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Belmont University Graduate Catalog 2016-17


Overview of M.Ed. Programs

The Master of Education programs are for individuals interested in developing knowledge and skills that promote learning, communication, and best organizational leadership practices as a way to create innovation and transformation into any professional setting. The program is 30 - 36 credit hours long and culminates in a thesis or project.

The Master of Education programs at Belmont University are based on a common twelve-hour core followed by a fifteen to twenty-one hour focus area. There are four core courses plus a thesis that will usually be completed with a topic that matches the content of the focus area.  The current options for areas of focus in the M.Ed. include:

M.Ed. (Organizational Leadership and Communication). 
This option provides a focus on communication both inside and outside an organization.

M.Ed. (Non Profit Leadership).
Provides students with an excellent understanding of leadership within non profit organizations and will broaden the knowledge base on what makes non profit organizations different.

M.Ed. (Teacher Leader). 
This option allows students to engage in learning about and becoming teacher leaders.

Goals of the M.Ed. programs:

The goals for the Master of Education degree are:

1. To develop graduates who are scholars, skillful communicators, and competent practitioners.
2. To integrate theory and practice.
3. To facilitate the development in students of the qualities of effective leaders with an emphasis on: critical thinking, clear communication, strong academic understanding, leadership of a learning community, and high ethical standards.


Master of Education Organizational Leadership and Communication

Belmont’s Masters Program in Organizational Leadership and Communication (OLC) is designed to build skills and knowledge for practical application in the workplace. Students completing the program will develop their leadership potential and explore leadership styles and models. The central aim of the program is the development of organizational leaders as reflective practitioners who are skilled in observation, analysis, synthesis and dialogue. The role of ethical decisions and practices is central to these goals and is explicitly addressed in a variety of contexts in the OLC program.

M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership and Communication Hours
Core Courses 9
EDU 6040, Leadership in Organizations 3
EDU 6050, Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity in Organizations 3
EDU 6070, Research Principles 3
Emphasis 21
OLC 6102, Communication and Change 3
OLC 6202, Portfolio Leadership: Branding, Communication and Impact 3
OLC 6302, Organizational Communications and Interpersonal Relations 3
OLC 6402, Organizational Culture and Human Flourishing 3
OLC 6410, Digital Literacy and Civic Engagement 3
OLC 6602, Applied Learning in Leadership and Communication 3
OLC 6900, Thesis / Project in Organizational Leadership and Communication  1 3
Total Hours 30

Non Profit Leadership

The Non Profit Leadership (NPL) emphasis in the M.Ed. will provide graduate preparation for students who are seeking to move into leadership positions in non-profit organizations. This program emphasizes the critical linkages between leadership, communication, and learning in order to facilitate the development of the skills and understanding necessary for success in all types of organizations.  The central aim of the program is the development of organizational leaders as reflective practitioners who are skilled in observation, analysis, synthesis, and dialogue.

M.Ed. in Non Profit Leadership (NPL) Hours
Core Courses 9
EDU 6040, Leadership in Organizations 3
EDU 6050, Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity in Organizations 3
EDU 6070, Research Principles 3
Emphasis in NPL 21
NPL 6010, Foundations of Non Profit Organizations 3
NPL 6020, Financial Planning for Non Profit Leaders 3
NPL 6025, Fundraising for Non Profit Organizations 3
NPL 6030, People Management in NonProfit Organizations 3
NPL 6040, Governance in Non Profit Organizations 3
NPL 6035, Strategic and Operational Planning in Non Profit Organizations 3
EDU 6900 Thesis in Education 1 3
Total Hours 30

Transformative Literacy

This program continues the Education Department's mission of preparing advocates for families and children  by teaching specific skills of transformation and looking at literacy as a transformative process. Studnets may choose one of two tracks offered: Reading Specialist or English Language Learner.

M.Ed. in Transformative Literacy 
Hours
M.Ed. Core Courses                                                                                                                                                                                                             9
EDU 6040, Leadership in Organizations 3
EDU 6050, Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity in Organizations 3
EDU 6070, Research Principles 3
Transformative Literacy Core 9
EDU 5140, Transformative Education 3
EDU 5025, Literacy in Family and Community Arenas 3
EDU 5240, Literacy Assessment: Diagnostic, Corrective, and Fluency 3
Licensure Certification Tracks: Reading Specialist  OR  English Language Learner ( 9 hrs. -  one track)  
Reading Specialist Track (Track option 1) 9
EDU 5030, Literacy II * 3
EDU 5270, Literacy Across the Secondary Curriculum  3
EDU 5260, Reading Specialist Resource Teacher with Practicum 3
* Technical competency knowledge prerequisite: Candidates / Students must have had coursework, undergraduate or graduate, in emergent literacy, word- identification, through phonetic skills, fluency, vocabulary development and thinking skills, including in working with English learners. Completion of Belmont's EDU 3030 / EDU 5020, LIteracy I, or transfer credit equivalency, meets this technical prerequisite requirement.

OR

English Language Learner Track (Track option 2)

  9
EDU 6580, English Language Learners 3
EDU 5021, Applied Linguistics 3
EDU 5340, ELL Resource Teacher with Practicum 3
M.Ed. Thesis Project 1 3
EDU 6900, Transformative Literacy Thesis / Project 3
Total Hours                                                                 30

....

Teacher Leaders Focus

M.Ed. FOCUS AREA in Teacher Leaders Hours 30
Core 9
EDU 6040, Leadership in Organizations 3
EDU 6050, Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity in Organizations 3
EDL 6060, Assessments and Data for School Imporvement 3
Emphasis 21
EDL 6020, Collaboration and Engagement with Families and Communities 3
EDL 6030, Leading Professional Learning in Educational Organizations 3
EDL 6050, Academic, Social and Emotional Learning 3
EDL 6202, Portfolio Leadership: Branding, Communication, and Impact 3
EDL 6010, Education Policy and Advocacy 3
EDL 6502, Organizational Culture and Change Leadership 3
EDL 6602, Applied Learning in Leadership 3
Total Hours for Focus Area 30


1 All M.Ed. candidates are expected to complete a thesis. Under exceptional circumstances, with the approval of the M.Ed. Program Director and Chair of the Department of Education, a student may substitute the thesis with an approved substantive culminating project (using the 6900 number), or a course that has professional relevance to the program emphasis. A substitution form is required with an explanation.

English Language Learners Add-on Endorsement

English Language Learners Add-on Endorsement (for teachers who already have an initial TN teaching license.  Hours
Add-on EL Endorsement 15
EDU 5025, Literacy in Family and Community Arenas 3
EDU 5240, Literacy Assessment: Diagnostic, Corrective, and Fluency 3
EDU 6580, English Language Learners 3
EDU 5021, Applied Linguistics 3
EDU 5340, English Language Resource Teacher with Practicum 3
Total Hours for Focus Area                            15