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Master of Education

Teaching, Learning, and Leadership

The Master of Education, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership (MTLL) degree program of study will facilitate individuals in engaging, ongoing dialogue, and study based on the integration of research, theory, and best practices. In addition to promoting the professionalization of teaching and improved professional practice, the completion of this degree will prepare candidates to be teacher leaders in the classroom, as an instructional facilitator in the school, or a curriculum administrator in the district. Additionally, an innovative Nontraditional Teacher Licensure (MTLL-NTL) option is available for individuals seeking an initial teaching license.  An MTLL-NTL student may teach on an Arkansas Provisional License if hired by an Arkansas public school while enrolled in this program.

A graduate student enrolled in the MTLL degree program of study may select a program emphasis from two options:

  1. Curriculum Administrator / Master Teacher Leader (MTLL) - an individual who is a career teacher and wants to improve classroom teaching and learning or desires to become a curriculum leader.
  2. Nontraditional Teacher Licensure (MTLL-NTL) - an individual with a baccalaureate degree or higher who seeks an alternative route to secure a standard teachers license.  An MTLL-NTL student may teach on an Arkansas Provisional License if hired by an Arkansas public school while enrolled in this program.

A licensure endorsement may be added to an existing standard license by fulfilling the program of study requirements (18 hours) for the Instructional Facilitator.  Select the Curriculum Administration/Master Teacher Leader (MTLL) program option above to enroll in this Instructional Facilitator Endorsement program of study.

Curriculum Administrator / Master Teacher Leader (MTLL) Option:

Graduate students who select the Curriculum Administrator / Master Teacher Leader option will study the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to be effective curriculum leaders and mentors for new teacher inductees and colleagues, including marginal teachers. Additionally, these degree options will fulfill the program of study requirements for Arkansas Curriculum / Program Administrator Licensure and Instructional Facilitator endorsement on completion of the required state assessments.

Non-Traditional Teacher Licensure (MTLL-NTL) Option:

The Non-Traditional Teacher Licensure (MTLL-NTL) option is intended for the individual who holds a baccalaureate degree or higher and desires to teach in Arkansas public schools at the middle level and secondary level only. (This option is not available for early childhood and elementary teaching levels). This program of study option is designed to immerse the MTLL-NTL graduate student in an in-depth study of basic and advanced pedagogical skills for quality teaching, learning and classroom practice.

Unconditional Admission

Students are eligible to apply for unconditional admission to the Master of Education degree program in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership if they meet the following admission requirements:

Curriculum Administrator / Master Teacher Leader (MTLL-Option

For unconditional admission applicant must:

  1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for Graduate College.
  2. Applicants must have at least two (2) years teaching experience.
  3. Approval from the program director or the Center for Leadership & Learning department head.

Nontraditional Teacher Licensure (MTLL-NTL) Option

For unconditional admission applicant must:

  1. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College.
  2. Approval from the program director or the Center for Leadership & Learning department head.

Program Requirements

Degree Requirements

  1. A minimum of 38 semester hours (all at the 6000 level) must be completed, including the completion of the following courses:
    Common Core Courses (27 hours)

    MTLL 6202 Professionalization of Teaching for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6003 School Organization and Leadership for Teacher Leaders
    MTLL 6113 Action Research and Data Analysis for School and Classroom Use
    MTLL 6223 Teaching and Learning for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6262 Action Research Practicum for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6271 Resource Acquisition for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6242 Cognitive Coaching and Mentoring for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6123 Instructional Leadership for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6133 Basic Elements of Curriculum
    MTLL 6143 Organizational Change and the Role of the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6152 Professional Portfolio for the Master Teacher

    Select one option for program of study emphasis from the following:

    Curriculum Administrator / Master Teacher Leader (MTLL) Option

    MTLL 6253 Advanced Curriculum Design Practicum for the Master Teacher
    EDLD 6402 Working with the Marginal Performer
    EDLD 6002 Administrative Law
    EDLD 6551 Two (2) Curriculum Administrative Internship Courses (4 hours total)

