MSE in Advanced Instructional Studies

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION (MSE):  ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES

The purpose of the graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Education degree is the advanced preparation and development of licensed P-12 school professionals. 

Admission into the Master of Science in Education Program requires

1. a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, 
2. an initial or standard (or eligibility for) teacher’s license from any state, with a teaching field appropriate to the proposed major or emphasis area, and 
3. an overall minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.70, or a grade point average on the final two (2) years of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale). 

The MSE program is designed to

1. offer specialization in the teacher's major field; 
2. strengthen competencies; 
3. extend and reinforce knowledge, techniques, and skills in the areas of educational interest; 
4. enrich the candidate's understanding of the professional aspects of teaching; 
5. foster in the teacher a desire for continued professional development; and, 
6. in some cases, qualify the candidate for additional licensure in Arkansas. 

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ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES

Mission
The mission of the Master of Science in Education (MSE) in ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES is to provide a post-baccalaureate opportunity for public school teachers to expand their knowledge of pedagogy, as well as content knowledge. The program consists of 36 credit hours, including 18 hours in core professional edu cation and the remainder in professional education and/or academic content. Content specialization course requirements may range from 9 — 18 hours, depending on academic department offerings. Candidates in the MSE in ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES program must choose a specialization area from early childhood, middle school, ESL, English, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, or physical education. 

Research is an integral component of this degree and six (6) hours of research courses are required. The Research Problems course allows the candidates, in consultation with their advisors and department chairs, to select an area of research in an academic content or edu cation specialty area.

Curriculum Outline

Core Courses 

*      Reading specialty candidates are exempt.

** ESL specialty candidates must select an appropriate substitute course with the consent of the advisor.

Education Electives
(Students may take no more than nine (9) hours from these electives with consent of advisor.) 

Specialty Requirements

Early Childhood Preschool-Fourth Grade

Middle School

Physical Education

English as a Second Language
(P-8, 7-12 licensure)

*According to the appropriate specialty content that will be the topic for EDU 6553, three (3) hours in that specialty area will not be required.

Interdisciplinay Studies

Please contact the Department of ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES for details.

Mathematics

Please contact the Department of Mathematics for details.

English

The Master of Science in ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES—English Specialty Program provides advanced professional instruction in the literature of the Western tradition and in the English language.  The program is designed to prepare the student for teaching on the public school or college level or for pursuit of doctoral study in English.  More specifically, the program is structured to ensure that the student has the opportunity to develop the following:

• A broad knowledge of English, American, and world literary history; 

• The interpretative and evaluative skills necessary for a relatively sophisticated understanding and appreciation of literary texts as works of art; 
• The knowledge and skill necessary to conduct critical research and articulate the results of such research in appropriate form; 
• The pedagogical skills necessary to communicate mastery of language and literature effectively. 

 In addition to the 18 hours of core courses required by the ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES Department, the ENGLISH SPECIALTY degree candidate will meet the following criteria:

 1. 18 Hours in English

            9 hours at 6000 Required—to include  

                        ENG 6273—Seminar in American Literature*

                        ENG 6273—Seminar in English Literature*

                        either ENG 6253 Problems in Interpretation*

                        or ENG 6433 Seminar in Comparative Literature*

            9 hours at 5000 or/and 6000 Directed ENGLISH electives:

 Options:

2.        May repeat 6000 ENG Seminars—topics change each session

            ENG 6253 Problems in Interpretation*

            ENG 6273 Seminar in American Literature*

            ENG 6278 Seminar in English Literature*

            ENG 6433 Seminar in Comparative Literature*

3.        May elect any 5000 ENG course whose subject was not taken as an undergraduate course  (for example, if student took Shakespeare as an undergraduate course then student may not take Shakespeare as a graduate course):

