Graduate Education Programs
The Charter School of Education and Human Sciences offers the following Graduate-level programs:
Admission Guidelines
Master of Education (M.Ed.) Program
Candidates who hold a baccalaureate degree in the field of education from a fully accredited institution of higher education may apply for the Master of Education program. It is strongly recommended that applicants also hold a current teaching certificate. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field with clear and renewable teacher certification from a non-degree granting GAPSC approved program may also apply. To be admitted to the M.Ed. degree program the applicant must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75, or a junior-senior grade point average of 3.0 and submit the following:
- Online graduate application;
- One official transcript from each college, university attended;
- Two recommendation forms, from a P-12 colleague and/or a direct supervisor;
- An educational goal statement in narrative form, not more than 500 words, outlining your goals in pursuing graduate study and the background and/or professional accomplishment, and address the graduate education professional teaching dispositions that you will bring to the program. This statement must be submitted online as part of the admissions process.
- Superintendent assurance form (for leadership programs only); and
- Copy of official Federal-Level Criminal Background Check from an approved source.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Program
Candidates who hold a baccalaureate degree in the field of education from a fully accredited institution of higher education may apply to attend the master of education program. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field with clear and renewable teacher certification from a non-degree granting GAPSC approved program may also apply. The applicant must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 and submit the following:
- Online graduate application;
- One official transcript from each college or university attended;
- Two recommendation forms, from a P-12 colleague and a direct supervisor;
- Complete and pass the Ga Educator Entry Ethics Assessment
- An educational goal statement in narrative form, not more than 500 words, outlining your goals in pursuing graduate study and the background and/or professional accomplishment, and address the graduate education professional teaching dispositions that you will bring to the program. This statement must be submitted online as part of the admissions process; and
- Copy of official Federal-Level Criminal Background Check from an approved source.
Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Program
Candidates must hold a master’s degree in the field of education from a fully accredited institution of higher education may apply to attend the Education Specialist Program. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field with clear and renewable teacher certification from a non-degree granting GaPSC approved program may apply. The applicant must have a minimum grade point average of 3.25 and submit the following:
- online Specialist application;
- an educational goal statement in narrative form, not more than 500 words, outlining your goals in pursuing graduate study and the background and/or professional accomplishments, and address the graduate professional teaching dispositions that you will bring to the program. This statement must be typed and sent to the admissions office;
- two recommendation forms: from a P-12 colleague and a direct supervisor;
- evidence of successful completion of three years of classroom teaching or the equivalent;
- a copy of an official Federal-Level Background check from an approved source; and
- Superintendent’s Assurance Form (for Ed.S. Leadership candidates only).
Admission to a performance based program without a masters degree in educational leadership will require candidates to meet pre-service educational leadership requirements of coursework of not more than six hours that will include a course in school law and ethics (EDU 721).
Transfer Candidates
Candidates transferring to the Berry College graduate programs in education must submit a transfer-student recommendation form. The graduate education curriculum committee will review and may grant transfer credit for appropriate graduate-level coursework completed at other accredited institutions. Berry College will allow a maximum of three 3-semester hour courses, for a total of 9 semester hours (typically three 3-semester hour courses) in the M.Ed., M.A.T., and Ed.S. curriculum Instruction Programs. Transfer credit is not granted for the following courses:
M.Ed./M.A.T
Ed.S. Curriculum and Instruction
The graduate education curriculum committee will review and may grant transfer credit for appropriate graduate-level coursework completed at other accredited institutions. Berry College will allow a maximum of one 3-semester hour course, for a total of 3 semester hours in the M.Ed. and Ed.S. Educational Leadership Programs. Transfer credit is not granted for the following courses:
M.Ed. Educational Leadership
Ed.S. Educational Leadership
Degree Requirements
Comprehensive Oral Examination (M.Ed., M.A.T., and Ed.S.)
Each candidate is required to complete a comprehensive oral examination. This examination measures the candidate’s knowledge of the content field as well as the ability to integrate and apply that knowledge. Thus, the examination is more than a review of course work.
The candidate’s oral exam will be scheduled in the last semester of the program by the Graduate Education Office.
Upon the candidate’s completion of the comprehensive examination, the examining committee will render one of the following decisions: (1) pass; (2) conditional pass or (3) fail. If necessary, the candidate may retake the examination after completing any required additional work. If the candidate fails the exam a second time, no further opportunity to take the examination will be granted.
Program Capstone Project Requirement
The required capstone project is assessed by a rubric aligned with each of the graduate program principles. The Capstone Project will be turned in on a due date specified in LiveText and will be used to illustrate growth as a professional in each of the graduate program principles as well as a focus for the oral examination. As part of the Capstone Project, candidates will be expected to document their participation in field experiences characterized by collaboration, accountability, and environment practices associated with professional learning. Field experiences represent a variety of early and ongoing school-based opportunities in which candidates demonstrate their ability to instruct, conduct applied research, and use information technology to support teaching, learning and diverse students.
Application for Georgia Teacher Certification(M.A.T.) or Certification Upgrade (M.Ed)
Guidelines for applying for teacher certification or upgrade of existing teacher certification are available from the Office of Field Experience and Student Teaching in the Charter School of Education and Human Sciences. It is the responsibility of each candidate to complete the required forms for certification and /or upgrade with the college’s certification officer. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) establishes all certification requirements. Berry College Standards and program requirements are subject to change based on the PSC and SACS requirements of the program to maintain accreditation.
Independent Study
An independent-study course is assigned for an individual project or readings under supervision. A an authorization form is available from the Office of Graduate Studies and requires consultation with the instructor of choice to develop the topic of study, approval of the candidate’s advisor, and approval of the dean.
An independent-study course may not be substituted for a course that is part of the regular course curriculum of the college. Independent-study applications will not be approved if the topic of study reflects a course being taught during the requested term. Candidates may take no more than two independent-study courses.
Student Teaching and Internships
M.A.T. graduate candidates must apply for graduate internships or student teaching one full year prior to expected placement. Applications may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies. All candidates are required to pass the appropriate GACE subject exams prior to placement for student teaching or internship. Eligibility requirements for student teaching and internships are published in the graduate-student handbook. Under no circumstances will exceptions to the eligibility requirements be approved. Candidates enrolled in student teaching or internship may not take more than three (3) credit hours above the course(s) required for student teaching or internship.
Course Prerequisites
Courses requiring prerequisites are noted in the course descriptions. Candidates must complete all prerequisites or have permission of the instructor prior to enrollment.
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