English Education Master’s Degree - Wayne State College Nebraska

English Education MSE program overview

Enhance your teaching, leadership, and classroom instruction skills for English education. In the Curriculum and Instruction MSE program, you will explore instructional theory and new approaches to curriculum design that meet the needs of today’s elementary and secondary schools. The English Education program is broad. We encourage students to use the graduate program to gain a broad-based education. Beyond the required hours in education, you will select from a rotation of seminars in English literature, creative writing, criticism, linguistics, and related topics.

Licensure: This program is designed for teachers who are already certified in this content area as an opportunity to go deeper into their specialty while simultaneously earning a master’s degree. This program does not meet initial certification/licensure requirements through the Nebraska Department of Education. It has not been determined if this program meets requirements for all other states. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Learn more about state authorization, licensure, and reciprocity.

Student learning outcomes for the MSE Curriculum and Instruction program:

Analyze literature to improve educational practices.
Develop learning environments that promote student achievement.
Cultivate professional relationships with all stakeholders.
Utilize evidence-based inclusive practices to develop meaningful learning experiences for students.

View program courses Download program fact sheet (PDF)

English Education MSE program of study

Students must complete the MSE Curriculum and Instruction core and English education focus area courses. Up to 12 credit hours may be transferred in from another regionally accredited graduate institution and applied toward a degree. Credit that has been applied toward an earned degree will not be accepted except for courses that are part of the core requirements. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a total of 36 credit hours are needed to graduate with this degree.

Additional admission requirements:

Submit to the graduate committee a writing sample of an academic essay of five or more pages and a letter of application specifying the applicant’s preparation and goals.
Complete an interview by the graduate committee.

Curriculum and instruction core courses (12 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: Beginning graduate students will develop a practical knowledge and application of basic types of research, as well as basic research tools and skills that will be helpful to them throughout their program. Graduate students will create a research plan and write a review of literature (paper). Students will create appropriate survey and interview questions, develop a beginning understanding of educational statistics, and the process for developing a research proposal including Institutional Review Board requirements and application processes.
Credits: 0
Description: This online seminar is designed for newly admitted graduate students to complete tasks such as graduate program orientation, program tracking software training, and other essential preparation related to the graduate program. Graded S/NC. Class fee of $80 is required.
Credits: 3
Description: This class is designed to acquaint students with the latest research related to instructional theory, and further, to create opportunities for teachers to try new instructional approaches. The course surveys systems that teachers may use to assess the pros and cons of various instructional approaches.
Credits: 3
Description: A course designed to examine the principles underlying the development of a PK-12 public school and post-secondary program curriculum. Emphasis on methods of determining priorities, objectives, scope and sequence and organizational patterns. The roles of state and local involvement will also be examined.
Select one of the following:
- EDU 674 History and Philosophy of Education (3) - Philosophies and theories underlying the American educational system. An analysis of the differing philosophies of education and their implications for education in a democratic society.
- MAT 645 Current Trends in Mathematics Curriculum and Teaching (3) - This course explores current trends in mathematics education and teaching. Emphasis will be placed on learning theory, different curricular models, the teaching of mathematics, and assessment.