Graduation Requirements:
The 30-credit hour Master of Arts in Education requires:
- 12 credit hours in the Education core
- 18 credit hours in a concentration area
- Complete coursework with at least a B in each course
Required Education Core Courses (12 hours):
Choose One Concentration (18-21 hours)
Required
The Leadership in Education Administration program from West Liberty University will prepare students for employment as school principals, supervisors of instruction, and superintendent licensure, at a time when turnover in these areas is increasing in WV.
Requirements List
| EDUC 582 | MAEd Orientation for Online Learners | 0 |
| EDL 521 | Strategic Educational Planning | 3 |
| EDL 533 | Education Law, Ethics and Budgets | 3 |
| EDL 543 | Creating a Culture of Innovation | 3 |
| EDL 565 | Superintendent General Instruction Practicum | 3 |
| EDL 566 | Superintendent Practicum | 3 |
| EDL 588 | Research, Evaluation, and Assessment | 3 |
| EDL 589 | Community Collaboration | 3 |
Multi-categorical (SLD, BD, ID) including Autism K-6, 5-Adult; Gifted 1-12:
This area is designed for individuals desiring a comprehensive overview of special education. Incorporating practical, classroom-based experiences and assignments, coursework prepares educators with the knowledge and skills to educate students with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, intellectual disabilities, emotional behavior disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and gifted education.
Required:
| SPED 501 | Autism I: Character of Autism | 3 |
| SPED 502 | Autism II: Assessment & Intervention | 3 |
| SPED 548 | Advanced Assessment & Instruction for Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPED 551 | Policies, Procedures and Current Issues of Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 552 | Advanced Assessment & Instruction for Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 553 | Introduction to a Student Who is Gifted | 3 |
| SPED 555 | Advanced Assessment & Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 564 | Practicum | 3 |
Instructional Design for Learning:
This concentration enables students to pursue a career in a growing field across industries, not just in education. Graduate work in instructional design can lead to teachers becoming instructional coordinators in schools, those with business backgrounds taking on additional training and development responsibilities, health science workers taking on training roles within clinical settings, and more. Instructional designers are especially needed in higher education as distance learning departments nationwide continue to scale their course development operations. The instructional designer's role is crucial in providing consistent, engaging, and aligned courses for students of all types.
Required:
| IDL 501 | Foundations of Instructional Design | 3 |
| IDL 502 | Instructional Design Across Industry | 3 |
| IDL 510 | Instructional Design for Learner Engagement | 3 |
| IDL 511 | Authoring Tools and Teaching Technology | 3 |
| IDL 520 | Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| IDL 521 | Instructional Design Project Management | 3 |
Reading Specialist:
This area is designed for educators or others wishing to expand upon their knowledge of literacy with a special emphasis on multi-sensory based instructional practices. Incorporating field-based experiences, coursework includes early and emergent literacy, word structure knowledge, delivery of reading assessments with resulting targeted interventions, advanced literacy instruction in comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary acquisition, developmental writing, and spelling. West Virginia certification as a Reading Specialist requires completion of the six reading courses, a master’s degree, and passing the WV state licensure test. This program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association.
Required:
| READ 512 | Advanced Literacy Assessment | 3 |
| READ 562 | Structured Literacy & Phonics | 3 |
| READ 563 | Methods & Practices of Multisensory Instruction | 3 |
| READ 564 | Structured Literacy Practicum | 3 |
| READ 565 | Advanced Methods of Multi-sensory Instruction | 3 |
| READ 575 | Advanced Literacy Instruction | 3 |
Community and Organizational Leadership
This track prepares professionals for leadership positions within their chosen profession in educational, nonprofit, and/ or public organizations and the understanding of why and how great leaders flourish in society and their fields. Coursework includes leadership, motivation and creativity theories, human relations of leadership, instructional design practices, social justice reform, understanding community characteristics and relations, and application to practical, real-life leadership opportunities.
| EDL 530 | Social Justice and Change | 3 |
| IDL 502 | Instructional Design Across Industry | 3 |
| EDUC 506 | Motivation & Develop Creativity | 3 |
| EDUC 517 | Non-Formal Educational Models | 3 |
Required:
| EDL 500 | Leadership Theory & Motivation | 3 |
| EDL 520 | Human Resource & Personnel Issues | 3 |
Sports Leadership and Coaching:
This area is an online format and is designed for individuals working or desiring to work in school, university, and community sports programs. Coursework includes the understanding of key issues involved in educational athletics and further developing leadership and coaching skills.
Required:
Community Education Research and Leadership:
This area prepares individuals in becoming professional educators, researchers, and leaders in non-formal environments and non-profit organizations. Coursework includes fundraising and development, non-profit management, non-formal education models, and prepares individuals to improve community relationships and involvement in non-formal and/or non-profit organizations.
Required:
Leadership in Disability Services:
This area is designed for anyone who seeks a leadership role or additional preparation for working with individuals with disabilities. Incorporating practical experiences and assignments, coursework prepares candidates to identify the needs, evaluate the programs, develop future goals, advocate for improved outcomes, and serve in leadership roles to support individuals with disabilities.
Required:
| EDL 557 | Creative Leaders & Innovative Thinkers | 3 |
| EDUC 558 | Fundraising and Development | 3 |
| EDUC 559 | Advocacy, Communication & Public Policy | 3 |
Select 1 from:
Select 2 from:
| SPED 501 | Autism I: Character of Autism | 3 |
| SPED 502 | Autism II: Assessment & Intervention | 3 |
| SPED 541 | Characteristics of Students with High Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 548 | Advanced Assessment & Instruction for Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SPED 551 | Policies, Procedures and Current Issues of Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 552 | Advanced Assessment & Instruction for Students with Intellectual Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 553 | Introduction to a Student Who is Gifted | 3 |
| SPED 554 | Education & Curriculum for Gifted | 3 |
| SPED 555 | Advanced Assessment & Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities | 3 |
Innovative Instruction:
This area is designed for educators who desire to learn innovative, research-based instructional methods and create classrooms that prepare PK-12 students for their future. Incorporating practical, classroom-based experiences and assignments, coursework includes authentic assessment, data-driven decision-making, learner-centered activities, digital literacy, instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, and opportunities to empower creative and collaborative problem solving in the PK-12 classroom.
Required:
| EDUC 534 | Contemporary Applications of Educational Technology | 3 |
| EDL 544 | Disruption and Innovation in Education | 3 |
| EDL 553 | Advanced Instructional Models | 3 |
| EDL 557 | Creative Leaders & Innovative Thinkers | 3 |
| Graduate Electives in EDUC or SPED | 6 |
Visual Art Education:
This area is designed for students who already have an approved visual art teacher certification. The goal of the program is to improve the student’s knowledge and skills of visual art education teaching and learning practice. This program is the only fully online Graduate Art Education Program in the state of West Virginia.
Required:
| ART 510 | Art Education History | 3 |
| ART 511 | Current Issues Art Education | 3 |
| ART 512 | Arts Leadership, Advocacy, & Policy | 3 |
| ART 513 | Visual Culture, Criticism & the Art Museum | 3 |
| ART 543 | Non-Western Art History | 3 |
| Or | |
| ART 544 | Art in Context | 3 |
| Graduate Elective (3) | 3 |