GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Scot Rademaker, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Office:  222 Polk Hall
Phone: 985-448-4325

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

  • Master of Arts
    • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • Elementary School Education
    • Middle School Education
    • Secondary School Education
    • Human Performance Education
  • Master of Education
    • Curriculum and Instruction
      • Reading Specialist Concentration
      • Elementary Education Concentration
      • Secondary Education Concentration
      • Early Childhood Concentration
      • High Incidence Disabilities Concentration
    • Educational Leadership
      • K-12 School Leadership Concentration
      • Higher Education Administration Concentration
      • Educational Technology Leadership Concentration
    • School Counseling
  • Specialist
    • Specialist in School Psychology

Non-Degree Programs

Certification Only Program

All components of this program must be completed in three years or less.

1. No more than nine (9) semester hours will be accepted from another university.

2. A person eligible to enter the program must apply for admissions to  and be registered in classes at Nicholls State University in  order to get a prescription.

A. Pre-Certification Status: ONLY the courses listed count toward initial teacher certification. A candidate must have a 2.5 GPA, passing scores on PRAXIS I and passing scores for the respective content exam in order to proceed to Part B entry into the certification program.

CANDIDATES ARE ISSUED A SIGNED PRESCRIPTION ONLY WHEN THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION STATUS. THE SIGNED PRESCRIPTION ALSO VERIFIES ENTRY INTO THE NON-MASTER’S PROGRAM.

Elementary: Secondary: Health & P.E.:
A. Pre-Certification Status
EDUC 421
PSYC 206
EDUC 421
PSYC 210
EDUC 421
PSYC 212
B. Certification Status: Must have 2.5 GPA, Passed Praxis I and II (Relevant Content Area) in order to take 500 Level Courses.
EDCI 506
EDCI 513
EDCI 561
EDCI 581
EDUC 365
EDUC 368
EDCI 506
EDUC 309
EDUC 313
EDUC 321
EDUC 368
EDCI 313
EDUC 321
HPED 340
HPED 390
EDUC 441
C.   Residency Status: A Candidate must be teaching in his/her Certification Area before he/she can enroll in the residency. Job Placement is the responsibility of the prospective Intern.
EDUC 451
EDUC 452
EDUC 451
EDUC 452
EDUC 451
EDUC 452

To enter the program and enroll in 500 level courses, Candidates must pass PRAXIS I and Respective PRAXIS Content Exam.

To enter residency: A Candidate must pass the appropriate Praxis PLT Exam for Elementary, or Secondary Certification and maintain a 2.5 GPA. A Candidate must complete all coursework, unless given permission by the Dean of Education and Behavioral Sciences, before being permitted to enroll in the residency.

Requirements for the Master of Arts

Program Admission

Admission to Graduate Studies does not imply admission to the M.A. program. Applicants who have met all requirements for admission to Graduate Studies but who have not met degree program admission requirements are classified as pre-program. While so classified, students may not earn more than twelve semester hours to be applied later toward a MCMH degree. While a student is in pre-program status, no credits earned with less than a B grade will be applied toward the MCMH degree.

In other words, admission criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 listed below must be completed prior to enrollment in any graduate level course. If a student fails to meet these criteria prior to enrollment in graduate classes, the course shall not count toward the M.A. degree.

In all cases, admission to the program must be approved by the MCMH faculty committee following private review of the application by each faculty member. In the case of individuals who have earned graduate credit at another institution, as part of a separate degree program which has been completed (for example, an M.Ed.), or for recertification purposes, the MCMH faculty committee shall decide on a case-by-case basis if the credit already earned shall count toward the M.A. degree. This shall occur, however, only in the case of individuals who have already met all of the admission criteria.

Admission to the Master of Arts program requires:
  • A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Completion of the Nicholls State University Graduate application.
  • Presentation of evidence of a GPA of 2.50 or better on the last sixty semester hours pursued with a grade of C or better on all prerequisite courses. (Courses may be repeated to obtain grades consistent with this requirement).
  • Submission of acceptable GRE score (verbal plus quantitative), acceptability to be determined according to the GRE/GPA formula described earlier in the catalog under GRADUATE STUDIES, ADMISSION (PROCEDURE).
  • Completion of prerequisite courses: nine semester hours in undergraduate psychology or other coursework deemed acceptable by the program coordinator. (Six of the nine hours must be completed prior to enrollment in any graduate classes and all prerequisites must be completed within the first semester of enrollment in graduate classes. A grade of C or better must be earned in all prerequisite courses).
  • Submission of three satisfactory letters of recommendation.
  • Satisfactory completion of a personal interview with an MCMH faculty member.
  • Undergo a criminal background check; specific programs may require additional criminal background checks after matriculation.  All background check(s) will be performed by the College’s designated provider and paid for by the student.
  • Satisfy Graduate Studies admission requirements (see preceding section)
  • Submit acceptable score on the GRE (verbal plus quantitative minimum score of 800 or GRE formula minimum score of 1100 or 1300 for Educational Leadership). Acceptable scores must be submitted within the first semester of entering a Master’s program.
  • Submit proof of teaching license or complete prerequisite coursework as specified.
  • Submit completed program application
  • Submit three letters of recommendation
  • Complete a satisfactory interview with program emphasis area faculty
  • Submit a satisfactory score (3.5) on the writing component of the GRE.
Post Program Admission

