Secondary Education Alt. M.Ed.

The Alternative Master of Education (Alt. M.Ed.) is a 42-hour program that prepares those individuals who do not have a prior background or teaching certificate in education, but hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a related content field in English Language Arts, Social Studies, General Science, Spanish, French, German, or Mathematics.  Many of the courses are offered online or with options for meeting online or on campus. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for the Class A, 6-12 Certificate for their content area.

 

 

General Science Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

Mathematics Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

Language Arts Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

Social Studies Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

Spanish Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

French Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

German Alt. M.Ed. Course of Study

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Students are admitted into the program every semester (Spring, Summer, and Fall).
The program is 42 credit hours (14 courses. Courses are readily available every semester allowing students to take a full load (9 hrs) without difficulty. The amount of time to complete the program depends upon how many courses are taken each semester. Students taking a full load (9 hours a semester) can expect to finish in 5-6 semesters while those who are working or have other responsibilities along with school may take a bit longer.
While some classes are online, this is not an online degree. Courses in Arts and Sciences are often NOT offered online; however, they are offered evenings. Two courses require field experiences that take place during the weekday.

 

Admission Requirements

▼   Mathematics, and Foreign Language Education (P-12) -French, Spanish or German- Alt. M.Ed.
  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

    *USA students applying to a USA graduate program in the College of Education and Professional Studies should complete a transcript request form (PDF) found on the University Registrar's Office website.

    In the Name/Organization field for the transcript recipient write, "USA Graduate School". There is no charge associated with this request. This option applies only to USA transcripts for students applying to USA graduate programs.

 

  1. GPA Requirement: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or a master’s or higher degree with a GPA of at least 3.0. This GPA must be documented on the official transcript of the degree granting institution and must be the GPA that was used as the basis for granting the degree, not a GPA that includes post-degree courses.

    GPA Exception for unconditional admission to Alternative Class A State Department of Education-approved programs: Individuals who have earned a bachelor 's degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time the degree was earned and do not meet the minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5, but have at least a 2.0 overall undergraduate GPA, may seek provisional admission to an Alternative Class A program if the alternate score on the Alabama prescribed Praxis subject-area test is obtained. The alternate scores can be found on the Alternate Score Requirements document at www.alsde.edu (Department Offices: Educator Assessment: Educator Assessment Policies). The ONLY tests and scores accepted are those listed on the Alternate Score Requirements document. All other requirements for admission must also be met.

 

  1. Clear Alabama State Department of Education background check.

    Registration

    Verification

 

  1. Complete Option 1: Passing score on the appropriate Praxis subject assessment or Option 2: An academic major in the teaching field or, if an academic major is not on the official transcript, 30 semester hours of credit appropriate to the teaching field including at least 18 semester hours of upper-division credit.

     

  1. Personal statement on applicant's career goals and purpose for graduate study.

 

To apply - click here to get to the Admissions login page.

▼   General Science, Social Studies, and Language Art Alt. M.Ed.
  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

    Official transcripts* can be sent by mail or electronically. Instructions can be found under “Help” on the application.

    *USA students applying to a USA graduate program in the College of Education and Professional Studies should complete a transcript request form (PDF) found on the University Registrar's Office website.

    In the Name/Organization field for the transcript recipient write, "USA Graduate School". There is no charge associated with this request. This option applies only to USA transcripts for students applying to USA graduate programs.

 

  1. GPA Requirement: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or a master’s or higher degree with a GPA of at least 3.0. This GPA must be documented on the official transcript of the degree granting institution and must be the GPA that was used as the basis for granting the degree, not a GPA that includes post-degree courses.

    GPA Exception for unconditional admission to Alternative Class A State Department of Education-approved programs: Individuals who have earned a bachelor 's degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time the degree was earned and do not meet the minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5, but have at least a 2.0 overall undergraduate GPA, may seek provisional admission to an Alternative Class A program if the alternate score on the Alabama prescribed Praxis subject-area test is obtained. The alternate scores can be found on the Alternate Score Requirements document at www.alsde.edu (Department Offices: Educator Assessment: Educator Assessment Policies). The ONLY tests and scores accepted are those listed on the Alternate Score Requirements document. All other requirements for admission must also be met.

 

  1. Clear Alabama State Department of Education background check.

    Registration

    Verification

 

  1. Complete Option 1: Passing score on the appropriate Praxis subject assessment or Option 2: An academic major in the teaching field or, if an academic major is not on the official transcript, 32 semester hours of credit appropriate to the teaching field including at least 19 semester hours of upper-division credit.

    Note:

    • General Science applicant's coursework must include courses in biology, chemistry, Earth or space science, and physics.
    • Social Studies applicant's coursework must include courses in economics, geography, history, and political science.
    • Language Arts applicant's coursework must include courses in literature, grammar, reading skills, writing, speech, theatre, and print or broadcast journalism.

 

  1. Personal statement on applicant's career goals and purpose for graduate study (Upload document within application in WebAdmit).

 

To apply - click here to get to the Admissions login page.

▼   English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Alt M.Ed.
  1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

    Official transcripts* can be sent by mail or electronically. Instructions can be found under “Help” on the application.

    *USA students applying to a USA graduate program in the College of Education and Professional Studies should complete a transcript request form (PDF) found on the University Registrar's Office website.

    In the Name/Organization field for the transcript recipient write, "USA Graduate School". There is no charge associated with this request. This option applies only to USA transcripts for students applying to USA graduate programs.

 

  1. GPA Requirement: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or a master’s or higher degree with a GPA of at least 3.0. This GPA must be documented on the official transcript of the degree granting institution and must be the GPA that was used as the basis for granting the degree, not a GPA that includes post-degree courses.

    GPA Exception for unconditional admission to Alternative Class A State Department of Education-approved programs: Individuals who have earned a bachelor 's degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time the degree was earned and do not meet the minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5, but have at least a 2.0 overall undergraduate GPA, may seek provisional admission to an Alternative Class A program if the alternate score on the Alabama prescribed Praxis subject-area test is obtained. The alternate scores can be found on the Alternate Score Requirements document at www.alsde.edu (Department Offices: Educator Assessment: Educator Assessment Policies). The ONLY tests and scores accepted are those listed on the Alternate Score Requirements document. All other requirements for admission must also be met.

 

  1. Clear Alabama State Department of Education background check.

    Registration

    Verification

 

  1. Complete Option 1: Passing score on the appropriate Praxis subject assessment or Option 2: An academic major in English, Reading, or Foreign Language or an academic major in Communications with 19 hours in upper-division in English, Reading, or Foreign Languages; or 32 semester hours with a minimum of 19 hours in upper-division English, Reading, or Foreign Languages.

 

  1. Personal statement on applicant's career goals and purpose for graduate study (Upload document within application in WebAdmit).

 

To apply - click here to get to the Admissions login page.

 

Academic Advisors

Susan Ferguson, Ph.D.
ESOL, English Language Arts, Social Studies, World Languages
Ph: (251) 380-2797
ferguson@southalabama.edu

Christopher Parrish, Ph.D.
Math
Ph: (251) 461-1941
parrish@southalabama.edu

Katie McCorrison, Ph.D.
Science
Ph: (251) 380-2853
skguffey@southalabama.edu