Teacher and students smiling

Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Teacher Leadership Emphasis (non-teacher education certification)

EPL
LLSI
STME
TLPL

The Curriculum and Instruction Masters of Education (M.Ed.), Teacher Leadership Emphasis supports already certified beginning teachers and experienced educators in developing a sound common grounding in aspects of teaching and inquiry. The program emphasizes advanced professional development studies, which supports experienced teachers as accomplished professionals and instructional leaders. Specializations include:

NOTE:  New students will not be admitted to the TLPL Teacher Leadership M.Ed. option in 2020, with the exception of TESOL and World Languages.  Prospective students might consider our M.A. option as an alternative.

Specific Program Option Goals 

  1. Support teachers’ integration of studies of subject matter, pedagogy, research and theory to build on their individual strengths and needs in relation to a vision of accomplished practice (e.g., National Board for Professional Teacher Standards) and to be responsive to school contexts.

  2. Promote teachers’ abilities to engage in the careful analysis of and reflection on their own and others’ teaching as a basis for continuing growth as a professional. 

  3. Develop teachers’ knowledge, abilities, and dispositions to engage in inquiry into curriculum, teaching, and students’ learning as a basis for sound decision-making in the classroom and for leadership roles in schools. 

  4. Enhance teachers’ understanding of topics and issues on practices and policies that support effective classroom practice, including courses that focus on student learning, assessment, diversity, inclusion, social justice, and/or technology. 

Program Flexibility 
This M.Ed. program is specifically designed to accommodate the academic teaching schedules of educators by offering flexibility for: 

  • Completion in two to five years, depending upon the course load each semester 

  • Candidates to conduct independent action research in their own instructional settings/classrooms 

  • Scheduling courses after school hours and in 3 to 6-week summer sessions 

  • Programs that are individually designed according to the needs and interests of each student.  

For information on graduate admission please visit Graduate Admissions. Select an area of interest from the various offerings in the College of Education to determine the admission requirements and deadlines.  If you are unsure of your area of interest you may request information by submitting an Inquiry Form.  

Please refer to the Guide to Applying for instructions on how to apply for graduate admission. International applicants, please visit the International admissions webpage for additional information.  If you have questions or concerns, we ask you to first review our list of  Frequently Asked Questions. 

For questions about the application process, or to check on the completion of your application, please contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu. 

For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu.  For academic advising on the M.Ed. with emphasis in teacher and leadership, please contact the appropriate program coordinator:

  • Art Education and Arts Integration: Dr. Margaret Walker
  • Elementary/Middle School: Dr. John O'Flahavan
  • English Literacy Education: Dr. Wayne Slater
  • History and Social Studies Education: Alison Jovanovic
    Email Address: ajovanov@umd.edu
  • Mathematics Education: Dr. Andrew Brantlinger
  • Reading Education: Dr. Ayanna Baccus
  • Science Education: Dr. Daniel Levin
  • TESOL, non-certification: Dr. Drew Fagan
  • World Languages, non-certification: Dr. Perla Blejer

The faculty advisor assigned at the time of admissions to the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL) provides academic advisement for graduate students. For TLPL advising information, please contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu. 

Financial assistance for graduate study is generally divided into two categories: 

  • Merit-Based Assistance  and Need-Based Assistance  
    • Fellowships and Scholarships Loans  
    • Graduate Assistantships 

For more details about the various types of financial assistance offered by the campus please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.

There are also a number of fellowships and scholarships offered through the College of Education, the University, and through external sources which may provide tuition support and/or living allowance. Students must apply for these awards on their own, but the links that follow provide valuable information on searching for fellowships and scholarships. 

For more information concerning fellowships and scholarships, please visit: 

The College of Education's Scholarship webpage 

The University's Scholarships webpage

The Graduate Fellowship Office webpage

Course Requirements: Minimum 30 Credit Hours 

The Masters of Education (M.Ed.) with emphasis in Teacher Leadership in the Schools option requires students to complete a minimum of 15 credits of Core and 15 credits of Specialty Courses for a minimum of 30 credit hours. In addition, students must demonstrate of satisfactory performance on a professional portfolio (requirement varies by specialization) and a seminar paper reflecting inquiry and research abilities. 

