UB Graduate School of Education to offer new online graduate programs

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education (GSE) will offer two new fully online master’s degree programs beginning in January, one in English Education and one in Music Education.

The programs are designed to conform to the requirements outlined by the New York State Education Department and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). 

The master’s degree in English Education is a 33-credit-hour program designed for individuals with initial teaching certification who need professional New York State certification, according to GSE administrators. The program is grounded in theory, research and practice for the 21st century.

Students will have opportunities to conduct research in their local schools, creating a pathway to publish their work and present at local, state and national conferences. Interested students must have prior teaching certification before applying to the program.

“For those interested in teaching literature, composition and digital media in secondary schools and at the college level, this new program in English Education offers a great opportunity to advance toward a more rewarding career as a teacher leader,” says Suzanne Miller, PhD, and chair of UB’s Department of Learning and Instruction.

“The degree offers tremendous flexibility for those who work during the day and provides a broad humanistic approach in classes on written and digital composing, integrating multi-genre approaches to literary study and inquiry into one’s own teaching.”

Through this EdM program, students who have initial certification at the adolescence level will qualify for professional certification at the middle child and adolescence levels.

The master’s degree in Music Education is a 33-credit program designed for those who hold initial certification to teach school music and need professional New York State certification (EdM Professional), as well as international students seeking a master’s degree in music education.

Taught by nationally and internationally recognized faculty and seasoned practitioners, the coursework is grounded in music learning theory and is identical to the program offered on-campus. The program can be completed on a part-time basis in two years, and offers students the option of including summer sessions on campus should they desire to do that.

“The new fully online program in music education will help empower musicians with in-depth study of the psychology of learning as an overarching framework for active music making,” says Maria Runfola, PhD, associate professor and program director.

“We aim to prepare leaders in the field who are able to thrive in a challenging and rapidly changing educational environment and who have command of subject matter knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and pedagogical-content knowledge.”

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and students will be accepted based on space availability for fall or spring semesters.  Applications are still being accepted for spring 2014, but spaces are limited, so those interested in beginning this spring semester are encouraged to apply immediately.

For more information on these programs or to apply, go to http://gse.buffalo.edu/online/english or http://gse.buffalo.edu/online/music.