The goal of TCNJ’s Master of Education: Instruction program is to develop the teacher as an educational leader, and a master educator in the classroom and beyond **. The program gives teachers the skills to stimulate and challenge their students to become more actively involved in the learning process, to think critically and problem-solve, to become more creative, to communicate more effectively, and to collaborate as they learn in the 21st Century classroom.
As professional educators, teachers in the Master’s program focus on understanding not just what works in the teaching process but why it works. Meaningful inquiry into the link between theory and practice is built into all of the courses in this 30-credit program, which has concentration choices that allow the teachers to specialize in their area of interest.
Practice-rooted instruction culminates in a capstone project that enables the teacher to investigate an area of personal and professional interest through practical, classroom-based, action research. Teachers in the program will apply the strategies, processes, structures, and understandings from the program to their classrooms, emphasizing methods that work best in teaching their curriculum to reach every student. Inquiry-based coursework encourages teachers to further develop teaching concepts, skills, processes, and procedures, as well as content-area knowledge required for today’s classrooms and the classrooms of the future.
The overriding goal of the program is for teachers to maximize their students’ learning while creating a classroom atmosphere that invites a high level of student accountability and participation.
** Note: This program is designed for working, certified K-12 teachers who are interested in improving their teaching practice. The program offers no additional certifications and is not intended for teachers wishing to transition to school administration or supervision.