Teaching MS

Overview

Program Coordinator: Debbie Piper

Program Modality: Hybrid (50% or more of courses delivered online)

Total Credits:

• Elementary Specialization: 36
• PreK-12 Specialization: 33
• Secondary Specialization: 33

Admission Cycle: Fall, Spring, and Summer

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

The Teaching program provides students with the content, pedagogical background and experiences necessary for initial teaching licensure in elementary (Grades 1-6), secondary (Grades 7-12) (including biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, physics, and social studies) or PreK-12 (art, physical education, French and Spanish) education. The program has been evaluated and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Maryland State Department of Education.

The Teaching program embraces a rich combination of research based learning theory, effective teaching practices with significant public school experiences, opportunities for research within the public school setting, and encouragement to reflect upon classroom practice. National standards provide the basis for the pedagogical and content knowledge throughout the Teaching program.

Successful completion of the Teaching program will result in the candidate becoming eligible for initial teacher licensure in the respective content area by the Maryland State Department of Education and the awarding of a Master of Science degree by McDaniel College.

McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Master of Science in Teaching program has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants to the program must:

• Complete an application for graduate study
• Submit official transcripts verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0*
• Complete a satisfactory interview with the program coordinator

* Please note: Students who have a 2.75-2.99 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 admission on a case-by-case basis for provisional admission and may be required to provide additional documentation. Admission may also come with additional conditions.

Elementary Specialization:

Candidates seeking admission to the MS in Teaching Elementary specialization are required to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university with coursework in the following content areas: English, social studies, science, and mathematics, which align to the content requirements for effective teaching for elementary teachers. In lieu of the required coursework, candidates can provide passing Praxis II content test scores in the elementary content areas as required by MSDE to satisfy the content knowledge requirement. The program coordinator will evaluate the applicant’s transcript and determine if content course requirements are met. In some cases, students may be required to take additional courses prior to admission or while enrolled in the MS in Teaching program if deemed necessary to meet the admission content knowledge requirements.

PreK-12 Specialization:

Candidates seeking admission to the MS in Teaching PreK-12 specialization are required to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in one of the following content areas: art, physical education, Spanish or French, OR they must have 24 credits of coursework which align to the content requirements for effective teaching in the content area. Passing Praxis II content scores in the content area as required by MSDE can be considered in lieu of the content degree or coursework to satisfy this content knowledge requirement. The program coordinator will evaluate the applicant’s transcript and determine if content prerequisites are met. In some cases, students may be required to take additional courses prior to admission or during the program if deemed necessary to meet the content requirements. All content courses must be taken prior to entering the final internship.

Secondary Specialization:

Candidates seeking admission to the MS in Teaching Secondary specialization are required to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in the content area aligned with one of the following content areas: biology, chemistry, English, history/social studies, physics, mathematics, OR a bachelor’s degree that includes a minimum of 24 credits of coursework which align to the content requirements for effective teaching in the specific content. In lieu of the content degree or coursework, candidates can provide passing Praxis II content scores in the content area as required by MSDE. The program coordinator will evaluate the applicant’s transcript and determine if content prerequisites are met. In some cases, students may be required to take additional courses prior to admission or during the program if deemed necessary to meet the content requirements. All content courses must be taken prior to entering the final internship.

International Students:

This program is delivered primarily (50% or more) online and as a result does not meet the SEVIS 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

Pending transcript analysis by the Program Coordinator, additional content courses may be required for degree completion

Please note that all candidates are required to complete a background check and fingerprinting prior to entering practicum and internship.  

Exit Requirements

Students must successfully complete all courses required for the degree, including the practicum and internship as required, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

In order to be awarded the MS in Teaching degree, students will be required to take all Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) assessments required for licensure in the students’ respective content area and have scores reported to McDaniel College. McDaniel College will not post the degree to the transcript until all scores are received.

Students should be aware that while McDaniel is able to award the master’s degree when all assessment scores are received, McDaniel can only place an MSDE approved Maryland Approved Program (MAP) statement on the transcript if the student achieves the Maryland passing test scores. The MAP statement is a requirement of the state of Maryland for students to seek initial teacher licensure. Students who do not pass the required Maryland assessments will receive the master’s degree but will be unable to seek Maryland licensure without passing scores. Students may take the test as many times as needed to achieve the passing score. Once the score is achieved, McDaniel can place the MAP statement on the transcript when the scores are received.

Students who are seeking teacher licensure in states outside of Maryland should check with our Professional Licensure Representative (gps@mcdaniel.edu) and the respective state’s board for more information regarding education, testing, and other requirements for licensure and whether a student who obtains a Maryland teacher license is eligible to obtain licensure as a teacher from that state’s board.

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

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 Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.

For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure webpage.

Students who complete this program and are seeking Maryland licensure must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland approved program. The requirements may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Passing scores on content specific exams (i.e. - Praxis)
2. Pedagogy assessment (edTPA)
3. Reading content tests
4. Background check and fingerprinting
5. Payment of application or processing fees

More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/certification/index.aspx