Overview
Program Coordinator: Lauren Keenan
Program Delivery Format: Online, 8-week sessions (15-week Capstone or Internship based on Specialization)
Total Credits: 33
Specializations:
- Generalist
- ITL with Administrator I Certificate
Average Completion Time: 12- 24 months (avg. part time enrollment is 24 months)
Admission Cycle: Fall, Spring and Summer (two admission options each semester)
Admissions Contact: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)
GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 410-857-2500
Academic Advisor: Andy Barshinger
The Master of Science in Innovations in Teaching and Learning (ITL) program, formerly Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, is ideal for all educators who want a learning experience that is grounded in the application of theory to practice in today’s classrooms with the goal of improving teaching and student learning. The program offers two specializations: the ITL Generalist which is designed to provide professional growth specific to the needs of each adult learner and embeds pedagogy that is relevant to the needs of teachers working in a PreK - 12 classroom or as a teacher leader and coach, or the ITL with Administrator I Certificate which is designed for students who are seeking to improve teaching and learning as a school leader (assistant principal or supervisor).
The MS in ITL with Generalist specialization is designed for certified teachers and does not lead to initial certification or specialty licensure in the State of Maryland. The MS in ITL with Admin. I Certificate specialization meets the MSDE requirements for graduates to pursue Administrator I licensure with the state of Maryland. Students who plan to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Maryland should contact the McDaniel College Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu and the appropriate licensing board associated with your program of interest for additional information and guidance. Contact information related to licensure for states outside of Maryland can be found here.
Key Features of the ITL Program include:
- Online program format - primarily asynchronous. Some courses may require synchronous (real time) virtual meetings.
- 8-week sessions that allow working professionals to take one course at a time with two courses a semester, a popular format for working adults
- 2 specialization options - Generalist and ITL with Administrator I Certificate
- Dynamic content that is responsive to changing trends and issues in education
- Rigorous courses that address innovative concepts in the context of real-world problems
- Approaches that place students at the center of the learning process
- Course content that is responsive to the diverse needs of students
- Opportunity for inquiry and self-direction
- Innovative problem based capstone project
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the program must:
- Complete an application for graduate study
- Submit official bachelor’s degree transcipts (minimum of 3.00 GPA*) from an accredited institution; graduate transcripts if applicable.
- Provide a copy of a teaching license or completion of teacher preparation program and passing Praxis II ( in lieu of teacher license). Candidates holding Provisional or Conditional teacher licensure would not be eligible for the MS in ITL program.
*Please note: Students who have a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA may be admitted provisionally and will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA will be considered for provisional admission on a case-by-case basis but may be required to provide additional documentation and/or participate in an interview. Admission may also come with additional conditions.
International Students:
This program is delivered primarily online and as a result does not meet the federal regulations for international students to study in the US. If you are a US citizen living outside of the US, you should contact gps@mcdaniel.edu to discuss your eligibility for admission to this program.
Course Requirements
All candidates in the ITL generalist specialization will complete 33 credit hours which includes ten courses and a final capstone project. Those in the ITL with Administrator I Certificate will complete 10 courses and an internship. The required courses follow. All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
Specialization: ITL Generalist (33 credits)
ITL Foundation Courses (24 credits)
Specialization: ITL with Administrator I Certificate (33 credits)
Students have the option of a specialization that meets the degree requirements needed for the ITL master’s degree as well as the requirements for Maryland State Department of Education Administrator I licensure. This specialization requires the completion of a 3-credit internship in lieu of the capstone courses. The internship must be successfully completed prior to the conferral of the master’s degree and award of the MSDE approved program statement on the student’s transcript.
Foundation Courses (24 credits)
State Authorization
McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc.sara.org.
SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.
For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution
Professional Licensure
The Master of Science in Innovations in Teaching and Learning with a Generalist specialization does not lead to teacher licensure. The Administrator I specialization will prepare students to seek Administrator I licensure in the state of Maryland.
Requirements for professional licensure in fields such as accounting, education, counseling, nursing, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel College’s Professsional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.
For more important information regarding professional licensure, please review our Professional Licensure webpage.
Students who complete the ITL degree with Administrator I specialization must also meet all Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) requirements for Administrator I licensure in addition to completing McDaniel’s program. Those requirements may include but are not limited to any of the following:
- 27 months of satisfactory performance as a teacher, certified specialist, etc.
- Three semester hours of State-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit in special education
Students seeking Administrator II certification in the state of Maryland must meet the requirements of Administrator I certification and pass the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA).
More information about MSDE requirements for school administrator certification can be found at marylandpublicschools.org
