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Online Master of Arts in Education

Giving licensed educators the opportunity to further develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions to enhance teaching outcomes within a previously earned certification area.

teacher speaking to students
teacher speaking to students

Types

Master

Location

Online

Credits

30

Cost

$315/credit hour

Move your career forward while enriching others' lives – and your own.

You’ve made the decision to teach, thereby improving our schools and communities – not to mention the individual lives of your students. Earning a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degree could be the next step that launches you into new possibilities in education. University of the Cumberlands’ online MAEd program offers several study options for you to emphasize a specific passion of yours, all with the convenience and flexibility of online courses. 

Anchor: Stats

By the Numbers

$120,130

Average Salary

7%

Industry Growth

100%

Accredited in KY & USA

#2

in KY, Education Degrees
Anchor: Programs & Requirements
Programs & Requirements

Programs & Requirements

Master of Arts in Education

A master’s in education is designed to help educators and teaching professionals like you take the next step on their career paths—traditionally toward a job in administration or for educator roles outside of their current area of teaching expertise. Our online degree program offers concentrations that touch on literacy, counseling, and leadership, helping teachers qualify for specialized positions in and around the classroom.

Course Requirements

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (CORE)  

EDOL 547 Diversity in a Multicultural Society 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

EDOL 634 Curriculum Management and Assessment 

 

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION – 15 Hours Required 

REOL 530 Reading and Writing Foundations (Pre-requisite to all REOL courses) 

ENOL 531 Writing Instruction for the Content Areas 

REOL 632 Strategies for Reading Programs 

REOL 630 Diagnosis of Reading and Writing Problems 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

 

PROFESSIONAL COURSES – 6 Hours Required 

REOL 633 Literacy Leadership 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in the Professional Learning Community 

EDOL 630 Research Methods in Education 

EDOL 631 Advanced Human Behavior Development and Learning 

SPOL 530 Issues and Trends in Special Education 

COOL 530 Introduction to School Counseling

COOL 531 Social and Cultural Foundations (Theory and Practice of Multicultural Counseling) 

COOL 536 Psychological Assessments 

COOL 538 Counseling Individuals with Diverse Needs 

COOL 540 Counseling Theories & Techniques 

COOL 630 Introduction to Addiction Counseling 

COOL 631 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling 

COOL 632 Advanced Clinical Assessment 

COOL 634 Group Counseling 

COOL 636 Counseling aspects of Grief and Loss 

COOL 637 Counseling Practicum OR 638 Counseling Internship

COOL 539 Lifestyle and Career Development

Level I Certification 

ADOL 636 School Law I 

ADM 650 Introduction to School Leadership     

ADM 661 The School Principal’s Role in Improving School Climate and Culture      

ADM 662 School and Community Relations        

ADM 670 Resource Allocation: Strategic Management and School Budgeting    

ADM 671 The School Principal’s Role in Curriculum Leadership         

ADM 672 The School Principal’s Role in Assessing Instructional Program & Monitoring Student Performance  

ADM 675 The School Principal’s Role in Creating Organizational Structures and Operations

ADM 676 Human Resource Leadership     

ADM 679 Research and Development: Capstone Project 

EDOL 544 Creating the Effective Inclusive Classroom (First Course) 

MAOL 531 Teaching Math to Learners with Disabilities 

REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations 

SPOL 530 Characteristics, Ident., & Instruction for Students with Disabilities (Pre-requisite to all SPOL courses) 

SPOL 533 Collaborative Curriculum and Transition Planning 

SPOL 634 Working with Parents (Last Course) 

SPOL 637 Methods, Materials, and Instructional Design for Students with Learning and Behavioral Disabilities 

SPOL 631 Special Education Assessment and Evaluation 

SPOL 632 Consultation and Collaboration for Curriculum Design 

SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations 

Teacher Leader

A master’s in education is designed to help educators and teaching professionals like you take the next step on their career paths—traditionally toward a job in administration or for educator roles outside of their current area of teaching expertise. Our online degree program offers concentrations that touch on literacy, counseling, and leadership, helping teachers qualify for specialized positions in and around the classroom.

