Career and Technology Education, M.Ed.

Objective of the Program

The Department of Technology offers a Master of Education Degree Program (M.Ed.) in Career and Technology Education (CTED). The program is intended to refine the student’s knowledge and skills to become master classroom teachers, trainers, resource teachers, specialists, supervisors, and administrators in Career and Technology Education. The program is also designed to prepare teachers and educational leaders to qualify for Advanced Professional Certification (APC) in Maryland.

Students are admitted to the M.Ed. program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Coursework is offered at UMES, the Maryland Center for Career and Technology Education Studies located at the Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI), and other satellite sites throughout Maryland. The course of study may vary with the experience, qualifications, and career development needs that individual students bring to the program.

The overall goal of the graduate program in Career and Technology Education is to prepare individuals to become master teachers, administrators, and leaders who are professional, reflective, innovative, value diversity and effective. Graduates will be proficient in developing, instructing, coordinating, and directing quality programs in Career and Technology Education. The following program objectives assist in accomplishing this goal:

1. Provide opportunities for individuals to gain professional knowledge, skills and dispositions in teaching and training.
2. Prepare individuals to build upon the content knowledge they have acquired in their related baccalaureate degree by providing additional professional knowledge and content necessary for advancing careers in teaching and administration.
3. Develop individuals who can implement Common Core State standards, national content standards, and Science‐Technology‐Engineering‐Mathematics (STEM) standards into curriculum, training and instruction.
4. Prepare teachers and leaders who are knowledgeable of research, theory and practice related to effective curriculum development, instruction, assessment and organization and management of CTE classroom and laboratory facilities.
5. Develop teachers and leaders who are professional, committed, reflective, continuous learners, and contributors to the enhancement of the teaching and training profession.
6. Prepare teachers and leaders who demonstrate sensitivity and effective interpersonal skills in working with culturally diverse populations.

Accreditation

UMES’ teacher education and school counseling programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The M.Ed. in Career and Technology Education is part of the teacher education programs at UMES.

Program Competencies

Students who complete the M.Ed. program in Career and Technology Education will be expected to demonstrate successful achievement in the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and evolution of Career and Technology Education. They will develop the following professional competencies:

1. Knowledge and application of Maryland State standards‐based curriculum in Career and Technology Education areas.
2. Development of administrative and leadership skills in Career and Technology Education.
3. The ability to conduct research on important topics and issues in education and training, specifically Career and Technology Education.
4. Application of research and inquiry for the improvement of classroom and laboratory instruction.
5. Understanding of the learner’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development and the implications for learning and instruction.
6. Knowledge of the social contexts in which education occurs, the philosophical perspectives which influence teaching and learning, and an understanding of personal beliefs related to the role of the teacher and the learner.
7. Skills and knowledge necessary to assist learners with special needs and diverse cultural backgrounds in an instructionally integrated setting.
8. Ability to organize and manage a classroom and laboratory on the basis of research, best practices, expert opinion, personal attributes, and student learning needs.
9. Development and application of a variety of teaching/learning strategies and techniques.
10. Appropriate use of a variety of approaches to assess and evaluate instructional outcomes.
11. Use of instructional technology, including computers and media, for classroom, laboratory and professional needs.
12. Application of theory and best practices in classroom laboratory situations through field experiences.

Admission Requirements

Students who enter the M.Ed. program must possess an earned baccalaureate degree in one of the areas of Career and Technology Education: agriculture, business education, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, technology education, trade and industrial education, or a related content area. Matriculating students must meet all requirements for regular admission to the UMES graduate program. In some cases, provisional admission will be granted if students have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 along with other requirements.

Applicants must fulfill the following for regular admission:

1. Complete the graduate school application and related paperwork for a degree program.
2. Possess an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, or possess a prior graduate degree.
3. Submit a passing score on Praxis I, Praxis CORE, ACT, SAT or GRE.
4. May require a writing sample essay that focuses on current educational issues, as determined by the graduate faculty Admissions Committee.
5. Submit official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.
6. Submit three letters of evaluation/ recommendation that address:
   1. Personal qualities, e.g. character and academic abilities, problem solving, conceptual thinking, and the writing and speaking skills needed to support a rigorous graduate program.
   2. Personal determination and commitment needed to complete the program.
7. A resume and a statement of purpose for enrolling in the Master’s degree program.

Transcripts and academic credentials of all applicants will be reviewed by the Department of Technology’s graduate Admissions Committee. Individuals who lack appropriate coursework will be expected to complete the identified course content requirements prior to their enrollment in the capstone research portion of the program.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester ‐ June 1
Spring Semester ‐ December 1
Summer Sessions ‐ April 1

However, applications will be accepted and reviewed at any time throughout the year. Applications take about a month to process and approve.

Program of Study

The M.Ed. program combines Career and Technology Education content with professional education, research, and leadership theory and practice. Graduate level scholarship and research‐based content will be presented throughout the program. The essential elements of teaching and assessment, leadership, and educational research will guide instructional decision‐making throughout the program.

This is a 30 credit Master’s program. There are six required courses (18 credits) concentrated on CTE curriculum, teaching methods, instructional organization and management, administration and leadership, and educational research. The four elective courses (12 credits) that are selected by the student are based on their career needs and goals.

Retention and Exit Requirements

Students enrolled in the M.Ed. program complete a state‐approved program of study that includes at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit with a cumulative “B” (3.0) or higher GPA. Six (6) credits are required in a capstone research experience. Of the remaining 24 credits, six (6) are required in Career and Technology Education and six (6) are required in professional education. Twelve (12) elective credits are selected with approval of the Graduate Advisor based on the student’s previous educational experience and future career goals. Overall, twenty‐four (24) credits are required at the 600 level or higher and a maximum of six (6) credits can be completed at the 400 level in designated courses. Students will take a written comprehensive examination and complete an action research seminar paper within the last six credits of their program. Students who have completed 27 credits of coursework and have passed the comprehensive examination will be advanced to Master’s degree candidacy.

A maximum of six (6) graduate credits will be accepted for transfer into the program from non‐USM institutions, provided these credits are directly related to the program and meet the criteria for transfer of credit. No more than six (6) credit hours of “C” grades will be acceptable in the program.

Students must complete the program within three calendar years of advancement to Master’s degree candidacy, but no later than their five‐year admission period. Full‐time candidates in the Career and Technology Education M.Ed. program will be expected to complete the program in one academic year including one summer. Part‐time students,  who attend uninterrupted, will be expected to complete the program in three years.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Dr. Thomas Loveland
Program Coordinator
Department of Technology
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
1425 Key Highway
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 727‐4808 X164
Email: tloveland@umes.edu

The following represents the typical program of study for students pursuing the M.Ed. in Career and Technology Education.