The College of Education offers Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education, and Master of Science degrees.
Early Childhood Education M.A.T. Program
This program is an opportunity for post baccalaureate provisionally certified practicing teachers of record to work toward a graduate degree concurrent with their studies toward elementary teaching certification (grades Pk-5). For more information, visit the Early Childhood Education M.A.T. program page.
English Education
The Master in the Arts of Teaching program in English Education provides initial teacher preparation for individuals holding bachelor's degrees in English. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Mathematics Education
The Master in the Arts of Teaching program in Mathematics Education provides initial teacher preparation for individuals holding bachelor's degrees in mathematics or its equivalent. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Middle Level Education
The Master in the Arts of Teaching program for the major in Middle Level Education provides for intial teacher preparation for middle grades math/science education or middle grades language arts/social studies education. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Reading, Language, & Literacy Education (ESOL) (on-campus and online)
The Masters in the Art of Teaching program in RLL-ESOL leads to initial certification in ESOL (P-12) and a reading endorsement. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Science Education
The major for alternative preparation in Science Education provides initial teacher certification for those holding bachelor's degrees in engineering, science, or a related area. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Social Studies Education
The program for alternative preparation in Social Studies Education provides initial teacher preparation for individuals holding bachelor's degrees in history or one or more of the social sciences.For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Behavior/Learning Disabilities
The program for the major in Behavior/Learning Disabilities prepares a student to teach children with emotional and behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, mild mental retardation, or all of these. The course of study meets the requirements for professional certification in Interrelated Special Education. A student is provided with course work and practicum experiences resulting in knowledge of characteristics of the various exceptionalities as well as the ability to understand and apply appropriate curricula, methods of instruction, assessment, and classroom management procedures. Categorical certification can be obtained through a student's choice of practicum placement in the area of behavior disorders, learning disabilities, or mental retardation.For more information go to the Educational Psychology and Special Education program page.
Communication Sciences and Disorders
The program for the major in communication sciences and disorders prepares speech-language pathologists to work with individuals of all ages who have communication disorders. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. It is designed to lead to the Professional Standards Commission licensure at the master's level, licensure by the Georgia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and certification in speech-language pathology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).For more information go to the Educational Psychology and Special Education program page.
Early Childhood Education
This program is designed for the teacher who wishes to establish a learner-centered classroom. Through an integrated approach that provides choices and opportunities for decision making and dynamic group interactions, teachers participating in this collaborative master's program become partners with faculty in shaping the path or paths by which content is learned.For more information go to the Early Childhood Education program page.
Early Childhood Education – Urban Accelerated Certification and Master’s Program
The program is designed for people who already hold a baccalaureate or higher degree in a field other than education and wish to be certified in Early Childhood Education. Candidates in our program spend the first year as full-time students taking courses and completing field experiences in schools in the metro Atlanta area. At the end of the first year, if the candidate has successfully met all requirements, she or he is recommended to the state for certification in Early Childhood Education (Pre-K through 5th grade) with an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement. Candidates who choose to go on to the second year of the program, work in full-time paid teaching positions in urban elementary schools in the Atlanta Metro area and take classes at night to complete their Master's degree in Education. For more information go to the Early Childhood Education program page.
Educational Leadership
The program for the major in educational leadership prepares leaders in the field of educational administration. Specifically, the program is for persons who are beginners in the field and who seek to fill leadership positions at the building level. The program is developed around a set of academic and field experiences that provide basic knowledge and skills for school leadership positions. Completion of the master's degree program meets the course requirements for the L-5 certification in the State of Georgia. For more information go to the Educational Policy Studies program page.
English Education (This program will be deactivated summer 2013)
The program for the major in English Education requires initial preparation in secondary English education. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Health and Physical Education
This program is designed for P-12 health and physical educators who wish to extend their content and pedagogical knowledge for improved professional practice. The program features an integration of health and physical education content where it is appropriate and includes a combination of course work, simulated teaching, field experiences, and school-based inquiry components to assist teachers in their daily practices. For more information go to the Kinesiology and Health program page.
Mathematics Education (on-campus and online)
The program for the major in mathematics education provides learning experiences for teachers who have been initially prepared in secondary mathematics education. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Multiple and Severe Disabilities
The program for the major in multiple and severe disabilities prepares a student to teach children with moderate, severe, and profound mental retardation, autism, physical-health impairments, hearing loss, visual impairments, and deafblindness and young children with disabilities. The student is provided with course work and practicum experiences resulting in knowledge of characteristics, curriculum, instructional strategies, and classroom management procedures. The program has tracks leading to certification in behavior disorders, mental retardation, orthopedically impaired, hearing impairment, visually impaired, deafblind (dual certification in visually impaired and hearing impaired), and interrelated special education/early childhood. For more information go to the Educational Psychology and Special Education program page.
Reading, Language, and Literacy Education (on-campus and online)
The program for the major in reading, language, and literacy provides for master’s level study of literacy processes and literacy instruction for culturally diverse learners with specialization in one of three options: reading instruction, early literacy, and teaching English as a Second Language (ESOL).Work in this program involves application of theory and practice in the Urban Literacy Clinic with children and families. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
School Counseling
The program for the major in School Counseling prepares students for certification. Degree requirements may exceed the minimum number of hours for professional certification. The Master of Education program in School Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs. For more information go to the Counseling and Psychological Services program page.
