Elementary Education, M.Ed.

Online
30 Credit Hours
Admits: Fall, Spring & Summer
Apply Now
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Program Tabs

Program

Earn Your M.Ed. in Elementary Education Online With UNC Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s online M.Ed. in Elementary Education degree is offered through a part-time, fully online program. Our master’s in elementary education program is ideal for experienced elementary education educators who teach in the state of North Carolina and wish to advance their early childhood education teaching careers by becoming instructional leaders, advanced practitioners and global educators.

Our master’s in elementary education program equips educators with leadership skills, specialized content knowledge and a global perspective to tackle the challenges of elementary education. Through practical, real-world assignments, students can immediately implement new strategies in their early childhood education classrooms and beyond.

Offering an extensive array of concentration areas sets us apart from other master’s in early childhood education programs and gives our students options that meet their interests and leadership aspirations. Through our master’s in elementary education program, teachers can acquire content knowledge and eligibility for additional certification through coursework in concentration areas, including:

  • Academically or Intellectually Gifted
  • Anti-Racism in Urban Education (ARUE)
  • Elementary Mathematics
  • Literacy

Graduates who complete all program requirements are eligible to apply for an Advanced (M) teaching license.

UNC Charlotte M.Ed. in Elementary Education alum Nancy Brightwell is chief academic officer of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, one of the largest public school districts in the state of North Carolina.

Learn more about Ms. Brightwell’s academic accomplishments »

M.Ed. in Elementary Education Program Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the M.Ed. program must have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from a regionally accredited university in addition to a teaching license from North Carolina (or equivalent license from another state). Candidates are not required to have teaching experience, although this is highly recommended.

Please see detailed admissions requirements in the Admissions tab.

All teacher education programs at UNC Charlotte are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Request More Information

Connect with an Enrollment Specialist today to learn more! Complete the For More Information box on this page or contact us using the links below.

Related Programs

» Instructional Coaching Graduate Certificate
» B.A. in Elementary Education

Admissions

Application Deadlines: 

  • August 1 (fall)
  • December 1 (spring)
  • May 1 (summer first half term)
  • June 15 (summer second half term)

Admissions & Requirements: 

  • Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
  • A bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor.
  • All previous work beyond high school documenting an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale).
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts from all academic coursework beyond high school.
  • A teaching license in Elementary Education from North Carolina or its equivalent from another state.
  • A statement of purpose indicating reasons for seeking the Master’s degree.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) test scores not required if undergraduate GPA was 3.0 or higher.

Early Entry Program:

  • Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the “Degree Requirements and Academic Policies” section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Courses

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education is a 30 credit hour online program. The Programs of Study include 15 credit hours of required courses and 11-15 credit hours of courses from one of the concentrations. 

  • Academically or Intellectually Gifted
  • Anti-Racism in Urban Education
  • Elementary Mathematics
  • Literacy

Core Courses (15 credit hours):

  • Phase I. Developing Perspectives (6 credit hours)
    • ELED 6200: Current Issues in Global and Urban Elementary Schools
    • ELED 6202: Classroom Management and Leadership for Diverse Learners
  • Phase II. Collaborative Inquiry (6 credit hours)
    • ELED 6203: Instructional Differentiation and Leadership for 21st Century Learners
    • RSCH 6101: Research Methods
  • Phase III. Investigative Leadership (3 credit hours)
    • ELED 6303: Teacher Inquiry and Data Analysis in the Elementary Classroom

Concentrations (11-15 credit hours):

    • Academically or Intellectually Gifted* (12 credit hours)
      • SPED 5211:  Nature and Needs of Gifted Students
      • SPED 6124:  Methods of Instructing Gifted Students
      • SPED 6161:  Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Students
      • SPED 6224:  Adapting Curriculum Materials and Classroom Differentiation

    *This concentration leads to the North Carolina Licensure if the student successfully completes all of the related licensure requirements.

    • Anti-Racism in Urban Education (ARUE)* (12 credit hours)
      • ELED 6260: History and Psychology of Racism
      • ELED 6261: Racial Identity
      • ELED 6262: Race in Education and Schooling
      • ELED 6263: Anti-Racist Activism in Education

    *This concentration leads to the North Carolina Licensure if the student successfully completes all of the related licensure requirements.

