Two degrees offered
- Master of Science in Education: Continuing Teaching License
Admission requirements | Course of study | Add endorsement or authorization | Course rotation | Frequently asked questions | Contact information
Comprehensive exams: Link to WOU Graduate office for information.
Master of Science in Education: Continuing Teaching License
The Master of Science in Education: Continuing Teaching License program or Standard License (MS in Ed) degree provides a critical, advanced, and intellectually rigorous curriculum whereby practicing teachers are given the opportunity to advance their knowledge of the teaching/learning process, demonstrate an exemplary level of competence in all aspects of teaching, increase their knowledge of content information and materials, and show their commitment to professional excellence and professional leadership. The curriculum is designed to assist teachers in decision-making, critical and creative thinking, and problem solving as they apply to the school context. The need to develop a cadre of professional educators who demonstrate advanced knowledge in standards based education and who are capable of assisting others to reach the professional level of teaching is well documented. The responsibilities of master teachers go beyond the typical classroom as they are called upon to design and implement new programs and work in collaborative settings.
This program is designed to meet Oregon’s Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) requirements for the Continuing Teaching License. With minor modification it also meets older Standard Teaching License requirements.
Requiring at least 45 credits of graduate study, this master's degree may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. The culminating experience for those interested in the Continuing Teaching License is six credits of Continuing Teaching documentation (FS 600 and FS 601). This course should be considered an on-the-job demonstration of competence. The candidate, with College of Education support, arranges to work in a school environment where a master mentor teacher is available to the candidate.
| As of FALL 2008: The Education Core was revised with new course numbers and titles. Please refer to this list of old and new courses when registering for current classes. Questions? Contact Susan Griffin in the College of Education, 503-838-8704. |
Admission requirements for Master of Science in Education
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed WOU Application for Graduate Admission form. Submit this form to the Graduate Office, Administration Building Room 202. Students must be admitted to the WOU Graduate School before being considered for admission to the MS Ed program. Submit all WOU Graduate School application materials to the Graduate Office at least one week prior to the program admission deadline.
- Sealed official transcripts from the university that granted your bachelor’s degree and from all other institutions of higher education where you completed coursework. A GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter hours (60 semester hours) of undergraduate or graduate coursework is required. Those with less than a 3.0 GPA can be admitted with MAT or GRE scores (see below for requirement).
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score. If the applicant’s GPA is 3.0 or higher, the test requirement is waived. If the GPA is less than 3.0, minimum required score for the (a) MAT: 395 or higher; (b) average score of 450 or higher on the Verbal and Quantitative and a 3.5 or higher on Analytical Writing.
- $50 nonrefundable application fee
College of Education requirements
To seek admission to the Master of Science in Education program, first meet the university requirements (see above) and then complete and submit the Master of Science in Education Program Application,which is available in the MS in Ed Information Packet or in Education Building Room 202. Submit the application to the College of Education to:
MS in Education Program Coordinator, Education Building Room 202, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Ore. 97361
It is the applicant’s responsibility to be certain all admission materials are complete and turned in to the College of Education in a timely manner. There is no official closing date for application for admission to the Master of Science in Education program.
Course of studyThe Master of Science
in Education: Continuing License
is a 45 credit hour program.
This master’s degree can
lead to a Continuing Teaching
License (CTL) or Initial Licensure II.
The degree has these sections:
- Professional Education Core (21 credit hours)
- Content Core (18 credit hours)
- Exit requirement (6 credits) - We have three options to complete this requirement:
- Continuing Teaching License Documentation (FS 600 and FS 601) required for CTL teaching license. These 6 credit hours required for CTL can only be completed if you are currently employed in a school district. Prerequisites: Completed three years of full-time teaching and currently teaching P-12.
- Electives approved by adviser and complete Comprehensive Exams (comps).
- Thesis, Professional Project or Field Study (ED 603).
Professional Education Core - 21 credits
*Link to list of course descriptions
ED 603 Thesis, Professional Project or Field Study (terms and hours to be arranged)
ED 611 Theories of Teaching and Learning (3)
ED 632 Cultural, Social, and Philosophical Issues in Education (3)
ED 633 Research and Writing (3) - Prerequisite: ED 611
ED 635 Action Research (3) - Prerequisite: ED 633
ED 636 Leadership and Policy in a Diverse Society (3) - Prerequisite: ED 635
CSE 610 Computers in Education (3)
CSE 624 Internet for Educators (3)
The following interest areas or endorsements are available. Please select the interest area or endorsement that best fits your needs. Many students will have two advisors. One is responsible for the Education core and the exit requirements, and the other advisor guides in selecting the interest area or endorsement. To confirm your faculty advisor(s), please contact Susan Griffin in the College of Education, 503-838-8704 or griffins@wou.edu.
Please note: Special Education Initial endorsement is available at WOU through a different master’s degree.
The Content Core is 18 credit hours of coursework in advanced content/specialty from the following programs:
- Biology or life sciences
- English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and bilingual education
- Early childhood education
- Early childhood/elementary interdisciplinary studies
- Elementary interdisciplinary studies (advanced license only)
- Elementary/Middle interdisciplinary studies
- English/language arts
- Health
- Integrated science
- Mathematics
- Physical education
- Reading
- Social science
Faculty in liberal arts and sciences and faculty in education often plan this portion of the degree. Students may continue graduate level work in their academic areas or additional endorsement courses may be added. Students seeking to complete a new authorization level or endorsement within the 18 credit hours portion of the program are required to complete a 90 clock hour practicum in the appropriate authorization level or endorsement. Endorsements are offered in ESOL, Bilingual/ESOL, Early Childhood or Reading.
Course rotation for MS in Education
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
| CSE 624 Internet for Educators (online) | Ed 611 Theories of Teaching and Learning (online) | Ed 611 Theories of Teaching and Learning | At least one section of each core class (except Ed 637 Pedagogy) will be offered summer term.
Some summer classes may be offered only on campus. Others may be offered only online. |
| Ed 632 Cultural, Social and Philosophical Issues in Education | Ed 632 Cultural, Social and Philosophical Issues in Education (online) | Ed 635 Action Research (online) - pre-req. Ed 633 | |
| Ed 635 Action Research - pre-req. Ed 633 | Ed 633 Research and Writing - pre-req. Ed 611 | Ed 633 Research and Writing (online) - pre-req. Ed 611 | |
| Ed 636 Leadership and Policy in a Diverse Society (online) - pre-req. Ed 635 | Ed 636 Leadership and Policy in a Diverse Society - pre-req. Ed 635 | CSE 610 Computers in Education | |
| Ed 637 Advanced Content Pedagogy: TBA | Ed 637 Advanced Content Pedagogy: TBA | Ed 637 Advanced Content Pedagogy: TBA |
Changes in PRAXIS II test requirements: Only one test is now required for science endorsements--biology, chemistry, physics, and Integrated science. Available testing dates for physical education and social studies tests have changed. For PE, schedule two tests for one day and the third test for the next test session two months later. For social studies, test 0085 is given only four times a year and test 0081 is given at every test date. IMPORTANT - refer to this PRAXIS II web site for the most up to date information. Thank you. College of Education - Oct. 21, 2008 |
Faculty and staffA complete list of faculty is printed in the university catalog. Click here for faculty pages.
MS in Education adviser:
Dr. Marie LeJeune . 503-838-8450 . lejeunem@wou.edu
Application/advising information:
Susan Griffin . 503-838-8704 . griffins@wou.edu