Secondary Education, Master of Arts (MA)
Educators who are currently certified may wish to pursue advanced study in order to improve their skills and knowledge in their respective field. Georgia educators who complete the Master of Arts degree in a field in which they hold certification are eligible for a certification upgrade. In-field Master of Arts degrees do NOT lead to initial certification.
This program is for teachers currently certified in Georgia seeking advanced certification or teachers in private schools in the same field as they have been teaching and/or certified in. The 36-semester-hour program (minimum) involves a combination of education and content-field courses, planned with an advisor, based on an analysis of each candidate’s background and professional needs. Refer to the current advisement checklist in the field of certification for details.
For teachers adding a new field (ANF): (a) there may be a substantial requirement of additional content courses in the new field; (b) a three-semester hour internship is required (EDSE 7740 - Internship I or EDSE 7744 - Advanced Internship II); and (c) a passing score on the GACE content exams in the new field of certification is required in order to be recommended for certification.
Each candidate in this program is required to take EDSE 6660 Advanced Studies in Instruction the first time it is offered after entering the program. Failure to do so may result in being denied registration in subsequent semesters. EDSE 6660 is offered fall and spring semesters, and has the mandatory program field experience and Portfolio requirements embedded in the coursework.
M.A. Program of Study
A. Required
EDSE 7788: This course is non-transferable and must be completed at Piedmont University.
EDUC 6601, EDUC 6655: Unless met in undergraduate courses or approved professional development programs
NOTE: Required courses completed in a previous certification program, as undergraduate courses, or in professional development programs, may be replaced with an equal number of hours in either education or content courses.
B. Recommended Electives
(Number of electives varies by program. Refer to the current advisement checklist in the intended field of certification.)
| EDUC 6642 | Critical Thinking and Creativity in the Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 7703 | Social, Cultural, and Ethical Perspectives of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 6600 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
Other electives may be suggested by the advisor.
C. Subject Matter Courses
Minimum requirement is nine semester hours at the graduate level (6000 or higher) in the field of intended certification. Most programs provide an option for more subject matter courses as electives.