The Initial Licensure with a Master of Education is offered for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and are seeking an initial teaching license within an M.Ed program.  This program can be either full-time or part-time. 

Students who enter this program can select the Early Child, Middle Child, Adolescent/Young Adult, or Multi-Age licensure track.  Each licensure program includes (1) a series of graduate courses that lead to a master’s degree and apply toward partial fulfillment of the specific teaching license; and (2) license-specific undergraduate courses.  The number of credits required for both the M.Ed and license varies due to the course requirements for different licenses. 

Applicants for the Initial Licensure with M.Ed will have a transcript evaluation to determine if any additional coursework beyond the listed coursework is necessary.  Candidates must receive grades of “B” or higher in all 400-level course work, and grades of “C” or higher in 500-level course work.  Graduate School policy permits a maximum of two grades of “C” within a master’s degree program.  Candidates for the Initial Licensure must receive grades of “C” or higher in all coursework related to the teaching license.

Candidates for the Middle Child, Adolescent/Young Adult, and Multi-Age licenses must pass the PRAXIS teaching content area exams prior to entering the Student Teaching semester.  Successful completion of the appropriate PRAXIS assessment(s) is required for licensure.  All licensure candidates must submit to fingerprinting and background checks by government investigative agencies.

For information about the application process for the Initial Licensure with M.Ed Program, contact the Department of Education and Allied Studies at (216) 397-4331.