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Education

Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)

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30-36 Credit Hours

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Up To 9 Hours

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$515 / $399*

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EKU Online > Online Education Degrees & Certificates > Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)

Expand Your Knowledge and Increase Your Rank and Salary

EKU’s online master of arts in education (MAEd) degree provides certified teachers the opportunity to expand their subject knowledge, increase their rank and salary, and advance their career through promotion into administration and curriculum design.

Our EPSB-approved curriculum focuses on education best practices and promotes knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the unique needs of different student populations.

EKU offers 8 MAEd concentrations designed to meet the growing needs of school districts across the United States. Educators leave our program prepared to serve in a variety of roles and to help students at all levels reach their full potential.

*This rate applies to active Kentucky teachers and students admitted prior to Spring 2022 only. Receipt of the required employment verification is outlined in the enrollment section tabs below.

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Benefits
Rank System
Disciplines
Careers

Benefits of EKU Online

EKU is dedicated to preparing the highest quality educators and related professionals for Kentucky and beyond. EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as content, effective pedagogical skills, and dispositions that foster life-long growth and learning.

  • EPSB-approved
  • Accelerated 8-week terms
  • No campus visits required
  • Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • Graduates are prepared to attain rank advancement in Kentucky and increase salary potential
  • Reduced tuition for active duty service members and their spouses
  • Assignments and action research that build critical thinking skills
  • Quality courses from respected faculty who teach the same classes online and on-campus
  • Core curriculum focused on training teachers as leaders while gaining expertise in a selected area
  • Personal advisors stay with you from application to graduation
  • Free online career services assistance
  • Dynamic, supportive learning environment
  • Study any time, from anywhere
  • Generous credit transfer policy
  • Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best universities offering online degrees

Advancing in Rank

Teachers in Kentucky are held to a three-tiered rank system. By completing additional education programs, teachers are able to advance their rank, leading to increased salary and promotion potential.

The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is responsible for conferring rank and rank changes. EKU prepares educators with the required coursework and experience but does not award initial rank or changes to rank.

Learn More About Advancing in Rank

Disciplines

EKU’s graduate education programs are divided into three disciplines:

  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
  • Special Education
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Career Opportunities

Overall employment of preschool and childcare center directors is projected to grow 1 percent from 2019 to 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics*. Growth will remain steady due to the fact that early childhood education is widely recognized as important for a child’s intellectual and emotional development. Overall employment of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers is projected to grow 4 percent before to 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics*. Growth in the state of Kentucky is expected to be faster due to a high number of teacher retirements.

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Degree Concentrations

Graduate education programs begin at 30 credit hours, but can be longer depending on the program and options selected.

Elementary Education

Elementary education is a 30-hour program designed to help teachers certified to teach in elementary schools (P-5) improve their professional skills, expand their subject knowledge, and increase their understanding of the intellectual, philosophical and cultural foundations of effective education. 

Sample Courses

  • ELE 871 Literacy Programs P-5
  • EME 843 Math Intervention Strategies
  • EME 870 Trends in Science Education: Engineering in Elem. and Middle School
  • EMS 777 Cultural Competency with ELLs and Families

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Career options include: Elementary education teacher, specialist or coach (P-12), teacher leader educator

Please note: This program is open to teachers who are already certified in Elementary Education. If you have another area of certification (IECE, middle grade, etc.), you will have to add an elementary certificate before pursuing the Master’s degree option.

School Leadership

School leadership is a 30-hour program that fulfills the requirements for Kentucky level I and level II principal certification and/or rank change upon completion of this program and passing state required licensure exams. The program challenges you to view yourself as a powerful, effective change agent and prepares highly qualified candidates for district-wide leadership. 

Sample Courses

  • EAD 819 School Leadership and Instructional Supervision
  • EAD 828 School Law and Ethics in School Leadership
  • EAD 829 Community Relations and Educational Advocacy
  • EAD 856 Learning for At-Risk Students

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.


Career options include: Principal in elementary, middle or high schools; specialist or coach (P-12); teacher leader educator

Literacy P-12

Literacy P-12 is a 30-hour program promoting the skill sets needed to become literacy leaders at the school, district, or state level. Throughout the program, candidates will work with students and teachers in aims of providing literacy instruction that reflects current trends and issues and works to provide equitable literacy experiences for all students. Upon successful passing of the Reading Specialist Praxis, our program leads to certification as a Literacy Specialist P-12 and prepares educators to tackle both school-wide literacy challenges and address individual student needs in literacy.

Sample Courses

  • ELE 871 Literacy Programs P-5
  • EMG 807 Writing and Teaching Writing
  • EMS 875 Assessment and Instruction for Students with Reading Difficulties
  • EMS 876 Literacy, Leadership, and Advocacy

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.


Career options include: Reading specialist (P-12); literacy coach (P-12); teacher leader educator

Special Education

Special education is a 30-hour program promoting the knowledge and skill sets needed to advance the quality of services and educational programs for students with disabilities. Our program options prepare individuals to work as leaders and strong change agents in early intervention and P-12 school settings.

EKU’s online special education MAEd degree allows students to select one of three program tracks:

Learning and Behavior Disorders (P-12)
This program focuses on best practices in both academic and behavioral strategies that  advance the quality of services and educational programs for students with disabilities.

Sample Courses

  • SED 817 Behavior Disorders
  • SED 825 Language Disorders and Literacy of Students with Disabilities
  • SED 856 Special Education Methods and Materials
  • SED 837 Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (P-12)
This program focuses on best practices and prepares educators to meet the individual linguistic, educational, cognitive, and social needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing across a variety of educational settings.

