MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION/SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING

The Department of Secondary Education/ Foundations of Education offers two master of education degree tracks in Secondary Social Studies Teaching: (1) Basic and (2) Advanced. 

     The Basic Teaching Track in Secondary  Social Studies is a degree designed for individuals who possess a bachelor's degree and appropriate coursework for social studies. Successful completion of the program will lead to a master's degree and can lead to state certification. It is anticipated that students would complete the 36-semester hour program in one calendar year of full-time study, beginning with the Summer Pre-Session.  However, students may begin the program during the fall or spring and attend part-or full-time. Students will be admitted to the program if they have: (1) an appropriate undergraduate course background; (2) an overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.80 or greater; and 3) acceptable GRE or MAT scores.  Students with course deficiencies may be admitted to the program but will be required to remedy any deficiencies before participation in graduate-level student teaching.

     The Advanced Teaching Track in Social Studies Teaching is a Master of Education degree for individuals who already possess teacher certification in Social Studies. In addition to core courses, these certified teaches will concentrate on individual professional development by electing 12 semester hours of coursework from the areas of History, foundations of education, instructional technology, or counseling. The GPA requirement for this program is 3.00 or greater. In addition, applicants must submit acceptable GRE or MAT scores. For more information about either program contact Dr. Jeffrey Lehman by calling (724) 738-2311. 

MASTER OF EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION/

The following courses are required for the Master of Education degree. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Basic Track:

To be considered for unconditional admission to the basic track, all applicants must have a minimum of a bachelors degree with an undergraduate GPA of 2.80 (on a 4.00 scale) from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must also have official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores forwarded to the Director of Graduate Admissions (see address below). The minimum acceptable overall total score on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE is 1000 to be considered for unconditional admission into this program. Moreover, a minimum score of 550 is required on the verbal section of the GRE for unconditional admission. If a student elects to take the MAT, the minimum acceptable total score is a 400 for unconditional admission. However, any student who holds a master's degree or the equivalent (i.e., LL.B., J.D., M.D., D.C., and D.D.S.), may request to have the GRE or MAT requirement waived.  Finally, students who provide evidence of meeting outcomes in educational measurement and education psychology (Slippery Rock University's SEFE 270, Educational Measurement and CEDP 248, Human Development) will not have to take these courses in addition to the graduate program. Although the vast majority of accepted students exceed the minimum GPA and standardized test score requirements, students not meeting all these criteria may be considered for conditional admission. Conditionally admitted students, however, must meet all of the prescribed program requirements before conferral of degree candidacy. 

Advanced Track:

To be considered for unconditional admission to the advanced track,  all applicants must have a minimum of a bachelors degree with an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must also have official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores forwarded to the Director of Graduate Admissions (see address below). The minimum acceptable overall total score on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE is 1000 to be considered for unconditional admission into this program. Moreover, a minimum score of 550 is required on the verbal section of the GRE for unconditional admission. If a student elects to take the MAT, the minimum acceptable total score is a 400 for unconditional admission. However, any student who holds a master's degree or the equivalent (i.e., LL.B., J.D., M.D., D.C., and D.D.S.), may request to have the GRE or MAT requirement waived. In addition, teachers must submit a copy of their teaching certificate and two letters of recommendation; one academic and one professional.

DEGREE COMPLETION PROCESS

There are five steps to completing a master's degree at Slippery Rock University. Students must: 

1. obtain unconditional admission status, 
2. be approved for degree candidacy (students must successfully complete between 6 and 12 credit hours in a declared program of study and pass the Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessments for the Basic Program), 
3. pass appropriate comprehensive examination, 
4. complete research requirements, 
5. complete requisite credit hours.

Note: All required sections of the Praxis I and Praxis II  must be completed and passed prior to enrollment in Seminar and Supervised Student Teaching. 

Upon completion of these five steps, the student will be required to apply for graduation before the end of the semester in which he or she wishes to graduate. See the Graduate Catalog for further information. 

TUITION AND GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS *

Tuition and Fees

Graduate Assistantships

 Graduate assistantships include a stipend of $4,000 per academic year along with a full tuition waiver. Assistantships may be granted for up to two years, with the recipients working 17.5 hours each week and maintaining full-time student status with 9 or more graduate credits. Assistantship brochures may be obtained from the graduate office along with application forms which are submitted directly to the office in which employment is being sought, or you can obtain information with the graduate assistantships link . Unconditional admission to the graduate program is a prerequisite for assistantship eligibility.

GRADUATE COORDINATOR

Should you have any further questions regarding the social studies certification program, please contact the graduate coordinator, Dr. Jeffrey Lehman by calling (724) 738-2311. Application and procedural questions should be directed to the director of Graduate Admissions by phoning (724) 738-2051 or by writing: 

Graduate Coordinator
Dr. Jeffrey Lehman
Slippery Rock University
116 McKay Education Building
Slippery Rock University 
Slippery Rock, PA 16057

For more information please send mail to: jeffrey.lehman@sru.edu

Graduate Studies

Application. The Office of Graduate Studies has an on-line application process for your convenience or you may fill in the inquiry request for a paper application.  http://www.sru.edu/depts/graduate/index.htm  

Director of Graduate Admissions

Mr. Cliff McCormick
Director of Graduate Admissions
124 North Hall Welcome Center
Slippery Rock University 
Slippery Rock, PA 16057 

*The educational policies and procedures are continually being reviewed and changed in keeping with the educational mission of the university. Consequently, this document cannot be considered binding and is intended to be used only as an informational guide. Students are responsible for keeping informed of official policies and regulations and for meeting all appropriate requirements. 

This page was last updated on September 18, 2007.