Core courses: 15 credits minimum 

Studying Student Learning in Diverse Settings (3 cr) 

In addition to engaging in autobiographical and biographical inquiry into teaching as a profession and examining National Board for Professional Teacher Standards and other visions of accomplished practice in the certification field, candidates practice analyzing evidence of student learning in diverse contexts as a basis of making instructional decisions.  

  • Suggested course: TLPL 658: Embracing Diversity in Classroom Communities (3 cr)  

Research Foundations for Teaching (3 cr)  
The research foundation consists of an appropriate general methods course or one that is specific to the certification area. 
Suggested course(s):  

  • TLPL 691: Research Methods (3 cr) 
  • TLPL 698: Conducting Research on Teaching (3 cr)  
  • EDMS 645: Quantitative Methods I (3 cr) 

Practices and Policies Support for Teaching (3 cr) 
Students select from a menu of courses that support further development of the beginning teacher in such areas as the analysis of student learning, classroom and system assessment, diversity, inclusion, social justice, and/or technology. 
Suggested course(s): 

  • TLPL 643: Assessing Student Learning and Development (3 cr) 
  • TLPL 656: Special Education and Oral Language Development in TESOL (3 cr)  
  • TLPL 600: Learning with Technology (3 cr)  
  • TLPL 614: Assessing Mathematical Understanding  

Leadership in Schools (3 cr) 
Students select from a menu of courses that address principles and practices in leadership roles for teachers in schools such as mentoring beginning teachers, curriculum leadership, and administrative leadership. 

  • Suggested course:  TLPL 677: Reframing Teacher Professionalism: Achieving Teacher Leadership (3 cr) 

Professional Development Seminar (3 cr) 
Taken in the final semester or near the end of the teacher’s program; a capstone course in which the teacher presents an inquiry project (developed from earlier coursework), completes the exit portfolio that shows the teacher’s capacity in and understanding of priority practices in the certification field, and integrates personal studies within the broader context of issues and themes in education.  

  • Recommended course: TLPL 668: Developing a Professional Portfolio (3 cr)  

Students must demonstrate satisfactory performance on the professional portfolio (requirement varies by specialization) and a seminar paper reflecting inquiry and research abilities.

Specialization Area Studies: 15 credits minimum in the specialization. Students will work with their advisors to determine the specific courses.  

For specific specialization areas and requirements please visit Specialization Credit Requirements. 

Graduate Education Programs Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Hobson’s online application’s helpdesk for any technical issues.  

For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu. For Program-specific questions, prospective students may contact one of the following program coordinators: 

Art Education and Arts Integration

Margaret Walker  
Phone: 301-405-8206 
Email Address: mwalker8@umd.edu 

Elementary/Middle School  

John O'Flahavan 
Phone: 301-405-3149 
Email Address: johno@umd.edu 

English Literacy Education 

Wayne Slater 
Phone: 301-405-3128 
Email Address: wslater@umd.edu 

History and Social Studies Education

Alison Jovanovic
Email Address: ajovanov@umd.edu

Mathematics Education

Andrew Brantlinger  
Phone:301-405-3151 
Email Address: amb@umd.edu 

Reading Education

Ayanna Baccus  
Phone: 301-405-1943 
Email Address: baccusa@umd.edu 

Science Education

Daniel Levin 
Phone: 301-405-8345 
Email Address: dlevin2@umd.edu 

TESOL, non-certification

Drew Fagan 
Phone: 301-405-4416 
Email Address: dfagan@umd.edu 

World Languages, non-certification

Perla Blejer 
Phone: 301-405-7091 
Email Address: pblejer@umd.edu 

Deadlines vary by degree and program.  Please refer to the Graduate  School's application information.

POLICY 

Graduate students in the College of Education are responsible for meeting University and the Graduate School policy, and for meeting Program requirements. The Graduate Catalog is the official listing of Policies governing graduate education at the University of Maryland. The schedule adjustment policy is available from the Office of the Registrar and provides information on adding and dropping courses, penalties, and refund schedules. 

HANDBOOKS 

The Graduate Student Life Handbook provides information on academics, campus resources, finances, health, job opportunities, and information on how to get involved as a graduate student.   

FORMS 

Graduate students are required to submit various forms at specific points in the program and as part of the degree clearance process.  Please refer to Steps Toward Graduation to determine the steps and forms that are required.  To access forms used by graduate students visit Graduate Studies Forms in Student Services.