Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 36 credit hour Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction degree. The M.Ed. is an advanced degree designed for certified teachers who wish to increase their pedagogical knowledge within and beyond their own grade level and academic content. Within the degree program, a student is allowed to choose a focus area of study that will allow for a greater in-depth study of the curriculum and instruction process.

The Curriculum & Instruction program is a cohort program with approximately 20 to 25 students starting each summer. The graduate program is organized to be completed in 24 months. There are two options for program completion, a face-to-face option offered at the Cumming campus (UNG Forsyth Cumming Campus) and a fully online option. Students carry three to six semester hours during both the fall and spring semesters and no more than six semester hours during the summer.

Students may also pursue endorsement certificates in Reading, Gifted Education, ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages), Autism, and IB (International Baccalaureate). Certificates provide specialized skills and knowledge in a specific area of education. Courses for the certificate programs simultaneously are Curriculum & Instruction program electives.

The Curriculum & Instruction program students have diverse work backgrounds and educational experiences. Early application is recommended since initial acceptance notification can occur as early as the spring semester prior to program start date in summer.

For additional program information, visit the College of Education website.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the M.Ed website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. Subsequent notification will be sent from the Graduate Admissions Office to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within three semesters following acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. Materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and for three years for complete application files.

Master of Education Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Only those scores that are less than five years old will be considered.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, an individual must have:

1. Baccalaureate in a teaching field from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average of at least 2.75 calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.
2. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) of at least 301 (verbal and quantitative combined); or official scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) of at least 391; or evidence of a master’s degree; or an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures.

Provisional Admission

Students who do not meet the regular admission criteria may be granted provisional admission pending a successful admission appeal (see Appeal of Graduate Admission). Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit while enrolled with this status. Number of semester hours in which a provisional student may enroll will be determined in consultation with the College of Education Graduate Office. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade of C or lower in any course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the M.Ed. program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the College of Education and a new application for readmission.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

An individual who is interested in taking graduate education courses, but who does not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the College of Education Graduate Office before enrolling in courses and may earn no more than a total of 12 semester hours of graduate credit under this status. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited, four-year institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

A non-degree admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower will subject to a program review to determine the student’s eligibility to enroll in coursework for the subsequent semester.  A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a new application for readmission.

A non-degree student wishing to apply for admission to the M.Ed. degree program must notify the College of Education Graduate Office, submit a new application to Graduate Admissions, and meet all program admission requirements. All credits to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the College of Education Graduate Office.

Non degree students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at a regionally accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the College of Education Graduate Office before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space available basis.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Letter of good standing or transient permission form documenting that the student is not on academic probation or suspension or on disciplinary suspension at the student’s home institution. The letter or form should state that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at UNG.
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Transient admission is for one semester only. An individual who wishes to return to UNG as a transient student for a subsequent semester must apply to Graduate Admissions for readmission.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied because the Graduate Admissions cumulative grade point average is below the minimum requirement for the program or because an acceptable test score for an appropriate entrance exam (GRE or MAT) was not earned has the right to appeal the decision. An appeal must be made in written form to the College of Education Graduate Office, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. A student whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally and will not be eligible for financial aid while enrolled under provisional status. Applicants may not appeal for regular admission.

Master of Education Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Master of Education degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. The College of Education Graduate Office must approve all transfer education credit. In addition, no more than 12 semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting the M.Ed. requirements. Content area courses must be approved by the appropriate academic department and the College of Education Graduate Office. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned. To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG password required) and submit the form to the College of Education Graduate Office for approval.

Master of Education Academic Policies

Incomplete Grades

The M.Ed. program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog. Non-academic Incompletes must be finished by the beginning of the second semester after which the Incomplete was awarded. There are three semesters within the course of the academic year; fall, spring, and summer. Incompletes that are not finished by the beginning of the second semester will automatically become an F. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete grade remaining on his/her transcript.

Program of Study

A program of study must be completed and on file in the Registrar’s Office before the completion of 20 semester hours. The program of study shall consist of those graduate courses for which graduate credit is granted toward a degree. No change may be made in the program of study without the advance approval of the program advisor and an amendment attached to the program of study.

Academic Standing Policy

M.Ed. students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following: 

1. Probation – Student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a grade of C or lower.

No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. Only grades of D or F must be repeated in order to receive degree credit. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.

2. Suspension – Student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades of a C or lower.
   b. Student has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.

No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. After serving a suspension period of three semesters, a student seeking to reapply must submit a new application to Graduate Admissions and a letter written to the Dean of the College of Education presenting a rationale for readmission. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean and the College of Education and the College of Education Graduate Office. If readmitted, the student will have the same grade requirements for progress. Readmission will not be considered for students who have received four grades of C or lower.

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or the College of Education Graduate Office may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question, for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The student and the M.Ed. program advisor should sign the plan with copies forwarded to the College of Education Graduate Office.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The M.Ed. program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog.

Master of Education Degree Requirements

 Graduation requirements for the M.Ed. degree include:

1. Completion of 36 designated semester hours of study.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no more than three grades of C or lower.
3. Completion of at least 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than 12 semester hours of transfer credit.
4. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credits, within a six-year period.