Master of Science in Secondary Education

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The Master of Science in Secondary Education is an online degree program designed to provide new and veteran classroom teachers with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and vision of education in terms of theory, research and practice.

Program highlights:

The program is 30 credit hours
Graduates may be eligible to for the Class AA Mississippi Educator License. Check with the state department of education where you plan to teach for licensing requirements as they vary by state.
You can start courses in the spring, summer, or fall semester.
All online students pay in-state tuition.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Who should pursue this degree?

Teachers who want to enhance their teaching skills with advanced training and/or specialize in a certain subject area. If you do not already have a bachelor’s degree in education and are looking to make a career change, the Secondary Teacher Alternate Route program may be just right for you.

The Master of Science in Secondary Education requires 30 semester hours of graduate coursework beyond the bachelor's degree and successful completion of a comprehensive examination. The degree can be completed almost entirely online via distance learning from virtually anywhere in the United States. Students have the option of completing some coursework face-to-face on campus as well as via distance.

We are no longer able to place students in Georgia for an internship.

What are some potential careers?

Program Structure

What kind of license will I receive?

Program graduates may be eligible to be recommended for the Class AA Mississippi Educator License.

What courses will I take?

Students completing the Master of Science in Secondary Education program will complete these courses:

EDS 8363 Function and Methods of Research in Secondary Education
EDS 8103 Advanced Methodologies in Middle and Secondary Education
EDS 8613 Middle and Secondary School Curriculum
EDS 6403 Evaluation in Secondary Schools
EDS 8623 Principles of Effective Instruction
RDG 8653 Teaching Reading in Secondary Schools
Four electives approved by advisor 12 hours

What subjects can I teach?

Degree program participants can select a K-12 or 7-12^th grade concentration in one of the following areas:

Biology
Business
Chemistry
English/Language Arts
(K-12) Foreign Language
Mathematics

Physics
(K-12) Physical Education
Reading
Social Studies
Other (See Advisor)

Admissions Process

To apply for a Master's degree program in secondary education at MSU, you must first have a teaching license in your chosen area of study.

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Provisional Admissions
Readmission
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will choose Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
Copy of teaching certificate or verification of eligibility for licensure
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor.

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Submit a copy of teaching certificate or verification of eligibility for licensure
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Comprehensive Exam

The Master’s Written Comprehensive Examination is a graduation requirement and is taken during the last semester of enrollment in the degree program. The Comprehensive Exam requires you to synthesize and apply your learning from courses in the program of study. In general, you should use the readings and professional resources from your courses to prepare for the exam as well as to respond to exam prompts.

You are not expected to do extensive outside research and reading to prepare for the exam; however, you may want to engage in additional reading/research if there are areas on the study guide with which you are unfamiliar. The exam consists of four areas, administered in two sessions of equal time.

Each four-hour session includes two prompts, which should be answered using an extended essay format. The exam is offered once each semester. The CISE Graduate Handbook gives specific information about dates to register for and take the exam.