Master of Education Program Requirements
Carthage has developed three types of graduate programs to help education professionals achieve their career goals. These include:
- Graduate courses that lead to the Master of Education (M.Ed) degree.
- Graduate courses that lead to teacher licensure through the Accelerated Certification for Teachers (ACT) program
- Graduate courses that lead to add-on teacher licensure for teachers who are interested in holding additional credentials
Explore the requirements for each concentration and program to learn which degree or licensure is best for you!
Master of Education Concentrations
At Carthage, you can shape your Master of Education degree to fit your professional goals. Whether you want to be a leader in your school or in your district, we have a path that will help you reach the next tier of your career.
The concentration in Curriculum and Instruction prepares educators for roles in curriculum development, assessment, and data-driven decision making. Courses in areas such as multi-cultural instruction, urban issues affecting the learning environment, and student achievement and learning allow educators to develop professionally as the educational environment continues to change.
The Teacher Leadership concentration prepares you for leadership roles in site-based management, curriculum development, assessment programs, and data-based decision-making. Innovative coursework on curriculum issues, assessment, professionalism, and action research enables teachers to develop professionally as the educational environment continues to change.
The Sports Leadership in Education M.Ed. program was designed for those involved in or interested in coaching and athletics in school settings. This accelerated, hybrid concentration offers a unique internship, custom-designed to meet a student’s sport leadership interests. This concentration is a sports-appropriate, challenging, and time-manageable M.Ed. track. The leadership concentration was designed to fully prepare students for sports education-related careers.
Accelerated Certification for Teachers (ACT)
Carthage’s Accelerated Certification for Teachers (ACT) program is designed for professionals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a content area and are interested in earning teacher licensure.
The ACT program offers graduate credit in a cohort-model program with rolling enrollment.
Courses are offered in seven-week sessions so students can start the program at any time! All courses are offered in our HyFlex model, with in-person and online options. Our in-person courses are offered on week nights or once-a-month Saturday seminars.
All licensure program candidates must successfully pass the Dispositions Review as part of the Practicum and Portfolio required for program completion.
All students will complete the following courses as part of their program:
- EDU 5001 Seminar (3 credits per semester. 6 credits required)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading In Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5150 Student Achievement and Learning (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- EXS 5080 Curriculum and Assessment in Physical Education (4 credits)
- EXS 5020 Instructional Methods for Individual and Group Activities (4 credits)
- EXS 5200 Methods and Materials of Teaching Physical Education (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits per semester. 6 credits required)
Total required: 45 credits
Students in the Adaptive Physical Education K-12 program must have completed all courses in their undergraduate program with a grade of C- or better. Students with deficiencies will be required to take additional coursework to make up any deficits in the content area.
Students in the Adaptive Physical Education (K-12) licensure program that are also seeking Physical Education K-12 licensure will need to meet with their advisor. These students will need to complete additional field experiences and seminar experiences for dual licensure.
Combining education graduate courses with methods courses in art education, students will learn theories and practical applications for teaching diverse art traditions across cultures and times. Students seeking K-12 teacher certification in Art must have completed an undergraduate degree in Studio Art. Admission to this program requires a portfolio review.
Required courses (36 credits):
- EDU 5001 Saturday Seminar (1 credit)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5120 Urban Issues in Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (3 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading in Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- ART 500B Arts Education (3 credits)
- ART 4210 Art Curriculum and Methods: Early Childhood Through Early Adolescent (K-5) (4 credits)
- ART 4220 Art Curriculum and Methods: Early Adolescent Through Adolescent (6-12) (4 credits)
The Cross Categorical Special Education (K-12) ACT is designed for candidates seeking to earn their initial teacher licensure in the field of Special Education.
Candidates who already hold licensure in another area but are seeking to also complete Cross Categorical Special Education should meet with the program director for a transcript review to determine what courses are required to complete the program.
Required courses (36 credits)
- EDU 5001 Seminar (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Teaching (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- EDU 5451 Academic and Behavioral Interventions for Learners with Exceptionalities (Elementary) (3 credits)
- EDU 5452 Academic and Behavioral Interventions for Learners with Exceptionalities (Secondary) (3 credits)
- EDU 5453 Instructional Technology for Exceptional Learners (3 credits)
- EDU 5454 Collaboration with Parents and Professionals (3 credits)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
Students who have an earned undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in the math, science, social studies, and English/Language arts general education courses are not required to take the Praxis II exam. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA in any of the four areas are required to take the Praxis II exam.
Required courses (33 credits):
- EDU 5140 Effectively Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary and Middle Schools (K-9) (3 credits)
- EDU 5141 Effectively Teaching Science in the Elementary/Middle School (K-9) (3 credits)
- EDU 5142 Effectively Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary/Middle School (K-9) (3 credits)
- EDU 5150 Student Achievement and Learning (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (3 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading In Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
All elementary education students must pass the Foundations o Reading Test (FoRT). FoRT is designed to assess a teacher’s proficiency and depth of understanding of students’ reading and writing development.
Required courses (33 credits):
- EDU 5001 Seminar (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education 3 cr.
