The App State Higher Education Program offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Higher Education, with a concentration in (College) Teaching. The purpose of the Teaching concentration is to prepare individuals for teaching positions in community colleges and universities.
This concentration provides a unique Master's degree curriculum, one that cultivates expertise both in the particular discipline and in the skills needed to design powerful learning environments for today's diverse college students. In addition to the courses in professional education, students will take 18 graduate hours in a discipline (e.g., psychology, history, English).
College Teaching
Most graduates in the (College) Teaching concentration move into faculty positions at community colleges or become lecturers/instructors at 4-year institutions. Accreditation requirements mandate a master's degree and at least 18 hours in a discipline to teach in higher education. The Teaching concentration offered by ASU embeds these 18 hours within a broader curriculum that orients future instructors to the context of higher education, the theories and research related to adult teaching and learning, and practical approaches/techniques for creating learning environments and activities in both face-to-face and distance education formats.
What does college teaching, as a profession, look like? Visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook's site on Postsecondary Teaching.
Why teach at a community college? This article provides a nice overview of the reasons educators pursue community college teaching and the process for doing so. It targets foreign language teachers but has insights applicable to anyone interested in affecting lives through community college teaching.
Location/Delivery
The Teaching concentration is offered on App State's main campus. Each Higher Education Program course required for the concentration meets one evening per week. Students will need to check with the department of their focus discipline for information about when those classes will be offered.
Concentration Requirements
Starting in Fall 2013, students in the Teaching concentration will take the following 36 credit hours:
Core Courses (12 credit hours)
- HE 5635: Adult Development & Learning Theories (3)
- HE 5440: College & University Teaching (3)
- HE 6861: American Higher Education (3)
- RES 5000: Research Methods (3)
Concentration Courses (24 credit hours)
- HE 5050: Designing Adult Learning Experiences Using Technology (3)
- HE 6900: HE Internship/Field Study (3)
- 6 courses in a discipline (e.g., history, math, English) (18)
Other requirements for the degree include:
- An Admission to Candidacy form will be completed by the program faculty.
- Written Comprehensive Exam: Student must successfully complete a written comprehensive examination during their final semester of coursework.
Applying to the Program
We are not currently admitting students to the Teaching concentration. However, if you would like to be notified when we are admitting to this concentration again, please complete this form.
To read about criteria for admission, click here.
To start an application, click here.
For More Information
- Graduate Bulletin
- For information about program scholarships and graduate assistantships, click here.
- For information about the M.A. program, contact Dr. Stacey Garrett, Program Director at garrettsd@appstate.edu or 828-262-3112.
- For information about the Ed.S. and Graduate Certificate programs, Contact Dr. Krista Wodjak at wojdakkp@appstate.edu or(828) 262-6052.