    • Elementary Mathematics* (15-18 credit hours)
      • ELED 6311: Number Systems and Operations: K-5 Mathematical Tasks
      • ELED 6312: Geometry and Spatial Visualization: K-5 Assessment
      • ELED 6313: Algebraic Reasoning: K-5 Discourse and Questioning
      • ELED 6314: Rational Numbers and Operations: K-5 Learning Trajectories
      • ELED 6315: Data Analysis and Measurement: K-5 Classroom Interactions
      • NOTE: ELED 6316: Mathematical Modeling: K-5 Leadership must also be completed in order to earn the North Carolina Add-On License
    • Literacy (15 credit hours)
      • READ 6100: Current Issues and Practices in Literacy Education
      • READ 6204: Teaching Reading to English Language Learners
      • READ 6250: Emergent and Elementary Literacy
      • READ 6252: K-12 Writing Development and Instruction
      • READ 6265: Multiliteracies in a Global World: Reading and Writing Texts in New Times
         
    Tuition

    *Rates are subject to change*

    Resident:

    • $288.82 per credit hour

    Outside of NC Non-Resident:

    • $536.98 per credit hour

    Non Resident:

    • $1,098.21 per credit hour

    Find more information regarding tuition and fees here ».

    Outlook

    What Can You Do With Your M.Ed. in Elementary Education?

    UNC Charlotte alumni who completed the M.Ed. in Elementary Education are working in educational organizations such as:

    • Union County Schools
    • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
    • Greenville County Schools
    • Cleveland County Schools
    • Cabarrus County Schools

    Our graduates hold job titles such as:

    • Principals
    • Assistant principal
    • Elementary school teacher
    • Training and development manager
    • Instructional coordinator
    • Chief academic officers

    Strong salary expectations

    Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics research, collects job and salary data from UNC Charlotte graduates. Lightcast surveyed UNC Charlotte M.Ed. in Elementary Education graduates and found their estimated average annual salary to be $72,200.

    Why UNC Charlotte?

    Why Earn Your Master’s in Elementary Education Degree Online From UNC Charlotte?

    By choosing UNC Charlotte’s online M.Ed. program, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages, including:

    • Complete your M.Ed. online in just two years. Designed for working North Carolina teachers, our fully online program allows you to continue working full time as you earn your M.Ed. in Elementary Education. Our program features a mix of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (not live) courses. Most live courses are offered on weekday evenings.
    • Take advantage of our early entry program. Exceptional UNC Charlotte undergraduate students may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin working toward their graduate degree before completing their baccalaureate degree. The Early Entry program is designed for experienced elementary educators who teach in the state of North Carolina and wish to earn their M.Ed.
    • Gain real-world skills right in your school. You will participate in structured field experiences that require you to apply coursework in your classroom, analyze K–5 student learning and reflect on your practice in early childhood education teaching and learning settings. You will deepen your understanding of the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions that foster student learning. These structured field experiences will broaden your ability to help all students learn, including children with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender and socioeconomic groups. You will complete the structured field experiences in multiple settings within your school community or districts, after-school programs, alternate youth centers or other locations.
    • Cap your M.Ed. degree with a capstone project. Our Capstone Project/Action Research Project course allows you to hone your research skills and showcase your competencies while working with your mentor or faculty advisor. You will develop and implement a significant research project based on data you collect and analyze from your own classroom. You will also have opportunities to submit your results for publication or presentation at local or state conferences.
    • Receive assistance in pursuing your career aspirations. The University Career Center provides services, programs and support for our students and alumni. Offerings include an Education Career Fair held each spring semester, individual appointments with career advisors and the Hire-A-Niner online job and internship database. You will also have access to Southern Teachers Agency, a free placement service that helps recent graduates in their search for education jobs in PK–12 private and independent schools across the South.
    • Learn from faculty experts. UNC Charlotte’s elementary education faculty members continuously achieve regional, state and national recognition as experts in their fields in scholarship, teaching and research. Our faculty members provide students with the personal attention, instruction, guidance and mentoring to help our students achieve success.