    Non-Traditional Teacher Leadership (MTLL-NTL) Option

    MTLL 6233 Advanced Teaching and Learning for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6252 Communication, Advocacy & Policy Development
    MTLL 6292 Evaluation of Classroom Learning for the Master Teacher
    MTLL 6551 Four (4) Internship Practicum Courses, including the Student Teaching Internship (4 hours total)

  2. Prior to degree completion, a culminating professional portfolio must be successfully completed and approved by a portfolio review committee for both program of study options.
  3. A cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 or better must be achieved in all graduate work attempted at Arkansas Tech University, with a maximum of six (6) hours of "C" grades. A student receiving more than six (6) hours of "C" or grades lower than "C" should refer to the section of the catalog on Academic Probation and Dismissal.
  4. Twenty-Seven (27) hours of graduate work must be taken while in residence at Arkansas Tech University.

The Master of Education degree program must be completed within six (6) years from the time of admission to the graduate program.

*For the Nontraditional Teacher Licensure (MTLL-NTL) option, the MTLL-NTL graduate student must complete the appropriate state assessments for Arkansas teacher licensure prior to graduation.

Instructional Facilitator Endorsement and Curriculum Program Administrator Licensure

An eighteen-semester hour MTLL program of study satisfies course requirements for the Instructional Facilitator Endorsement to be added to an individual's Arkansas Standard Teaching License. This program of study prepares teachers to be teacher leaders who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work with new teacher inductees and colleagues to improve teaching and learning.

Courses Required for Instructional Facilitator Endorsement (18 hours)

MTLL 6202 Professionalization of Teaching for the Master Teacher
MTLL 6242 Cognitive Coaching and Mentoring for the Master Teacher
MTLL 6223 Teaching and Learning for the Master Teacher
MTLL 6253 Advanced Curriculum Design
MTLL 6143 Organizational Change and the Role of the Master Teacher
MTLL 6123 Instructional Leadership for the Master Teacher
EDLD 6551-4 Administrative Internship (2 hours total)

Additionally, students may choose to complete the remaining MTLL-identified course hours to complete the Master of Education degree in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Master of Education degree, which fulfills program of study requirements for Arkansas Curriculum/Program Administrator Licensure.

Degree Works

Degree Works is a software tool utilized by Arkansas Tech University designed to detail academic progression. It allows both students and advisors to monitor course progress towards degree completion and clearly indicates which course requirements have been met as well as how courses transfer into a program. Transfer courses must be approved through the use of a substitution/waiver form available via the Registrar for progress to display correctly within Degree Works. 

Degree Works will display course progression based on the current program of study, but a "what-if" scenario can be generated for any program to see how progression looks with the courses currently completed and in progress. Note that if you have applied to and been admitted to a graduate program while still finishing your undergraduate program, Degree Works will show your new program of study in the graduate program and you would have to generate a "what-if" query to see your undergraduate degree progress.

Application for Graduation

In addition to satisfying all degree requirements, a candidate for a degree must file an  Application for Graduation online.  Students must apply for graduation by Reading day of the semester prior to the semester of graduation.

Special Conditions of Graduate Credit

Graduate Credit Taken Prior to Admission to Arkansas Tech University

A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit with a grade point average of "B" or better may be transferred from an accredited graduate school, if deemed appropriate to the graduate program by the head of the student's major department and the Graduate College Dean. Students must send a written request to the head of their major department to petition an acceptance of the transfer credit prior to requesting admission to candidacy to the graduate program. Graduate credit earned six (6) years prior to the completion date of all degree requirements may not be applied toward the degree without the approval of the appropriate program director and the Graduate College Dean. Credits earned by correspondence courses or for remedial purposes will not apply toward the graduate degree. No undergraduate course may be repeated for graduate credit.

Graduate Credit Taken After Admission to Arkansas Tech University

If after admission to graduate study, a student wishes to take a course at another institution to count toward degree requirements at Arkansas Tech University, the student must, in advance of enrollment, obtain written approval from the program director and the Graduate College Dean.