Master of Education with a Major in Early Childhood Education

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 39 credit hour fully online Master of Education (M.Ed.). The M.Ed. is an advanced degree designed for certified teachers. M.Ed. degree is available with a major in Early Childhood Education. For additional program information, visit the College of Education website.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from the Graduate Admissions website here. 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.

M.Ed. Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received before admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant’s course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average. Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GPSC) does not recognize evaluations from World Education Services (WES). Education applicants should review the GPSC website at www.gapsc.com.
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. The applicant may exempt an entrance test score (GRE or MAT) with evidence of a graduate degree or an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated per Graduate Admissions procedures.
5. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, individuals must have:

1. Baccalaureate in a teaching field from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) 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 graduate degree; or an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 calculated per 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 six semester hours total of graduate credit. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of six hours. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade C or lower in any graduate course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the M.Ed. program. A student 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 Graduate Office and a new application for readmission.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

An individual interested in taking graduate education courses, but who does not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a 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 before 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 an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.50. International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant’s course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average. Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GPSC) does not recognize evaluations from World Education Services (WES). Education applicants should review the GPSC website at www.gapsc.com.

A non-degree admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower will be subject to a program review to determine the student’s eligibility to enroll in coursework for a 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. 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 financial aid.

International Applicants

Because of Homeland Security guidelines, an F1 visa cannot be issued for online programs. Individuals living and working in the United States whose visa status permits graduate enrollment may be considered for admission. Refer to the admission requirements in the Admission Requirements and Procedures  section of the Graduate Catalog.

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) 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 before 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 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, 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. Students may not appeal for regular admission.

M.Ed. 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.

M.Ed. 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 College of Education Graduate Office 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 – The student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   1. The student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   2. The 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 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 to receive degree credit. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.

2. Suspension – The student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   1. The student earns two grades of a C or lower.
   2. The 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 to Graduate Admissions a letter addressed to the Dean of the College of Education presenting a rationale for readmission and a new application for readmission. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean of 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 and the Dean of Education.

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.

M.Ed. Degree Requirements

 Graduation requirements for the M.Ed. degree include:

1. Completion of 39 designated semester hours of study.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no more than three grades of C.
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 credit, within a six-year period.