M.Ed. Elementary Education FAQs

• Is the GRE required to apply for the M.Ed. at Kennesaw?

  No. You do not have to take the GRE.

• What certifications/endorsements/specializations does this degree yield?

  The program will satisfy PSC requirements for a T5 certificate upgrade in the state of Georgia. If you are in other states, you will need to check with the KSU Distance Learning Center and/or certification agencies in your state.   

  KSU’s M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education provides space for three electives, which can be used to pursue one of the following PSC endorsement programs, KSU certificates, or a specialization in Educational Leadership for those who wish to pursue EDL certification:

  Endorsements:

  • Elementary Reading Endorsement (3 classes)
  • ESOL Endorsement (3 classes)
  • Gifted Endorsement (4 classes, Will require adding an extra course to the program of study.)
  • Online Teaching Endorsement (3 courses)
  • Teacher Leadership Endorsement (3 classes)

  Specialization:

  Leadership Preservice – (two courses) A preparation program for educators interested in pursuing a clear and renewable leadership certification. These two courses are prerequisites for enrolling in a performance-based EDS in Educational Leadership, where permanent leadership certification is awarded in Georgia.

  See Electives for more information.

• If I want to apply for the fully-online program, which endorsements, certificates, and specializations are available to me fully online?

  All the endorsements, certificates and specializations are available fully online.

• What is the difference between an endorsement and a KSU certificate option?

  An endorsement program is approved/recognized by the Georgia PSC. After completing coursework, you can apply to have an endorsement added to your teaching certificate. The PSC does not add KSU certificate programs to your Georgia teaching certificate, but the KSU certificate programs packages highly marketable coursework to enhance your opportunities as educators.

• Will I receive a pay increase with a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education?

  If your salary is based on your Georgia certificate level, you should receive a salary increase depending on policies where you are employed. If you have questions regarding your individual certification status, you may check with the PSC at www.gapsc.com.

• What is it like to be in a fully online M.Ed.?

  You will take three classes per each semester. Fall and Spring semesters are 16-week long and Summer semester is 6-week long. All courses require you to dedicate approximately 8-10 hours per week per course. In the fully online format there are no face-to-face classes. There are some synchronous (real-time) online sessions for some of the classes, but the much of work is completed as group-paced, asynchronous activities. This means that there are deadlines to complete work, but you are not often asked to be online at the same time. Most work is completed at your own pace, at your own schedule. Interaction and collaboration with peers do take place, but tools such as postings and discussion forums do not require that students are online at the same time. This allows for maximum flexibility to plan study time around personal and family commitments.

• Will there be any other on-site cohorts being offered in other areas of Cobb County or other school districts in the future?

  We are very open to this possibility. If you are interested in helping us launch a cohort in your area, please let us know!

• How long is the program?

  The program takes 4 semesters, beginning summer semester and ending in the following summer. With teachers’ busy schedule in mind, our program is paced so that it does not overwhelm working teachers or monopolize their weekends. When we were designing the program, our potential students wanted to keep teaching full time and to attend key family events on the weekends—such as their children’s athletic activities. We are a work-friendly, family-friendly program.

• What are some other reasons why I should consider KSU?
  • We are a recognized institution of higher education with a proven track record for providing excellent educational opportunities for teachers.
  • Our program is both NCATE and Georgia PSC accredited.
  • Our faculty have excellent academic credentials and are actively pursuing research and creative activity in their fields of study.
  • Our curriculum is practical—based on projects you will do in your own schools.
  • We offer a fully online program.
  • Our program will prepare you for advanced study, should you decide to pursue an Ed.S., Ed.D. or Ph.D. program in the future.
• What are the application requirements for this program?

  Applications do not require GRE scores require, but do require the following:

  • Transcripts from each college attended
  • Bachelor's degree - 2.75 GPA
  • Clear Renewable Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education or Birth-K – OR proof that you have passed the GACE exams (Basic and 001 & 002 or 005 & 006)
  • Professional Resume
  • Two administrator recommendations
  • Letter of commitment
• When does the program enroll and when must I apply?

  The KSU campus and fully online programs enroll in the spring for summer admission.

  As this is a highly competitive program, priority consideration is given to those applications that are submitted by March 1. Applications received up until April 1 will be considered as space is available, or for subsequent summers.

• What must I do to apply?

  Visit the following web site and begin your online application! http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/apply/online-application.php

• I still need more information. Where can you direct me?

  Graduate Education has put together a great webpage with Frequently Asked Questions about Graduate School. That is a good place to start.

  If you have further questions about the admissions process, please contact Graduate Education at GradEd@kennesaw.edu.