A candidate for the Master of Arts must fulfill the general requirements for the degree and present acceptable grades for a minimum of sixty hours of graduate work with an overall average of B or better in the course of study with not more than six semester hours with the grade of C. Further requirements include completion of the externship and successful completion of a Master’s Comprehensive Examination.

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Requirements for the Master of Education

Program Admission

Admission to Graduate Studies does not imply admission to M.Ed. programs. Applicants who have met all requirements for admission to Graduate Studies but who have not met degree program admission requirements are classified as pre-program. While so classified, students may not earn more than twelve semester hours to be applied later toward an M.Ed. degree. While a student is in pre-program status, no credits earned with less than a B grade will be applied toward the M.Ed. degree.

Admission to the M.Ed. program requires applicants to:

  • Satisfy Graduate Studies admission requirements (see preceding section.)
  • An applicant with significant and meaningful experience and a strong academic background may request that the GRE be waived as a requirement for admission. The request for the waivers shall be submitted in writing to the Graduate Coordinator and the Dean of the College and clearly state the basis for the waiver. A current resume shall accompany the request. A final decision will be made by the Graduate Program Committee. Applicants who are unable to meet this requirement should submit acceptable score on the GRE. A minimum score of 335 is required on the formula: GPA on last 60 undergraduate hours times 20, plus the GRE General Test score. Acceptable scores must be submitted within the first semester of entering a Master’s program.
  • Submit proof of teaching license or complete prerequisite coursework as specified.
  • Submit completed program application.
  • Submit three letters of recommendation.
  • Complete a satisfactory interview with program emphasis area faculty.
  • Undergo a criminal background check; specific programs may require additional criminal background checks after matriculation.  All background check(s) will be performed by the College’s designated provider and paid for by the student.
Admission to Candidacy

Student must successfully complete the program emphasis area foundations core coursework

Program Requirements

The program leading to the Master of Education degree requires thirty-six semester hours (with the exception of the Master’s Degree in School Counseling, which requires 60 hours). Every candidate must complete at least one half of the work for the degree in courses open only to graduate students, and must earn an overall average of B or better with not more than six semester hours with the grade of C (2.0). In addition, candidate progress will be assessed at four transition points in the program. Transition point evaluations of candidates will occur at entrance to program, prior to clinical practice, exit from clinical practice, and at program completion. Criteria for successful completion of each transition point will be specified in the program handbook.

The degree is offered in three curriculum areas with one or more concentrations in each. A candidate must follow the prescribed curriculum in the sequence indicated in order to progress to the master’s degree. A candidate must complete the foundations core, apply for and be accepted for candidacy before being permitted to enroll in the Advanced Concentration Coursework unless approved by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and the Dean.

Master’s Comprehensive Examination/Portfolio

During the final semester or session, candidates for the M.Ed. or the M.A. degree must take a written comprehensive examination and/or submit a comprehensive portfolio. Candidates for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood, Elementary, High Incidence Disabilities, Secondary Education, Educational Leadership, and Reading must complete a comprehensive portfolio. Candidates in the Educational Leadership (K-12) Program must submit a copy of their leadership licensure exam result prior to completion of the internship. Candidates for the M.Ed. in school counseling and the M.A. degree must take comprehensive examinations either in the fall or spring semester. Those students who have finished all course work except for supervised practica or residency may, with the consent of their major professor and program chair, complete the comprehensive examination at the end of the semester (fall or spring) in which that course work is completed. If the student’s performance on the written examination is unsatisfactory, the student, at the committee’s discretion, may be permitted to take an oral examination or be required to retake the entire or failed portion(s) of the examination at the next or a later regularly scheduled administration of the examination. A candidate must register for EDFR 594 or 595, COUN 595, or COUN 596 at the beginning of the semester or session in which the examination is to be taken or the portfolio is to be submitted. No special examinations will be given. No candidate will be permitted a third examination.

Degree Programs

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