- EDU 5120 Urban Issues in Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (3 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading In Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- ENG 4200 Methods and Materials (4 credits)
Seminar sessions will focus on introductions to principles of modern mathematics, secondary mathematics concepts, problem-based learning, assessing student learning, and other curricular topics.
Required courses (33 credits):
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Teaching (3 credits)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading In Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5150 Student Achievement and Learning (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience I & II (Student Teaching Experiences) (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
Carthage has a long tradition of music excellence and music teacher preparation. Candidates that have a degree in music can add a master’s degree in music pedagogy with teacher licensure by completing this ACT program. Graduates of this program will be licensed to teach Music K-12 in all areas – general music, choral, band, and orchestra.
Students in our Master if Music in Music Pedagogy program with dual ACT licensure complete required coursework in music pedagogy followed by courses for teacher licensure. This program results with a Master of Music as well as teacher licensure in Music K-12. This program requires two years for completion. Candidates complete the required teaching practicum in the second year.
Required courses (64 credits):
- MUS 500B Arts Education (4 credits)
- MUS 500G Basic Conducting (2 credits)
- MUS 500H Choral Conducting or MUS 500J Instrumental Conducting (2 credits)
- MUS 5150A Topics in Music Pedagogy: Vocal or Instrumental Music Methods (4 credits)
- MUS 5150B Topics in Music Pedagogy: General Music Methods Pedagogy (4 credits)
- MUS 5160 Research Methods (4 credits)
- MUS 5500 Advanced Applied Lessons (1 credit per lesson, 6 credits required)
- MUS 5560 Ensemble (1 credit per semester, 2 credits required)
- MUS 6000 Seminar (4 credits)
- MUS 6300 Comps (0 credits)
- MUS 6310: Capstone (4 credits)
- EDU 5001: Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit per semester, 2 credits required)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5120 - Urban Issues in Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- EDU 5520 Development and Content Area Reading in Secondary Schools (3 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (3 credits)
*Candidates who are only interested in licensure can request a transcript review to see if they have previous coursework that fulfill the statutory requirements instead of completing the Master of Music with ACT music licensure. Candidates interested in this option should contact the director of the music graduate program, Professor Corinne Ness.
Students in the Physical Education K-12 program must have completed all courses in their undergraduate program with a grade of C- or better. Students with deficiencies will be required to take additional coursework to make up any deficits in the content area.
Students in the Physical Education K-12 licensure program who are also seeking Adaptive Physical Education K-12 licensure will need to meet with their advisor. These students will need to complete additional field experiences and seminar experiences for dual licensure.
Required courses (42 credits):
- EDU 5001 Seminars (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading in Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5150 Student Achievement and Learning (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- EXS 5080 Curriculum and Assessment in Physical Education (3 credits)
- EXS 5020 Instructional Methods for Individual and Group Activities (3 credits)
- EXS 5200 Methods and Materials of Teaching Physical Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits per semester, 6 credits required)
Required courses (36 credits):
- EDU 5001 Saturday Seminar (1 credit)
- EDU 5060 Foundations of Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5120 Urban Issues in Education (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (3 credits)
- EDU 5520 Developmental and Content Reading In Secondary Schools (4 credits)
- EDU 5540 Emergent Literacy Methods (4 credits)
- EDU 5560 Field Experience (3 credits pers semester, 6 credits required)
- EDU 5820 Introduction to Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 credits)
- EDU 5450 Characteristics and Assessment of Learners with Exceptionalities (4 credits)
- THR 4550 Directing (3 credits)
- THR 500B Arts Education (3 credits)
- THR 500C Theatre for Children (3 credits)
- THR 4200 Theatre Methods (3 credits)
Add-On Licensures
Carthage built its add-on license program for students who already have a teaching license but want to build their professional credentials and explore new leadership opportunities.
Students wishing to add additional licensure should meet with the program director for a transcript review. The program director will work with the candidate to clarify which courses are met through other licensure work, and which courses need to be completed at Carthage in order to earn the additional license.
All licensure program candidates must successfully pass the Dispositions Review in order to complete the Practicum and Portfolio required for program completion.
All graduate add-on programs are required to pass a practicum and portfolio experience related directly to the INTASC standards on program-specific standards required by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction.
Candidates who already hold a Tier II license can earn an add-on licensure in Bilingual/Bicultural education. The add-on licensure will be issued at the grade or developmental level of the candidate’s underlying Tier II license.
Candidates who are admitted to the program must have met all admissions requirements. Candidates are additionally required to have received a score of “Advanced Low” or higher on the ACTFL oral proficiency exam or the Oral Written Language Exam (OWL) in both the English and Spanish languages in order to complete the licensure program.
Required courses (18 credits):
- EDU 5230 Reading and Research in Multicultural Children’s and Young Adult Literature (3 credits)
- EDU 5280 ELL Literacy and Accommodations (3 credits)
- EDU 5282 Culturally Responsive Instruction (3 credits)
- EDU 5285 Fundamentals of Linguistics for Teachers of Diverse Learners (3 credits)
- EDU 5279 Bilingual Methods (3 credits)
- EDU 5286 Practicum in Bilingual Classrooms (3 credits)