Professional Development: Learning Community Emphasis - Master of Science in Education
The Master of Science in Education (MSED) Professional Development: Learning Community Emphasis Program is a 32-credit degree program offered in face-to-face, hybrid, and online delivery formats. The face-to-face program meets a minimum 20 weekends (15 hours/weekend) over two years. The hybrid program combines face-to-face meetings with online delivery over two years. The online program combines three semesters of online delivery with two summer institutes over 18 months. Learners are expected to apply their knowledge, skills, and dispositions to the professional work setting (minimum of four hours/week) and to communicate via an online communication system (minimum of two hours/week). Face-to-face and hybrid learning communities may begin in the fall, spring or summer semesters. Online communities have either a spring or summer start time to accommodate the two summer institutes. The curriculum for all MSED Learning Community cohorts is integrated and spiraled throughout each semester and facilitated by a team of educators to communities of 14 or more students. A classroom action research project/seminar paper and professional development plan portfolio are the culminating projects of this program.
Learning outcomes: Every UWL Professional Development: Learning Community Emphasis graduate will:
- Improve content and pedagogical knowledge.
- Experience professional and personal transformation through diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Conduct research.
- Utilize authentic assessment.
- Exhibit teacher leadership.
- Promote best practices in technology implementation.
- Create and sustain a professional learning community.
Curriculum
(32 credits)
The Professional Development: Learning Community Emphasis Program starts in either the spring or summer terms. Sequenced courses occur over five academic terms, three semesters and two summer terms. The program can be taken online, as a blend of online and in-person courses, or be taken entirely in-person. To view the current course sequences for the different modes of instruction, visit the Learning Community Program's website.
Admission requirements
To qualify for unconditional admission to graduate study, you must have:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.00 scale; or an average of at least 3.00 in the last half of all undergraduate work; or an average of at least 3.00 for no less than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited graduate school.
- Departmental or school/college approval to enter the graduate program chosen.
Required courses (listed in numerical order)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 601 | Learning in Community I: Introduction | 1 |
| EDU 602 | Learning in Community II: Exploration | 1 |
| EDU 611 | Technology in Education I: Introduction | 1 |
| EDU 612 | Technology in Education II: Exploration | 1 |
| EDU 621 | Best Practice Pedagogy I: Introduction | 1 |
| EDU 622 | Best Practice Pedagogy II: Exploration | 1 |
| EDU 631 | Curriculum Development and Assessment I: Introduction | 1 |
| EDU 632 | Curriculum Development and Assessment II: Exploration | 1 |
| EDU 641 | Educational Research I: Introduction | 2 |
| EDU 642 | Educational Research II: Exploration | 2 |
| EDU 651 | Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice in Education I: Introduction | 1 |
| EDU 652 | Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice in Education II: Exploration | 1 |
| EDU 661 | Teacher Leadership I: Introduction | 1 |
| EDU 662 | Teacher Leadership II: Exploration | 1 |
| EDU 703 | Learning in Community III: Integration | 1 |
| EDU 704 | Learning in Community IV: Action | 1 |
| EDU 713 | Technology in Education III: Integration | 1 |
| EDU 714 | Technology in Education IV: Action | 1 |
| EDU 723 | Best Practice Pedagogy III: Integration | 1 |
| EDU 724 | Best Practice Pedagogy IV: Action | 1 |
| EDU 733 | Curriculum Development and Assessment III: Integration | 1 |
| EDU 734 | Curriculum Development and Assessment IV: Action | 1 |
| EDU 743 | Educational Research III: Conduct | 2 |
| EDU 744 | Educational Research IV: Publication | 2 |
| EDU 753 | Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice in Education III: Integration | 1 |
| EDU 754 | Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice in Education IV: Action | 1 |
| EDU 763 | Teacher Leadership III: Integration | 1 |
| EDU 764 | Teacher Leadership IV: Action | 1 |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
The Professional Development: Learning Community Program's total of 32 credits includes two culminating projects:
- A classroom action research/seminar paper.
- A professional portfolio showcasing the completed professional development plan.
University graduate degree requirements
After being admitted to the program of one's choice, candidates for a graduate degree must:
- Complete any preliminary course work and deficiencies.
- Complete all courses and other program requirements, including residence requirements prescribed for the degree desired in the respective school or college within a seven-year period from the date of initial enrollment, with the exception of students enrolled in the Student Affairs Administration and Leadership Ed.D. (SAA Ed.D.) graduate program. SAA Ed.D. students must complete all degree requirements within ten years from the time of initial enrollment in the graduate program.
- Earn a minimum of 30 credits for a master's degree; 54 credits for a doctorate or post-master's degree. Earn at least one-half of the minimum number of credits required in the program in graduate-only level courses (700, 800, 900, and non-slash 600 level courses). Some UWL graduate programs require more than 30 graduate credits. Please review the individual program requirements listed in the catalog for the exact number of credits required.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00.
- Satisfy dissertation, thesis, seminar paper, terminal/graduate projects and internships, or comprehensive examination, where applicable. A dissertation or thesis approved by the committee must be submitted to Graduate & Extended Learning for editorial review and approval by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. The recommended initial submission date for review is two weeks before commencement. Ordinarily, a seminar paper or project report does not have to be approved by the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. However, if the seminar paper or project report is to be archived in Murphy Library, the student must follow the same rules as they apply to the dissertation/thesis requiring approval from the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning. For further research/dissertation/thesis guidelines, see Graduate & Extended Learning.
- File a completed "Intent to Graduate" form online via the WINGS Student Center immediately following registration for the final semester or summer term in residence. December graduates and winter intersession should file by May 1. May and summer graduates should file by December 1.
- Pay the graduation fee and remove all other indebtedness to the university. Payment of graduation fees does not imply readiness for graduation and does not take the place of applying for graduation.
- Complete all requirements within 30 days after the official ending date of a term in order for a degree to be awarded for that term. (See #5 above for separate deadline for written capstone experience.)