Education Specialist in Second...

Education Specialist in Secondary Education

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Advance your career.

The Education Specialist in Secondary Education program (formerly certificate of advanced graduate studies) at Worcester State University offers advanced study in education with a disciplinary focus to teachers in grades 5–12, curriculum leaders, international students, and those interested in educational research—all of whom have a master’s degree in education, a cognate area, or a field related to their teaching license.

The program offers you a wide range of disciplinary focus areas, including bilingual, multicultural, and English as a Second Language; biology; educational leadership; English; history; humanities; international and comparative education; mathematics; multi-literacies in content area, technological, and visual literacies; reading; Spanish; and STEM.

It grants you the flexibility to create your own personalized course of study that meets your unique interests and goals. What’s more, you will be able to advance your career at your own pace: You can complete the program either full- or part-time, and courses are offered in a range of formats, including in person, online, and hybrid (a mixture of both). You will also work closely with faculty, conducting original research on a topic of your choosing.

Graduates of this program go on to rewarding careers in educational research, curriculum leadership, and teaching. You may use your Education Specialist in Secondary Education credentials to further your career advancement—and as a possible pathway to professional educator licensure through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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Explore sample courses in the Education Specialist in Secondary Education program
ED-981 Advanced Foundations of Education
The course explores historical, philosophical, psychological, legal, and cultural foundations for education and school practices.
3 credits
ED-987 Social, Political, and Cultural Issues in Education
Examines the social, cultural, and political forces that shape schools, and provides the context for teaching and learning. Additionally, the types of existing and desired relationships among schools, families, and communities are discussed.
3 credits
ED-997 Advanced Philosophical Foundations of Education
The course examines the basic principles of some major philosophers and demonstrates their effect on contemporary educational theories in the western tradition.
3 credits
ED-958 Middle School Curriculum and Instruction: Strategies and Modification
The course is designed to give students the ability to design and present instruction in ways that are commensurate with the developmental needs and readiness of early adolescent learners. The issues of inclusion, cooperative learning, block scheduling, thematic and integrated curriculum, and interdisciplinary curriculum are examined.
3 credits
ED-963 The Understanding and Teaching of Culture
The course focuses on approaches to cultural analysis and survey of techniques used to teach culture in the classroom.
3 credits
ED-965 Principles of Curriculum Development
The course focuses on aspects of curriculum development, society, culture, learning theories, taxonomies of educational objectives, structure, hierarchy, balance, politics, strategy for change.
3 credits
ED-975 Assessment, Differentiation, and Data Analysis in Secondary Schools
This course is designed to give high school teachers the ability to plan and implement overall assessment strategies appropriate for secondary school grades including formative, summative, performance-based, differentiated, and self-assessment strategies. Analysis of assessment data informs adjustments to practice.
3 credits
ES-903 The Art of Teaching Adolescents
The course emphasizes underlying reasons and means for pursuing excellence in teaching middle and high school students: implications for discipline and leadership.
3 credits
EA-939 Action Research Project I
A 2-semester course during which students enroll for 2 consecutive semesters. During the 2 semesters, students work both in large groups and individually in developing their action research projects.
3 credits

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements, candidates for the Education Specialist in Secondary Education program will be required to meet the competencies established by the graduate program for all candidates seeking education specialist credentials at Worcester State. In addition, students will be required to demonstrate evidence of an earned master of education or a master’s degree in related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Program of Study

This program consists of a minimum of 10 courses for a minimum of 30 graduate credits, which are selected with the approval of the program coordinator. Courses include 1 course in the philosophical, sociological, or cultural foundations of education; 2 or 3 courses in secondary education areas such as curriculum, assessment, leadership, and/or instruction; 4 or 5 courses in a disciplinary focus such as math, history, biology, English, Spanish, reading, or language and culture; 1 course in research methods; and a 3- to 6-credit research project. At the conclusion of the program, students will select a portfolio or comprehensive exam option with the approval of the program coordinator.

Requirements of the Program

  1. Minimum of 30 credits plus comprehensive exam or professional portfolio (2 credits)
  2. Education Foundations (3 credits)
  3. Secondary Education (6–9 credits)
  4. Disciplinary Focus (12–15 credits)
  5. Research Design and Methodology (3 credits)
  6. Research Project (3–6 credits)

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