School Psychology
The professional in school psychology is educated in the major disciplines of education and psychology. He or she is equipped to undertake and manage processes and problems related to the education and development of children within schools. A major portion of his or her training concerns the interaction of the child with the social institution of the school. Because of this special orientation, the school psychologist must be well grounded in the philosophy and methods of education and must achieve a high level of understanding of the psychological processes such as learning, personality, and social competence. For more information go to the Counseling and Psychological Services program page.
Science Education (online only)
The program for the major in science education provides learning experiences for teachers who have been initially prepared in secondary science education. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Social Studies Education
The major in social studies education provides learning experiences for teachers who have been initially prepared in secondary social studies education. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Urban Teacher Leadership
The program for the major in urban teacher leadership creates a cadre of teachers who will become change agents that positively affect their classrooms, their schools, their communities, and their school districts as well as the national conversation about educational change. Specifically, the program is for teachers who will remain in their classrooms while assuming leadership roles in the schools and in the larger context of the school community. The program is developed around a set of academic and field experiences that provide basic knowledge and skills for leadership in collaboration, writing for change, reflective thinking, problem solving, and the advocacy of excellence in urban education.This program has been developed specifically for teachers in urban school settings. Both experience in urban schools and urban research studies suggest that urban communities meet unique challenges that must be addressed by teachers in those schools. Students will collaborate inside and outside the classroom with cohort members, with university faculty, with community agencies, and with urban leaders. To complete the program, the student must develop a master's leadership project designed to effect school change. For more information go to the Educational Policy Studies program page.
Master of Science
Educational Psychology
Study in educational psychology involves the application of the principles of psychology to the systematic study of education. A major in educational psychology allows a student to emphasize such content areas as learning, instruction, life-span development, applied behavior analysis, cognition, and socialization. The educational psychology program prepares a student to pursue a variety of career paths, including research, evaluation, and the applied practice of a number of disciplines, especially teaching P-12. For more information go to the Educational Psychology and Special Education program page.
Educational Research
Educational research involves the study of quantitative and qualitative research methods as they are applied to the systematic study of education. A major in educational research allows a student to have a concentration in statistics, measurement, program evaluation, survey research, computer applications, qualitative research, institutional research, or policy research. This degree prepares graduates to conduct research in the schools and in other settings. For more information go to the Educational Policy Studies program page.
Exercise Science
The program for the major in exercise science prepares students at the graduate level to enter fields of worksite health promotion or corporate fitness, cardiac rehabilitation, or related clinical programs or to perform research in exercise science, including occupational and sport biomechanics and exercise physiology. The program includes classroom, laboratory, research, and field experience in sport, occupational, and rehabilitative biomechanics, exercise physiology, fitness assessment, exercise program design, and program management and related interdisciplinary course work. The concentration areas within the degree program provide advanced academic preparation for a successful career in the health and fitness field or for advancement to doctoral-level study. For more information go to the Kinesiology and Health program page.
Instructional Technology
The program for the major in instructional technology provides students with the basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to perform as instructional technologists. An instructional technologist is a professional educator who can combine knowledge of the learning process, knowledge of instructional systems theory, and knowledge of various forms of media and learning environments to create the most effective and efficient learning experiences. The program is designed for individuals interested in working in the field of instructional technology in a wide variety of education, training, and development areas such as those found in P-12 schools, business, and industry. To meet the individual needs and interests of the instructional technology student, the program provides a maximum amount of flexibility in course selection. In addition, ample opportunities are provided for applying the competencies learned in the classroom to job-related situations. For more information go to the Middle Secondary and Instructional Technology program page.
Mental Health Counseling
The program for the major in mental health counseling is a noncertification program that prepares persons to function as counselors in mental health centers, governmental agencies, labor departments, employee assistance programs, community agencies, religious settings, and correctional agencies. This major is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). For more information go to the Counseling and Psychological Services program page.
Rehabilitation Counseling
The program for the major in rehabilitation counseling prepares the student for employment in a variety of corporate and agency rehabilitation settings. The program is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). A student who completes the program is prepared to take the examination for certification as a certified rehabilitation counselor. For more information go to the Counseling and Psychological Services program page.
Social Foundations of Education
Social foundations of education is a broadly conceived field of educational study that derives its character from a number of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary studies. At Georgia State University, the disciplines involved in social foundations inquiry are history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and political science; the interdisciplinary field is cultural studies. The purpose of social foundations study is to bring intellectual resources derived from these areas to bear in developing interpretive, normative, and critical perspectives on education, both inside of and outside of schools. For more information go to the Educational Policy Studies program page.
Sports Administration
The program for the major in sports administration is designed to prepare personnel for career opportunities in commercial and educational settings. High schools, colleges and universities, fitness centers, tennis clubs, sports instruction centers, sports arenas, athletic clubs, and professional sports teams are among the many sports organizations and enterprises which require highly trained personnel. For more information go to the Kinesiology and Health program page.
Sports Medicine
The program for the major in sports medicine prepares students for career opportunities in the field of athletic training. The program includes course work and laboratory experiences in the prevention, management, evaluation, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. The purpose of this program is to provide qualified candidates with in-depth experiences beyond entry-level athletic training expectations. Additionally, all students must complete a minimum of 400 hours of clinical experience in an approved setting as part of the degree program requirements. For more information go to the Kinesiology and Health program page.