Various Specialty Areas (MSE)

Master of Science in Education Degrees

The Master of Science in Education degree is limited to candidates not holding nor working on teacher licensure, and is designed to facilitate student attainment of vocational and personal goals. Many vocations do not require teacher licensure, but advanced knowledge and training are encouraged so that excellence can be achieved. This degree is offered in several areas:

1. Art
2. Behavioral Sciences
3. Early Childhood Special Education
4. Education
5. English
6. French
7. History/Social Sciences
8. Kinesiology
9. Mathematics
10. Spanish
11. Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Admission Requirements for the Master of Science Degrees

Admission to Harding University is determined on an individual basis with the following criteria considered: (1) academic preparation, (2) character, (3) educational interests and (4) academic potential. Effort is made to admit all students who qualify and who can benefit from the unique educational program and opportunities available at Harding irrespective of their religious faith, national origin, sex, race or color. When applying, students should be aware of the distinct purpose of Harding University and be willing to commit themselves to upholding institutional values.

Applicants for the Master of Science degree program must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 or more, or 2.75 on the last 60 hours, attested by an official transcript; OR an earned master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, attested by an official transcript.
2. Earn the required score on one of the following entrance exams:
   
   • Miller Analogies Test, minimum target score of 380
   • GRE general exam, minimum score of 900 (Quantitative and Verbal combined).

Application Procedure

1. An application form for admission may be obtained online at www.harding.edu/education or by contacting the chair of Graduate Studies in Education, Box 12261, Searcy, AR 72149-2261; or e-mail gradstudiesedu@harding.edu.
2. Applications must be accompanied by a $40 application fee which is not refundable and will not apply against the general registration fee if the applicant enrolls.
3. Applications must provide satisfactory references from three individuals attesting to the applicant’s professional or academic performance, including one related to professional ability in the degree area to which the student is applying.

Provisional Admission

A student who does not fully meet the requirements listed above may receive provisional admission if he or she:

1. Holds a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average below 2.50 but not less than 2.35, attested to by official transcript(s). Provisional status is removed when the student completes 12 graduate level hours with at least a 3.0 grade point average, six of which must be in the academic area of concentration.
2. Has not submitted the required test score. The student is required to submit an acceptable score during the first semester enrolled for provisional status to be removed.

Prerequisites

“Leveling courses,” if required, will not be included within the semester hour requirements for the Master of Science in Education degree.

Other Program Requirements

Upon acceptance into the program, students must consult with director of their program concerning the required course of study, register for classes online through Campus Pipeline each semester, and complete financial registration with the Business Office online.

Graduate students taking 500-level courses concurrently with undergraduate students taking the corresponding 300- and 400-level courses will be assigned additional work.

Comprehensive examinations are required for the Master of Science in Education degrees. An application for the exams must be filed during the last semester of study. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies in Education for the deadline date. NOTE: Students wishing to do research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for this degree may be granted 6 hours credit, which will include a semester of EDFD 658 , followed by the corresponding academic area thesis course. Special arrangements must be made with the chair of graduate studies. An oral defense of the thesis is required. The completion of the thesis replaces comprehensive examinations.

All course work must be completed within a period of eight calendar years. Course work taken more than eight years before graduation will not be acceptable.

Transfer and International Students

Correspondence credit will not apply toward the master’s degree. Students may transfer from other graduate schools, subject to the approval of the chair of graduate studies, a maximum of 6 semester hours of resident graduate work in which they have a grade of “B” or higher. All coursework to be transferred must be completed before a student’s last semester.

A minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required for students whose native language is not English, unless the student already holds a degree from an American college or university.

Academic Standing Requirements

These requirements are common to all programs in education and are listed in the Cannon-Clary College of Education  section.

Degree Requirements and Curriculum

Requests for degree may be submitted prior to a student’s final semester but must be submitted no later than the first week of the final semester. The graduation fee must be paid to the Business Office the last semester before graduation.

Degree requirements and curricula are listed below.

Master of Science in Education (Various Specialty Areas)

Depending on emphasis, the program of coursework for this degree is based on academic background and will be determined by the appropriate chair. Areas of emphasis may include various specialty areas, including Art, the Behavioral Sciences, English, Family and Consumer Sciences, French, History/Social Science, Mathematics, Spanish, or Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

Up to 18 hours of leveling courses may be required before graduate courses can be taken.

This degree curriculum is not to be used for initial licensure. Students who have teacher licensure or who desire to become licensed to teach while pursuing the master’s degree will not be permitted to follow the Master of Science in Education degree plan.

To earn this degree, a student must successfully complete (1) the following 35 semester hours of coursework, and (2) written comprehensive exams or a thesis. A minimum of 18 hours must be selected from courses numbered 600 or above.