Course Requirements

Core Courses (12 hours)

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

Teacher Leader Endorsement Curriculum (18 hours)

ADOL 653 Assessment of and for Student Learning 

ADOL 655 Team Leadership 

EDOL 562 Theories of Teaching and Learning 

ADOL 631 School Program Improvement 

EDOL 542 Change, Professional Development and Teacher Improvement 

EDOL 634 Curriculum Management and Assessment 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

BADM 533 Marketing Management 

BADM 535 Managerial Economics 

BADM 690 Special Topics in Business  

BADM 532 Organizational Behavior  

BADM 537 Legal and Ethical Environment  

BADM 631 Managing in a Global Environment  

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

ENOL 534 British Literature

ENOL 534 British Literature (Repeat with Different Topic) 

ENOL 535 Studies in Modern Literature 

ENOL 535 Studies in Modern Literature (Repeat with Different Topic) 

ENOL 550 Creative Writing 

ENOL 536 Young Adult and Children’s Literature 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

HHP 533 Health and Fitness Psychology 

HHP 534 Exercise Physiology 

HHP 536 Foundations of Physical Activity in Health Promotion 

HHP 630 Health Promotion through Physical Activity 

HHP 632 Current Issues in Health Promotion  

HHP 635 Youth Health and Fitness 

HHP 637 Applied Sports Medicine  

HHP 638 Administration and Management Strategies 

HHP 639 Special Topics 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

REOL 534 Methods and Materials for Teaching Reading in Elementary 

ADOL 653 Assessment of and for Student Learning 

EDOL 539 The Modern Elementary School 

SPOL 635 Classroom Behavior Management for Special Student Populations 

REOL 531 Reading and Writing Foundations 

EDOL 542 Change, Professional Development and Teacher Improvement 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

MAOL 530 Topics in Mathematics I 1 

MAOL 530 Topics in Mathematics I 1 

MAOL 630 Topics in Mathematics II 1 

MAOL 630 Topics in Mathematics II 1 

MAOL 631 Topics in Geometry 1 

MAOL 631 Topics in Geometry 1 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

HIOL 531 Selected Topics 

HIOL 531 Selected Topics 

HIOL 531 Selected Topics 

HIOL 531 Selected Topics 

HIOL 531 Selected Topics 

HIOL 531 Selected Topics 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

ADOL 653 Assessment of and for Student Learning 

ESLO 610 Teaching ESL in a Multicultural Society 

ESLO 615 Phonology for ESL Teachers  

ESLO 620 Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL  

ESLO 630 Methods and Materials for English as an International Language  

ESLO 635 Teaching ESL through Reading and Writing 

TEACHER LEADER CORE CURRICULUM – 12 HOURS 

EDOL 630 Research Methods 

REOL 533 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas 

EDOL 643 Best Practices for Coaching and Mentoring Teachers 

EDOL 647 Teacher Leader in Professional Learning Communities

 

TEACHER LEADER ENDORSEMENT CURRICULUM – 18 HOURS 

SSE 535 Introduction to School Safety 

SSE 544 School Emergency and Crisis Preparedness 

SSE 553 School Security, Crime, and Violence Prevention 

SSE 562 Physical Plant Security 

ADOL 641 School System Administration 

ADOL 637 School Law II 

Take the Next Step

Anchor: Mission & Goals

Mission and Goals

Through UC's MAEd program, you'll gain an understanding of critical concepts and master crucial higher education skills. This program is designed to support a lifelong pursuit of professional achievement, responsible service, and leadership.

Strengthen your research, communication, and critical-thinking skills.
Master a chosen content area, such as math, English, history, etc.
Learn best practices for coaching and mentoring teachers.
Understand how to teach reading in your content area.
Complete a degree that increases your effectiveness and boosts your credibility.
Anchor: Career Outcomes

Education Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Curriculum and Assessment Director: $120,130

Curriculum and Assessment Director: $120,130

Plan coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. 

