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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Feb. 18, 2003) – The world in which schools operate is changing rapidly, leading to new expectations for the entire school community. Many teachers are seeking advanced master’s degrees, either for professional development in their current licensure area, additional endorsement areas, or to achieve national board approval.
Milligan College recently announced a redesign of its advanced M.Ed. program to help currently licensed teachers achieve these goals.
“What do experienced teachers really need?” was the question that guided the program’s redesign process, says education professor Dr. Lyn Howell, who coordinated the program’s redesign.
“The curriculum is very practical. It is application as much as it is theory,” said Howell. “A concept learned Tuesday night in an M.Ed. class can be applied Wednesday in the classroom.”
For example, a course in assessment and evaluation discusses how to be fair with students who differ in ability and learning style, explained education professor Dr. Norma Morrison who was also involved in the program’s redesign. “It helps a teacher examine what he or she is doing in the classroom and evaluate whether or not it is effective.”
Other courses include family and community culture, technology in education, school organization and law, classroom management and mentorship.
Also central to the curriculum is a professional teacher standards course that helps teachers with their National Board Certification by preparing them to meet the standards established by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
Flexibility in scheduling is likewise important to current teachers, said Howell. The 36 credit hour program can be completed in as little as 15 months or one class at a time over two to three years.
And of course cost is a key factor for teachers considering a graduate degree, which is why Milligan worked to establish a competitive tuition rate for its M.Ed. program.
“Excellence in the art of teaching is what the education program at Milligan College is all about,” said Dr. Billye Joyce Fine, director of teacher education. “We want to help equip teachers to be the best educators they can be, for the benefit of future generations.”
Milligan’s M.Ed. meets regional and national quality standards. Last year during the college’s re-accreditation process, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools singled out Milligan’s “graduate education faculty members for exemplary practice in teaching and exceptional service to their students and the community.”
The program is also fully approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
The college is currently accepting applicants for admission to the program, beginning with summer 2003 classes. For more information, visit www.milligan.edu/MEd or call 423-461-8306.