Indiana Department of Education OKs Master of Education program at the Woods

ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS May 13, 2008 10:47 pm

— The Indiana Department of Education Division of Professional Standards recently gave its stamp of approval on the new master of education program at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. The next cohort of the master of education program will begin on June 14.
The program is designed for practicing teachers, including women and men, with at least two years of teaching experience. The accelerated program, which is designed to be completed in one year, incorporates a hybrid delivery model that allows teachers to complete the program while continuing to teach full time.
The program’s curriculum focuses on the development of leadership skills and excellent teaching, empowering teachers to integrate collaborative technology tools and other pedagogical resources to address diverse student needs and circumstances.
Anneliese Payne, Ph.D., director of the M.Ed. program, says representatives from the college in consultation with local teachers put many hours into researching and developing the program to ensure that it would meet the needs of educators and the communities they serve. In addition, they used the Five Propositions of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards as the basis of the curriculum for the program.
She is thrilled that the program has received approval from the Division of Professional Standards, and is looking forward to using the program to help more teachers reach their professional goals.
“The Master of Education degree has always been considered an important milestone for K-12 teachers,” Payne said. “It not only improves the knowledge and skills teachers have to offer their students, but it represents a key component of career advancement.”
The first cohort of the M.Ed. program started classes in February. Brandi Jones of Terre Haute, who is currently enrolled in the M.Ed., says she likes the accelerated pace of the program.
“I am very excited to be able to obtain my masters degree in 12 months,” Jones said. “I graduated [with a bachelor's degree] from SMWC, so I was very excited to start this graduate program.”
To complete the 36-credit hour M.Ed. program in one year, students take two courses every two months. The courses are delivered through a combination of on-site, face-to-face weekend seminars at the beginning and end of each course, an interactive Webinar experience in the middle of each course, and Web-based instruction, assignments and discussion throughout each course. A two-year completion option, in which students take one course every two months, also is available.
The M.Ed. is the sixth graduate-level distance education program at the Woods. Currently, the college offers distance-based graduate programs in leadership development, Earth literacy, pastoral theology, music therapy and art therapy.
To assist those students who wish to pursue graduate studies, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College recently announced that it would award 12 need-based scholarships to students who are admitted to the college’s graduate programs. Each year, the college will award six $6,000 scholarships and six $3,000 scholarships to graduate students who demonstrate financial need as assessed by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid results.
To qualify for the need-based awards, students must be admitted to one of the college’s graduate programs, they must complete the FAFSA, and their FAFSA results must be sent to St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. The Graduate Student Need-Based Scholarships will be awarded to those students who have the greatest financial need, and each scholarship recipient will be notified 30 days before the start of his/her graduate program.
In addition, through the Corporate Connection program, the college has joined with several businesses to provide their employees with a 10 percent tuition discount. Currently, the Vigo County School Corp., Southwest Parke Community School Corp. and Clay Community Schools participate in the Corporation Connection program, and the college is working to expand the program to include all the local schools and school corporations.
To learn more about the M.Ed. program, or to receive more information about scholarships, financial aid or the Corporate Connection program, call 1-800-499-0373 or e-mail med@smwc.edu.