ENG 5013 Shakespeare 
ENG 5123 Renaissance Literature of England*
ENG 5163 Modern Grammar
ENG 5173 Modern Drama*  
ENG 5193 Victorian Literature
ENG 5203 English Romantic Literature*
ENG5213 English and Its Development
ENG 5223 American Novel*
ENG 5303 Literature of the South*   
ENG 5323 Greek Drama*  
ENG 5353 Eighteenth Century English Literature*
ENG 5453 Advanced Composition
ENG 5533 American Romantic Literature*
ENG 5563 Adolescent Literature*
ENG 5583 International Short Story*
ENG 5593 English Novel:  1830-1950*
ENG 5603 Contemporary Literature*
ENG 5633 Introduction to Literary Criticism
ENG 5643 Rhetoric and Composition
ENG 5653 Medieval Literature*
ENG 5663 Introduction to Linguistics
ENG 5673 English Novel to 1830*

Any combination of 5000 AND 6000 courses will suffice for the non-dictated 9 hours of English study. 

In regard to Core Course EDU 6553 Research Problems, the English Specialty degree candidate will pursue research according to the English discipline, working cooperatively with the AIS instructor and an English faculty mentor.  

4.  A Comprehensive English Departmental Examination.           

5.  The English Specialty degree candidate will have an advisor in the AIS Department, and the candidate’s degree plan will be approved by both the advisor in AIS and the Chair of the Department of English and Foreign Languages.  

                                                                                        *interdisciplinary course

Licensure

Some MSE programs may lead to additional teaching licensure (i.e. reading and ESL).  Candidates must obtain an application for additional licensure from the Associate Dean/Teacher Licensure Office.  The HSU teacher licensure officer will send completed applications, official transcripts (verifying program of study completion), and appropriate Praxis II test scores to the Arkansas Department of Education Office of Professional Licensure once requirements for additional licensure are verified. ADE will then issue a standard five-year teaching license.

Admission Requirements
The Graduate School will receive the admission packet which requires:

1. Completed HSU Graduate School application, including immunization and selective service status forms. 
2. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work for all colleges or universities attended. 
3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. 
4. Possession of a standard teacher’s license from the State of Arkansas. A candidate whose teaching field is questionable for the degree of specialization will be referred to the appropriate department for evaluation. 
5. An overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.70. A candidate with less than 2.70 but more than 2.50 may be conditionally admitted with evidence that the candidate is capable of satisfactory performance. A 3.0 GPA or above on the last 60 hours of undergraduate credit may also be considered a conditional admission. 
6. For full admission, submission of GRE General Test or Millers Analogies Test MAT scores during the first semester of enrollment. Conditional admission requires appropriate scores prior to admission. 

The M.S.E. in ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES replaces the M.S.E. degrees in elementary education with emphasis areas in general elementary education, reading, and early childhood education, as well as the M.S.E. in physical education. The program will provide teachers in our region an opportunity to complete a master’s degree to further their professional development. Finally, the new program better aligns with new Arkansas teacher licensure.

Exit Guidelines:

1. The candidate must meet all exit requirements for master level programs as stated in the current HSU Graduate Catalog. 
2. A three (3) hour research course — EDU 6653 Research Problems — is required for the M.S.E. in ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES. The candidate must successfully complete substant ive research in the form of an action research project. The candidate, in consultation with the faculty advisor, program coordinator, and academic department chair, selects an appropriate topic. 
3. A portfolio will be required of all candidates for the M.S.E. in ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES degree and continually updated and maintained by the candidate. One (1) to three (3) specific artifacts from each course as listed on course syllabi will be required for inclusion. The faculty advisor will provide a list of artifacts and guidelines for organizing the portfolio to the candidate. 
4. An Exit Evaluation Committee composed of the faculty advisor serving as chair of the Committee, the Dean of the Graduate school or a faculty designee, program coordinator, and one faculty member from the academic specialization area will review each candidate’s portfolio, thesis/project, and other relev ant materials. Each candidate will present his/her materials to the committee in an oral defense process. A scoring rubric will be used to standardize the exit review process. The final copy of the project will be maintained in the department for a minimum of three years. 
5. The faculty advisor will notify the candidate in writing with copy to the Graduate School a letter indicating successful or non-successful completion of the program of study.