Specialist in Education with a Major in Secondary Education
The Education Specialist degree with a major in Secondary Education is offered with a concentration in Biology, Broad Field Science, Chemistry, Economics, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, or Political Science. This program provides advanced preparation for an in-depth knowledge of the teaching field and an opportunity for utilization of research methods and a culminating project.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog. A program sheet, which provides a required coursework sequence, is available for download in the Courses tab below.
The Education Specialist degree with a major in Secondary Education is offered with a concentration in Biology, Broad Field Science, Chemistry, Economics, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, or Political Science. This program provides advanced preparation for an in-depth knowledge of the teaching field and an opportunity for utilization of research methods and professional literature. Each concentration includes a minimum of 27 hours of graduate work distributed among courses in professional education, content specialization, and research, and includes a culminating project.
Program Location
Online
Method of Delivery
95-100% online
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 27
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.
Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.
This program is offered entirely online. Though a student may choose to sign-up for a face-to-face elective or core course, one can earn this degree completely online.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited university of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen. In addition, online courses and programs can mean a huge cost-savings in many non-evident ways: No more high gas charges. No childcare needed. The flexibility can allow one to maintain a job while attending school. Regardless of state residency, out-of-state non-resident students are not charged non-resident tuition for online course credit hours.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-Face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, they will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For the cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Downloads
General
This course is a critical study of the design and implementation of curricula in the field of education.
Designed to provide students with knowledge of factors and processes related to teacher leadership roles within schools. Topics such as mentoring, peer coaching, community relations, organizational change, and advocacy will be addressed.
This course is designed to examine issues relating to cultural pluralism and global perspectives in order to provide a richer understanding and appreciation of the social forces that influence the education of diverse student populations. Particular attention is given to culturally responsive teaching, ethical behaviors, and personal responsibility to affect change. Students will examine, evaluate, and develop curricular materials that include techniques to differentiate for diverse populations of P-12 students.
This course is designed to guide 21st Century teachers in developing perspectives on the influences that affect public schools. Educational problems, trends, and issues will be identified and addressed, especially as they relate to students, teachers, school systems, and American society as a whole.
This course is designed for teachers who need strategies for helping their students comprehend informational texts and improve their informational writing skills across the curriculum, especially in content areas such as business, math, science, and social studies. Developmentally appropriate practice and literature for teaching reading and writing in the elementary, middle, and high school, to include the study of language and literacy, study skills, print and non-print media, and technology, will be examined across the curriculum and in relation to the Georgia Milestones Assessment System.
This course is designed for continued professional growth of teachers as they investigate and evaluate best practices in the teaching of English language arts, social studies, science, math, business, music, or other fields, with a focus on developing instructional strategies and curriculum that maximize the potential of 21st Century technologies to meet the needs of all learners. This course includes a field experience component that focuses on the use of online teaching platforms for instruction.
This course is designed to advance teachers understandings of the philosophies and practices of educational measurement as they apply to diverse student assessment data (specifically data collection and analysis). Students will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of quality assessment with regard to the reliability and validity of such measures with special emphasis on existing student diversity. Students will also demonstrate the skills and understanding needed to design and construct their own assessments and interpret the results of these assessments as well as those made by others.
This course lays the foundation for the educational leadership student to transition into the role of instructional leader. The student is introduced to the theories and practices of leadership and organizational behaviors, to include vision development, and connects that knowledge to instructional leadership that facilitates school improvement. Attention is given to understanding self as leader, identifying core values and personal leadership styles, and practicing effective communication that facilitates positive interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
This course prepares aspiring leaders to create a framework of effective practices that work together to drive significant impacts on student achievement. Aspiring leaders will learn to confront the challenge of variability in student outcomes through access to a guaranteed and viable curriculum, careful monitoring of learning, and systemic interventions for students who struggle. Particular attention is given to the process of teachers and leaders working collaboratively in Professional Learning Communities to engage in collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve.
This course is designed to increase the school leader's knowledge and understanding of assessment and its role in improving student achievement. Students will examine the knowledge and skill base that supports the effective use of assessment within classrooms and schools. The nature and purpose of assessment, its use for improving instruction and the design of high-quality teacher-developed classroom assessments will be emphasized.
This course prepares candidates to serve as instructional leaders in media in PK-12 schools. Candidates will use a systematic instructional design process and research-based professional learning practices to develop learning experiences that meet the needs of diverse learner populations in both physical and virtual environments.
Titles and detailed descriptions of specific courses and associated content to be inserted at time of offering. This course may be repeated for credit.
This course is designed for continued professional growth of teachers as they investigate and evaluate best practices in the teaching of English, social studies, science, math, business, or other fields, with a focus on developing instructional strategies and curriculum that maximize the potential of 21st Century technologies to meet the needs of all learners. This course includes a field experience component that focuses on the use of online teaching platforms for instruction.
This course will provide teacher leaders with the opportunity to continue integrating and applying the knowledge and skills learned throughout the Secondary Education Specialist Degree program through a practice-based investigative project. Students will select their project format, develop and carry out their plan, and complete their final submission. Specific details will vary by student and project and will focus on the student s content area of certification.
Rebecca Gault, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Brent Gilles, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Assistant Chair of Secondary Programs
Natasha Ramsay-Jordan, Ed.D.
Associate Professor & Assistant Chair of Elementary Programs
Guidelines for Admittance
- All graduate applicants must complete the online Grad Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
- Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
- International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
- Official transcripts from all schools that have conferred degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, etc.) are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.
- A Master’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, and
- Submit a T-5 Georgia Professional Educator Certificate in grades 6-12 in the appropriate content area (or meet eligibility with an equivalent out-of-state teaching license)
Admission Process Checklist
The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here.
Contact
Graduate Admissions
graduate@westga.edu
678-839-1394
College of Education:
The The Department of Early Childhood through Secondary Education website includes projected course offerings, program sheets, and other vital information.
Dr. Brent Gilles
Pre-enrollment Contact
bgilles@westga.edu
Phone: 678-839-6138
Graduate Admission Deadlines are listed here.
- Specialist candidates know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students. They are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
- Specialist candidates think systematically about their practice and learn from experience. They research effective practices for ongoing professional growth and development.
- Specialist candidates are able to identify effective practices and share that knowledge with others through scholarly publications and presentations.
- Specialist candidates are leaders in their schools and seek opportunities to lead others through professional development and collaboration. They are members of learning communities.