Abilene Christian University

What you'll study

Coursework combines graduate education classes with clinical practice and a focus on overcoming learning barriers and instructional improvement. Example and required courses cited by the program include:

• EDUC 653 Educational Research
• SPED 677 Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities
• EDUC 681 Nurturing School Culture to Create a Learning Community
• EDUC 684 Meeting the Learning Challenge
• EDUC 697 Instructional Coaching
• EDUC 621 Overcoming Learning Barriers
• EDUC 691 Education Workshop (clinical teaching: first and second semesters)
• EDUC 687 Managing Data to Improve Student Learning
• EDUC 655 Action Research
• EDUC 686 Reframing Learning
• EDUC 688 Creating Effective Learning Environments

Undergraduate block courses aligned with the sequence include EDUC 411/431 Elementary Block and EDUC 412/432 Secondary Block. The first six graduate hours taken in the spring of the senior year waive the final six undergraduate hours.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at ACU that includes teacher certification and begin the admission process by submitting a Statement of Intent in the EDUC 211 semester. Formal application to the Fifth-Year Master’s sequence occurs in the fall of the senior year; applications are due the second-to-last Friday in November with acceptance notifications before the spring semester.

• GPA: 3.0 overall and 3.0 in the content field
• No grade lower than a B in undergraduate professional education courses (EDUC, READ, EACH, SPED)
• No score below 3 on the Dispositions Review completed by specified ACU faculty
• Statement of purpose and philosophy (max two pages, 12-point font, double-spaced) with no score below 3 on any rubric category

Candidates who do not meet criteria may be considered via interview. Once admitted, qualifications must be maintained. Accepted students also apply to ACU Graduate Programs and pay a $50 fee prior to beginning M.Ed. courses.

Career prospects

The program highlights preparation relevant to roles in classroom teaching with diverse learners and clinical practice experience intended to support work in curriculum development, education policy development, and instructional coaching within K–12 settings.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Tuition is listed per credit hour on the program page; students should contact ACU's Office of Graduate Programs or the program director for details about billing, possible tuition savings from waived undergraduate hours, and any available funding options.