The MA in Education is offered with emphases in the areas of Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration, Instructional Technology, Religious Education, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). 

The emphases of Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are also offered online. Estimated completion time for the MA in Education program is 18-24 months (approximately 15 months for coursework and 3-9 months for the culminating phase). Prerequisites may increase this estimate.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Curriculum and Instruction emphasis is intended to prepare outstanding teachers and curriculum specialists, providing knowledge and developing skills in innovative methods of instruction, curriculum, evaluation, classroom management, and the integration of faith and learning in order to create a pervasively Christian learning environment.

Educational Administration

The Educational Administration emphasis is intended primarily to equip educational superintendents and elementary and secondary school principals. The emphasis includes the knowledge and skills needed by Christian school administrators to lead teachers, students, parents, and church members in creating positive learning environments.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is designed primarily for preparing teachers who will teach the English Language, as well as those who will use English as a medium of instruction, especially in bilingual or immersion settings. This emphasis focuses on the theoretical foundations of language and language learning and practical methods and techniques of language teaching, as well as providing hands-on experience in teaching English to language learners. 

When to Begin

Students who plan to take a full time MA program on the main campus are advised that the best time to start their MA program is at the beginning of the inter-semester (March) or at the beginning of the second semester (October) in order to avoid scheduling probles and a delay in the completion of the program. All students should coordinate their arrival on campus with the department. Upon entry, the student will be assigned an academic advisor by the department chair.

Admission Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 3.00 (four-point scale). A prospective student who does not meet the entry-level GPA requirement may be admitted under probationary status and given opportunity to meet this requirement by earning a 3.00 GPA at AIIAS during the first 12 semester hours.
2. Demonstrated English proficiency. All students taking the TESOL emphasis are required to take one of the standard English proficiency tests prescribed by AIIAS. The minimum passing score for the test is higher than for other programs—IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. The limit of attempts in IELTS exam is up to three. The prerequisite should be accomplished before 50% of the coursework is completed.

Prerequisites

1. Adequate undergraduate preparation in education to include a minimum of 8 semester hours of professional education, with at least one class from each of the following four areas:

• Philosophy of Adventist Education
• Educational Psychology
• Methods of Teaching
• Testing and Evaluation

The following courses are offered on campus at the graduate level self-study modules to meet these prerequisites:

• EDFN 501 Methods of Learning and Instruction (2)
• EDFN 518 Educational Psychology (2)
• EDFN 520 Philosophy of Adventist Education (2)
• EDFN 525 Instructional Evaluation (2)

In order to fulfill the prerequisite requirements, these courses must have a minimum grade of B. A student who has not met these requirements may take courses at the graduate level. The credit earned for graduate courses used as prerequisites, however, will not apply toward the MA degree.

2. Teaching experience, normally a minimum of 1 year. A letter of verification is required. Those specializing in Educational Administration are required a minimum of 2 years of teaching experience.

3. Those taking an emphasis in Religious Education must have an undergraduate degree in Religion or Religious Education.

4. Those taking an emphasis in TESOL must have at least 10 undergraduate units in English language (at least 4 credits of which are in addition to basic English skills courses).

5. At least one religion course (undergraduate or graduate), with a minimum grade of C, from each of the following areas:

• Adventist Beliefs
• Adventist History or Spirit of Prophecy
• Biblical Studies

The following courses are offered as graduate level self-study modules to meet these prerequisites:

• CHIS 501 Spirit of Prophecy (2)
• NTST 502 Life and Teaching of Jesus (2)
• THST 501 Adventist Doctrines (2)

Requirements

To complete the program and be awarded the degree of Master of Arts in Education, a candidate must meet satisfactorily the following requirements:

1. Complete a minimum of 41 semester hours of coursework, excluding the culminating phase.
2. Complete the culminating phase of the degree program in one of the following three modalities:
   • MA Project (3 semester hours.)
   • MA Thesis (6 semester hours.)
   • A comprehensive examination plus one additional elective course (3 semester hours).
3. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
4. Complete Service Learning
5. Develop e-portfolio to showcase student work in meeting professional competencies.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the MA in Education includes a total of 47 semester hours and is configured as follows:

Master of Arts in Education Curriculum
Core Courses	17 units
EDCI 625	Instructional Media  (3 units)
EDUC 526	Pedagogical Foundations (3 units)
EDUC 583	Foundations of Christian Curriculum (3 units)
EDUC 624	Faith and Learning in Christian Education (3 units)
LEAD 610	Biblical Foundations of Leadership and Ethics (3 units)
RESM 520	Academic Writing (2 units)
Major Field of Concentration	15-18 units
One of the following fields:
A.) Emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction	(15 units)
EDAD 601	Supervision of Instruction (3 units)
EDCI 610	Classroom Management (3 units)
EDCI 615	Instructional Models (3 units)
EDCI 632	Inclusive Instruction (3 units)
EDCI 640	Process of Curriculum (3 units)
B.) Emphasis in Educational Administration
EDAD 601	Supervision of Instruction (3 units)
EDAD 640	Institutional Finance (3 units)
EDAD 651	Principalship and School Improvement (3 units)
EDAD 674	School Organization and Law (3 units)
EDCI 610	Classroom Management (3 units)
C.) Emphasis in TESOL
EDFN 510	Teaching Practicum (3 units)
EDTE 620	Second Language Acquisition (3 units)
EDTE 622	TESOL Methods for Content-Area Reading and writing (3 units)
EDTE 628	TESOL Methods in Speaking and Listening (3)
EDTE 630	Pragmatics (3 units)
EDTE 680	Advanced Grammar for English Language Teaching (3)
Research	9 units
RESM 610	Research Methods (3 units)
RESM 615	Statistics (3 units)
RESM 625	Action Research (3)
Culminating Phase	3-6 units
One of the following three culminating modalities
A.) MA Project EDAD/EDCI/EDTE 696 MA Project (3 units)
B.) MA Thesis EDAD/EDCI/EDTE 698 MA Thesis (6 units)
C.) A comprehensive examination and one elective course, chosen in consultation with the academic advisor.
TOTAL UNITS	43-49 units

 

Double Emphases

A student may opt to take a double emphases in the MA program. In such a case, the student must take five (six for TESOL) additional courses (15-18 credits) from the second area of emphasis. When the student selects the comprehensive examination as the culminating phase, one elective is still required. A double emphasis in an online program requires that the student’s bulletin offers multiple emphases.

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