Master's degree programs offered by the department include general elementary, middle school, and reading education specializations in the M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction.

These master's degree programs are designed to prepare broadly educated teachers who will assume varied instructional leadership roles in the profession.

Admission Requirements
Students should contact the Office of Teacher Education for information on admission to professional education graduate programs.

A limited number of students not meeting the minimum requirements are admitted and placed on probation in departmental master's degree programs. To be considered for such admission, applicants must present GRE scores and transcripts of all course work previously attempted. Students are selected for admission on the basis of the undergraduate GPA, graduate course GPA and GRE scores.

When the student does not have an undergraduate major or the equivalent in elementary or middle school education, prerequisite course work will be required and planned for the candidate by the student's academic advisor.

When evidence indicates weakness in written and oral language skills, the candidate may be recommended for noncredit personal improvement work in these areas.

Other Considerations
Transfer credit: Students may be permitted to transfer up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit with the approval of the academic advisor and chairperson.

Use of undergraduate credit: With prior approval of the student's academic advisor and the department chairperson, a maximum of 6 semester hours of 3000 or 4000level course work may be applied toward the master's degree.

Use of workshop credit: No more than 6 semester hours of credit in workshop courses may be applied toward the master's degree.

Degree Requirements
In addition to general University requirements (p. 53) candidates for degrees offered by the department must meet the following requirements:

1. Degree programs must include at least 36 semester hours of approved course work.
2. At least one-half of the credit hours included in the degree program must be taken in the specialization area.
3. At least one-half of the credit hours included in the degree program must be in graduate-level courses (numbered 6000 or above).
4. Degree candidates must complete an approved degree project.

Specialization Requirements
Includes course work related to the area of focus and a highly individualized degree-program project. This project may take the form of an action research, formal thesis, or comprehensive examination (see below).

Electives
Determined by students in consultation with their academic advisors.

Degree Project
The degree project will take one of three forms:

1. A written comprehensive examination is required of all departmental master's degree candidates who do not select the action research or the thesis option.
2. The action research option requires the design, implementation and scholarly report of an action research project.
3. The thesis option requires the production of a scholarly report of an investigation resulting from a study based on a careful review of related literature.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION
This program is designed to develop master teachers for grades 16 who will be prepared for instructional and leadership roles in elementary education. (Students completing the program will be eligible for Florida graduate certification in elementary education.)

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