Instructional Coordinator: $63,740

Instructional Coordinator: $63,740

Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. 

Principal: $98,420

Principal: $98,420

Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. 

School Counselor: $60,510

School Counselor: $60,510

School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment. 

Educational Development Specialist: $61,570

Educational Development Specialist: $61,570

Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees. 

Postsecondary Teacher: $79,640

Postsecondary Teacher: $79,640

Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. 

Anchor: FAQs

Common Questions

A Master of the Arts in Education – otherwise known as an MAE or MAEd – is designed to help educators and teaching professionals take the next step in their career journeys, traditionally toward a job in administration or for educator roles outside of their current area of teaching expertise, such as literacy, counseling, and leadership.  

Our online Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) degree program offers concentrations that touch on literacy, counseling, and leadership, helping teachers qualify for specialized positions in and around the classroom. On the other hand, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is designed to give classroom educators the skills they need to create a better learning experience for their students, often by diving deeper into their area of study or pursuing coursework to help them integrate technologies into their curriculum. 

Whether you’re investigating a school counseling position or wanting to move into a school administration position, such as principal or superintendent, earning your MAEd online is an excellent way to gain the skills and practical insights needed to advance your career. Depending on the concentration you choose, career options with an MAEd can vary from working in school counseling, to taking the position of school principal, to postsecondary teaching.  

Our MAEd program offers courses in the following five concentrations: Literacy, School Counseling, School Principal, Special Education, and Teacher as Leader. Within our Teacher as Leader curriculum, you may choose a content area in which you'd like to dive deeper. 

Earning a graduate degree is an investment in your future; for working educators, this is even more true for earning a Master of Arts in Education. While our online degree program does not lead to initial teaching licensure, it can provide additional certifications and advancement opportunities in areas impacted by higher education. If your career plans include the pursuit of opportunities covered in one of our key concentration areas, then, yes, earning your MAEd at UC is definitely worth it! 

Yes! University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and has national accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level. UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.

For more information:

KDE/EPSB – State Accreditation
University of the Cumberlands' School of Education is further accredited through Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB), 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-4606. Fax: (502) 564-7080.

CAEP – National Accreditation
The School of Education at University of the Cumberlands (UC) is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) at the initial-licensure level and advanced-level.  CAEP promotes excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.  UC’s School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
 
CAEP Address: 1140 19th St NW #400, Washington, DC 20036
CAEP Phone Number: (202) 223-0077

You will be working with staff in the School of Education to make sure you are on track. UC offers a variety of programs in education so certain requirements do not apply to everyone. It is important to review your specific Plan Program/Curriculum Contract to know what is required of you.

The School of Education has provided a list of items you are required to have turned in by the time you complete your program. The list can be seen on your MyUC account located under the “Student Tab”. The list appears in red and will show the item(s) that are past due. Please do not be alarmed when you see this, it is a computer glitch and you need not worry. We are simply letting you know what is still needed from you at this point, as well as, what will be required of you to complete the program. It is our hope that you will have a smooth transition when you exit your program.

Certification & Reciprocity for Education Programs

Learn more about the certification process for Cumberlands education programs.

Students walk to class near the Grace Crum Rollins Center
Anchor: Faculty

Faculty Experts

Learn more about the professors you will interact with during your studies.

Dr. Darren Testani

Professor
Education
EdS - Educational Specialist
Master in Education

Dr. Darren Testani

Contact Information

darren.testani [at] ucumberlands.edu
Dr. Debbie Richard

Dr. Debbie Richard

Professor
EdS - Educational Specialist
Education
Master in Education

Dr. Debbie Richard

Contact Information

502-381-1848
deb.richard [at] ucumberlands.edu
Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Associate Professor
Education
Master in Teaching
Master in Education

Dr. Eric Jay Rosser

Contact Information

716-689-0870
eric.rosser [at] ucumberlands.edu
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Graduation Education Handbooks & Resources

Education students in our graduate programs will need to access program handbooks, forms and other resources throughout their academic career.

Request Information

Ask us your questions and find out if the Master of Arts in Education program is right for you.

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