ECU MAED in Middle Grades Education

Summary

• 12 online classes (36 credits), includes certification coursework

• Coursework focuses on advancing knowledge on teaching pedagogy and skills with a focus on literacy and building teacher leadership through coursework and an internship determined by the student and approved by the advisor

• Leads to an Initial License (formerly called Standard Professional I) and a Masters of Education in Middle Grades Education

• Time frame: Summer after first year; Fall, Spring, and Summer of your second year

• Approximate cost: $9000 in-state; $30,700 out-of-state (as of 2016; rates are subject to change)

READ THIS FIRST: Timeline and application information for the MAED program 

Click here to download timeline and application information.

MAED FAQs

Q: What degree will I earn?

A: You will earn a Master’s of Arts Degree in Middle Grades Education.

Q: What is the course load per semester?

A: Here is the anticipated breakdown of coursework:

Summer: 6 semester hours

Fall: 11 semester hours

Spring: 10 semester hours

Summer: 6 or 9 semester hours

Q: What is the tuition for the MAED coursework?

A: Tuition costs are determined by the NC General Assembly, and as of November 2015, the tuition rates for Fall 2016-Spring 2017 are not yet available.  You can find the rates for Spring 2016 here.  Note that these rates are PER SEMESTER HOUR. 

Q: Can I pursue another type of Master’s Degree from ECU or another school?

A: Yes.  However, if you opt to pursue another program through ECU or another school, you will be no longer be under the TFA partnership.  

Q: What test do I need to take for admission?

A: An entrance exam is required as an application component for the ECU Graduate School. Thus, you should register to take either the GRE (Graduate Record Exam - the general exam) or the MAT (Miller Analogies Test) if you do not have a usable score that is less than five years old. The ECU Graduate School will accept either of these two tests for the entrance exam requirement (target score is 30th percentile or above). The GRE includes both quantitative reasoning (including some high school algebra) and verbal reasoning and the MAT includes verbal analogies only. About 85% of ECU’s College of Education applicants take the MAT as it is about half the cost of the GRE. You can register for either of these tests through the ECU Testing Center by calling (252) 328-6811.  Information is also available at the following websites: GRE or MAT.

Plan to take the test in the winter or early Spring.  ECU must receive your scores must by April 1, and it can take up to a month for the official scores to reach ECU Admissions office. 

Q: How do I use my Americorps stipend to pay for tuition?

A: You must request a certification of Americorps funding a minimum of thirty days prior to the beginning of classes for each semester.  This will allow ECU to classify your account as “has made arrangements to pay” and place a “hold against drop” on your schedule.  This hold is automatically placed on your account from the cashier’s office when the Americorps request is approved by ECU financial aid office.

NOTE: Your AmeriCorps award will not be available in time for the first Summer session.  It will be available in time for the Fall semester.  Please be sure to apply for financial aid if you need funding for the first summer session. 

Your Americorps will be sent to ECU in two disbursements: one at the beginning of classes and one at the mid-point in the term.  Because the Americorps is sent in two installments, you should expect to receive cashier statements regarding a remaining balance in your account until ECU receives the second disbursement.  Your balance will be paid when ECU receives the second disbursement. 

Q: Can I apply for financial aid?

A:  Yes.  You must be enrolled at least 5 graduate credit hours to be eligible for financial aid.  Since you will be taking at least 6 credit hours per term, you are eligible to apply for federal and state financial aid programs.  The priority deadline for financial aid applications is March 1. 

Q: What is a Lateral Entry license?             

As a lateral entry teacher in North Carolina, you will be issued a lateral entry license that is valid for 3 years, with the expectation that you are actively working toward your professional certification while teaching.  This includes passing the required Praxis II or Pearson tests, taking coursework, and meeting the expectations of your school and district.  Your lateral entry license is valid only in North Carolina.  You must satisfy all of the requirements to upgrade (or “clear”) your lateral entry license in order to continue teaching beyond your 3rd year.

Q: What kind of professional teacher’s license will I earn?

You will receive the standard teaching license for all initially licensed teachers in North Carolina, called the Initial Teacher license.  It will be issued in your specific teaching area.  For more information about NC teachers’ licenses, visit NCDPI Licensure.

Q: How is my teacher’s license issued?

A: The Alternative Certification office at ECU will work with your Local Education Agency (LEA), e.g., your district or charter school, to verify that ECU can clear your licensure area.  Once that is confirmed, the Alternative Licensure Office will work with you and your LEA through the licensure process.

NC DPI manages licensure paperwork via the Online Teacher Licensure system.  This system will allows you to create an account, submit your application, upload documents, and pay any required fees. 

In the fall of your first year, your district licensure specialist will make arrangements for your Provisional/Lateral Entry license.  You may receive emails from the Online Licensure System with requests for information.  Be sure to read them carefully and complete any tasks that are requested in a timely fashion. 

Q: How can I qualify for NC residency for tuition purposes?

A: Residency applications, including military waivers, must be submitted along with all supporting documentation by 5pm on the fifth class day for which in-state residency for tuition purpose is being sought.  We recommend that you send an email to UGResidency@ecu.edu well before this deadline.  You can find information about the requirements and process for applying for residency here. 

Overview of Requirements (Source: ECU website)

• The residence of a person is presumed to be that of the parent(s) or legal guardian. In order for a person to be considered separate or apart from their parents, they must have the capacity of establishing a legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina on their own.

• A person must be physically present in the state of NC for 12-months prior to the beginning of the term for which they are applying. The clock for the 12-months does not start until there is evidence of residential acts.

• A person must intend to make North Carolina their permanent home indefinitely and not only for the purpose of attending college.

Below are some questions that ECU considers when deciding if you qualify for NC residency for tuition purposes (for the complete list, visit this page):

• Length/Intent of North Carolina Residency

  • How long has the student been in the state of North Carolina?

  • Have there been sufficient actions initiated by the student to become a resident of North Carolina?

• Financial Considerations

  • Does the student claim to be self-supporting? If so, is the student employed in NC?

  • In which state did the student file taxes?

  • Is the student a dependent on someone else's taxes?

  • In which state do the student's parent(s) or legal guardian reside?

  • What are all the sources of financial support for the student?

• To assist in your request to claim North Carolina as your state of residency for tuition purposes, you should consider submitting the following with your application:

  • A letter explaining your rationale for your claim to residency for in-state tuition purposes

  • A copy of your North Carolina drivers license, voter registration, and vehicle registration

  • Evidence of employment and employment earnings (paystubs, W2, letter from employer)

  • Tax information from student, parent (s) or legal guardian

  • All financial support from other parties, including parents and spouse

  • Evidence of ownership of property (vehicle or home)

  • A budget detailing student expenses (tuition, rent, car payment, etc.)

Q: How do I set up email forwarding with my ECU email account once I am admitted and have an ECU email?

A: How to forward from Outlook 365

1. Log in on Outlook 365

2. Top Right corner click on the Setting icon

3. Click “options” on the very bottom

4. On the left side of the screen look under “Mail”

5. Then look under “Accounts”

6. Click on “Forwarding”

7. Click “Start forward” and type the email you want to forward to

ECU Contact: Dr. Liz Fogarty (fogartye@ecu.edu)