Sample Courses

  • SED 780 Audiology for Teachers of DHH
  • SED 781 Speech for the DHH
  • SED 825 Language Disorders and Literacy of Students with Disabilities
  • SED 850 Assessment, Programs, and Methods for Deaf/Hard of Hearing

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Birth – K)
This program prepares individuals to  implement best practices in early intervention services through a collaborative and consultative model across school and home-based settings.

Sample Courses

  • SED 811 IECE Assessment
  • SED 825 Language Disorders and Literacy of Students with Disabilities
  • SED 827 Early Childhood Special Education Partnerships
  • SED 837 Applied Behavior Analysis

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Moderate and Severe Disabilities
This program prepares individuals to implement best practices in both academic and behavioral strategies that advance the quality of services and educational programs for students with considerable and complicated needs.

Sample Courses

  • SED 819 Practices and Programming in Moderate and Severe Disabilities
  • SED 821 Technology/Strategies for MSD
  • SED 823 Teaching Students with MSD
  • SED 825 Language Disorders and Literacy of Students with Disabilities

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Career options include: Special education teacher or deaf education teacher in elementary, middle or high schools; preschool and Developmental Interventionist (First Steps)

Middle Grades

Middle Grades is a 30-hour program designed to help teachers certified to teach in middle schools (5-9) improve their professional skills, expand their subject knowledge, and increase their understanding of the intellectual, philosophical and cultural foundations of effective education. Educators leave our program prepared to enhance the middle grade learning experience and help students to reach their full potential. Middle Grades is a 30-hour program designed to help teachers certified to teach in middle schools (5-9) improve their professional skills, expand their subject knowledge, and increase their understanding of the intellectual, philosophical and cultural foundations of effective education. Educators leave our program prepared to enhance the middle grade learning experience and help students to reach their full potential.

Sample Courses

  • ETL 801 Leading Achievement Change
  • ETL 803 Curriculum for Teacher Leaders
  • ETL 805 Research Methods for Education Professors
  • EMG 806 Reading Instruction in Middle School

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Career options include: Middle grades education teacher, specialist or coach (P-12), teacher leader educator

Please note: This program is open to teachers who are already certified in Middle Grade Education. If you have another area of certification (IECE, elementary, etc.), you will have to add a middle grade certificate before pursuing the Master’s degree option.

School Librarian

School Librarian is a 31-36-hour program designed to help certified teachers prepare to serve as school librarians and teacher leaders in P-12 schools, impacting their classrooms, districts and communities. Candidates can “design” their master’s program through combining a “core” concentration of library science courses with program specific courses from one of the Secondary Concentration options, thus providing a degree granting graduate program with greater flexibility, enhanced endorsement possibilities, and reduced  overall completion hours. The role of school librarians continues to evolve and requires flexible, creative individuals who can successfully implement and utilize new technology in the classroom. 

EKU’s online school librarian MAEd degree allows students to select one of two program tracks:

  • School Librarian (P-12) —Teacher Leader Core
    This program follows EKU’s standard teacher leader core.
  • School Librarian (P-12) — *Customizable Core
    This program allows students already possessing a master’s degree with teacher leader core to complete the school librarian MAEd by selecting from pre-approved cores from other areas of advanced study.

*Core options can be found in the university graduate catalog or by contacting an enrollment advisor. Students pursuing a customizable core must hold certification in their area of advanced study.

Sample Courses

  • LIB 800: Organization and Administration of the School Media Center
  • LIB 801: Educational Technologies
  • LIB 802: Young Adult Literature and Resources
  • LIB 805: Advanced Children’s Literature and Resources

For a full list of courses and course descriptions please see the University graduate catalog.

Career options include: School librarian; teacher in elementary, middle or high schools; specialist or coach (P-12); teacher leader educator

Other Online Options
Education Faculty

Enrollment

John Hepner, Enrollment Advisor

John Hepner

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor John Hepner for information about the EKU Online Graduate Education programs.

Contact Info:
859-622-8610
John.Hepner@eku.edu

Schedule An Appointment

Application Deadlines

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A August 1 August
Fall B October 5 October
Spring A December 1 January
Spring B March 5 March
Summer May 5 May

Admission Requirements

For clear admission to all MAEd program options the student must:

  • Meet the requirements of the graduate school
  • Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or a 3.25 in the last 60 hours completed
  • or have a verbal score of 150 and a qualitative score of 140 on the GRE*

Specific MAEd programs may require additional admission criteria. For more information, please contact an enrollment advisor.

*Applicants with cumulative undergraduate GPA’s of 3.0 or higher, or 3.25 or higher in their last 60 hours of undergraduate work are exempt from the GRE/MAT requirement.

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Employment Verification for Kentucky Tuition Rate

Applicants must complete and submit an employment verification module with a letter from their school principal. Students that do not complete the employment verification module will not qualify and will not receive the discounted tuition.

NOTE: If the applicant lives out of state, but is teaching in Kentucky and taking classes in one of the INCLUDED programs below, the discounted rate will apply

Student Success

“

My advising team has been so helpful to me in figuring out what classes I need to take and how to most efficiently earn my degree. They are always quick to respond when I have questions and are always supportive of my academic goals.

Kristen AndersonEKU Online Education Graduate
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Online Military Students

EKU Online offers veterans and active duty military students an unparalleled online learning experience that provides accessibility, convenience and flexibility.

Special Tuition for Active Duty* Military
Eastern Kentucky University offers reduced tuition expenses to $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and $325 per credit hour for graduate courses to all service members currently serving on active duty.

*Active duty is defined as on federal orders for 180 days or more.

“I’d like to thank the EKU College of Justice & Safety for the opportunity to complete my degree online. It’s very user-friendly, and everyone has bent over backwards to make this happen.”

– 1LT Heath Bergmann, EKU Online Graduate

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Heath Bergmann
  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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