Teacher Leadership — Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Concentration

Earn your MSEd online in as few as 10 months

Our accelerated online program offers flexibility for working educators — with 7-week accelerated online courses and 6 start dates per year. The MSEd focuses on your professional development using InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, helping you craft an educational strategy that ensures your students are engaged and inspired — and able to translate that inspiration into outstanding assessment results.

Program requirements

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E-tuition

All students receive our e-tuition rate. This accelerated online program does not charge Mandatory Fees. See cost details

Credit hours

30 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to 3 credit hours. Browse course list

Financial aid

Over 150 graduate assistantships available with stipend & tuition assistance, plus scholarship, fellowship & research opportunities. Explore aid

Admissions

6 entry terms per year. No GRE required. View application process & deadlines

Program highlights

Earn your degree in as few as 10 months with our accelerated online program.
Progress quickly with 7-week courses.
Begin as soon as you’re ready: We offer 6 start dates throughout the year.
Save money with affordable tuition: Online students receive our e-tuition rate.
Tailor the program to your academic and professional goals: Complete your capstone through an internship, thesis, portfolio, or research project.
Learn from EdD and PhD faculty who have experience as practicing K-12 teachers and administrators.

Expected career outcomes

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Advance to a leadership role

Graduates of our program are prepared to develop more effective instructional approaches, evaluate how well students are learning, and integrate new technology and teaching strategies into the classroom.

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Admission information: Teacher Leadership — Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Concentration (MSEd) | Accelerated Online

The information below is for our fully online MSEd in Teacher Leadership. If you are interested in the blended program, which includes a mix of online and in-person courses, please review the Teacher Leadership (Blended) Admission Information.

Application deadlines & program start dates

Choose from 6 start dates per year.

Session	Application deadline	Program start date
Fall 2024 term: Session 1	August 15, 2024	September 3, 2024
Fall 2024 term: Session 2	October 9, 2024	October 28, 2024
Spring 2025 term: Session 1	January 2, 2025	January 21, 2025
Spring 2025 term: Session 2	March 5, 2025	March 24, 2025
Summer 2025 term: Session 1	April 30, 2025	May 19, 2025
Summer 2025 term: Session 2	June 18, 2025	July 1, 2025

Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in a baccalaureate degree program. Applicants who do not have a 2.5 overall GPA must enclose a letter asking for special consideration, in which they provide evidence of an ability to complete graduate studies successfully. Without such a letter, applicants who fail to meet eligibility requirements may be automatically denied. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are up to the discretion of the admitting program.

In addition to the regular requirements of graduate admission, applicants to the professional educator program must submit proof of teacher certification. The certification can be in any area and/or from any state. Practicing educators in private schools or other settings that do not require state certification are exempt from this requirement.

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

General requirements

Application: Online application
Application fee:
- In-state, out-of-state, and Canadian applicants: Free to apply
- International applicants: Submit US $50 fee to apply
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.
- International College transcripts: In addition to an official copy of the transcript, we require an official evaluation of college-level transcripts approved by one of the following transcript analysis agencies
  - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
  - Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)
Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
Students whose first language is not English may be required to take one of the following: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo. Applicants must submit official scores as part of the application process. See additional information regarding test scores and requirements.

Additional requirements

Essay: Teaching is a learning profession. “When teachers stop learning, so do their students.” (Roland Barth). How do you envision yourself as a teacher and a learner in the Professional Educator program?
Proof of teacher certification: See details below.

About proof of teacher certification

The evidence should be a copy of your teacher certification from the state in which you are certified. Teacher certification must be at the level of provisional or professional, and not at the level of conditional certification.
This program requires that students are certified teachers at the time of admission and for the duration of the program.
Students seeking an exemption to this requirement must write a request for a waiver that includes both an explanation and justification for the request.
Submit your proof of teacher certification or request for a waiver along with your application materials to edocs@maine.edu.

Transfer credit

Previously completed graduate courses may be approved for transfer into a graduate program within the professional educator program if credits for the courses were earned no more than five years prior to matriculation, with grades of B or better. A syllabus for each course submitted for transfer credit must be provided upon application. Credits proposed for transfer may not have been used to qualify for a previously earned degree.

For previous work completed through the University of Maine System, up to twelve credits may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. Up to six graduate credits completed at institutions outside of the University of Maine System may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study.

Transfer of more than twelve University of Maine System credits or six non-University of Maine System credits may be approved by the program coordinator and faculty. These credits may include certificate of graduate study program courses and professional development in-service graduate courses. Requests for the transfer of credits taken more than five years prior to matriculation may also be evaluated and approved by the program coordinator and faculty.

International student instructions

View additional application requirements

English proficiency test scores

View test requirements

Where to send application materials

Get our mailing address and email address

Learn more about our accelerated online Teacher Leadership — Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment MSEd

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Faculty expertise

Our faculty have extensive leadership experience in K-12 teaching and administration. They also regularly present at regional and national conferences and publish their research findings in books and journal articles.

Meet our faculty

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Graduate student support

Our Office of Graduate Studies connects you with opportunities for professional development, scholarships, and graduate assistantships. They also foster our graduate student community through Peer Mentorship and the Graduate Student Board.

Browse resources

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Scholarship opportunities

Scholarships offer financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. We encourage students in graduate degree programs to apply for scholarship opportunities.

Explore scholarships

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Frequently Asked Questions

Graduates of our program are prepared to develop effective instructional approaches, evaluate how well students are learning, and integrate new technology and teaching strategies into the classroom.

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Connect with us

Our monthly Graduate Information Sessions are an excellent way to learn more about the benefits of our program, as well as our admissions and financial process.

Next steps

Our graduate admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.

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