Assessment of Students with Disabilities in General Education3
SPED 525Intervention Support for Students with Dyslexia and Other Reading Disabilities3
SPED 531Data-Based Individualization in Special Education3
Teachers without MSD or SPED Certification take SPED 630 and SPED 517. Teachers with MSD or SPED Certification must take EDU 502 and SPED 590:6
SPED 517
Transition Services and Programs for Individuals with Disabilities
SPED 630
Special Education Law and Finance
EDU 502
Positive Learning Environment
SPED 590
Advanced Internship in Special Education
Total Hours15

Literacy P-12 (ATEL) (also a WKU certificate #1750 and an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
LTCY 519Literacy Development and Instruction3
LTCY 523Assessment and Intervention of Reading and Writing3
LTCY 524Content Area and Disciplinary Literacy3
LTCY 527Diversity and Equity in Literacy Education3
Elective
Any 500-level or 600-level course with prefix LTCY, EDU, PSY, ELED, IECE, LITE, SPED, GTE, ID, and ENG or other advisor approved elective3
Total Hours15

Middle Grades Education (MGED) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
MGE graduate courses or Advisor-approved elective with prefix EDU, GTE, ELED, LITE, ID, IECE, SEC, LTCY, MGE, SPED, ENVE, TCHL, REC, CNS, SLP, SWRK, AGRI, AGEC, RSA, GEOS, HIST, ENG, PS, GEOG, PSY, BIO, CHEM, PHYS, FACS, ECON, EDAD, EDFN, LEAD: 4XXG, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX15
Total Hours15

Moderate and Severe Disabilities (KMS) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
SPED 535Curriculum for Individuals with Moderate and Severe Disabilities3
SPED 615Instructional Strategies for Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities3
SPED 529Assessment of Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities3
Teachers without LBD or SPED Certification take SPED 630 and SPED 517. Teachers with MSD or SPED Certification must take EDU 502 and SPED 590:6
SPED 630
Special Education Law and Finance
SPED 517
Transition Services and Programs for Individuals with Disabilities
SPED 590
Advanced Internship in Special Education
SPED 610
Characteristics of Low Incidence Disorders
Total Hours15

Secondary Education (SSED) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
SEC graduate courses or Advisor-approved elective with prefix EDU, GTE, ELED, LITE, ID, IECE, SEC, LTCY, MGE, SPED, ENVE, TCHL, REC, CNS, SLP, SWRK, AGRI, AGEC, RSA, GEOS, HIST, ENG, PS, GEOG, PSY, BIO, CHEM, PHYS, FACS, ECON, EDAD, EDFN, LEAD: 4XXG, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX15
Total Hours15

Social Studies (ATES) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
Advisor-approved courses with HIST, PS, ECON, GEOG: 4XXG, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX15
Total Hours15

Teacher Leader (KTLE) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
TCHL 500Foundations of Teacher Leadership3
TCHL 530Curriculum Development3
TCHL 545Classroom Instruction Strategies3
TCHL 555School and Classroom Assessment3
TCHL 560Capstone Project for Teacher Leadership3
or EDU 560 Capstone in Education
Total Hours15

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (KE36) (also a WKU certificate #0416 and an endorsement/certification #132) (16 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
ENG 407GLinguistic Analysis3
ENG 408GPsycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics3
ENG 565Integrated Teaching English as a Second Language3
ENG 566Seminar in Teaching English as a Second Language3
ENG 471GTESL Practicum4
Total Hours16

Trauma & Resilience (also a WKU certificate #1781) (12 hours)

Course List
Required Courses
SWRK 572Interpersonal Violence: Social Work Practice3
SWRK 681Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders3
Electives
Select 6 hours of the following: Other electives may be selected with advisor approval.6
SWRK 672
Child Sexual Abuse
SWRK 673
Grief and Loss: Issues and Interventions
SWRK 675
Expressive Therapies in Social Work Practice
SWRK 676
Social Work with Migrants
SWRK 682
Suicide Assessment and Intervention for Social Work
SWRK 685
Human Trafficking: Theories, Policies, & Intervention
CNS 568
Counseling Children and Adolescents
CNS 592
Crisis, Trauma and Violence Counseling
CNS/SWRK 637
Theories of Addiction
CNS 647
Addictions: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
CNS 677
Eating Disorders in Counseling
PH 548
Community Organizing in Public Health
PH 564
Public Health Issues in Women's Health
PH 576
Public Health Education and Communication Techniques
PH 578
Health Inequities
PH 580
Public Health Foundations and Practice
EMDS 502
Terrorism, Violence, Resiliency, and Response
Total Hours12
3

Additional program approval required.

4

Students must complete MATH 411G unless MATH 411 was completed as an undergraduate student. If MATH 411 was completed, both MATH 507 and MATH 508 must be completed.

Modality: Agriculture, Chemistry, and Earth Science are mainly in-person. Environmental Education, Family and Consumer Science, Middle Grades Education, and Secondary Education are hybrid. All other concentrations are fully online with internship.

 

More Information

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 Last Modified 5/30/26