Master of Education Degree

Admissions

An application packet may be obtained by contacting the MEd office or downloading a packet from https://grad.covenant.edu/med/admissions.

Master of Education
Graduate School of Education
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

med@covenant.edu
www.med.covenant.edu

Early Application Bonus- The application fee is waived for all applications postmarked by February 1, 2023. To qualify for the waiver, the packet must include the application form, references, academic paper, and statement of faith.

Note the following dates for submission of application materials:

Individuals choosing to drop a course after June 1 will not receive a refund and are responsible to pay total course tuition and fees. This policy is in compliance with federal and fiscal regulations. No exceptions may be made. See Refund Policy .

Admission Requirements & Procedures

Regular Admission - Required For Degree Completion

For admission as a regular student in the Master of Education, the following is required:

1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
2. Grade point average of 3.0 or higher. 
3. 15 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in education or evidence of five years of verified experience in professional education.
4. Experience as teacher or administrator in a P-12 setting for one or more years. (Application may be submitted during the first year of teaching.) If the experience was in a home rather than a school setting, the applicant will be considered for provisional admission.
5. Credible written profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
6. Academic paper by the applicant which demonstrates academic capability. The paper may be previously written, must be a minimum of five pages, in academic form, including appropriate citations. The paper will be examined for coherence of thought, organization, spelling and punctuation. Applicants who have already completed a master’s degree are exempt from submitting an academic paper.
7. Applicants not currently serving as administrator or teacher must submit a letter of cooperation from a school administrator stating that the applicant will have access to classroom or school situations where graduate coursework can be applied.
8. International Candidates: Covenant defines international students as anyone who is not a citizen of the United States of America. International applicants should refer to the international requirements located in the General Information  section.

Admission Procedures

Application and supporting materials are accepted through April 1 by the graduate office. Application packets may be completed online from the MEd website: https://grad.covenant.edu/med/admissions, or requested by mail, email, or phone.

The Following Are Required For Admission:

1. A completed application form.
2. Payment of the application fee: $50, non-refundable.

Early Application Bonus-the application fee is waived for applications postmarked by February 1. Must include the application, references, academic paper, statement of faith.   

3. A written profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, one page in length, typed.
4. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
5. Two completed reference forms from educators.
6. Academic paper by the applicant which demonstrates academic capability. The paper may be previously written, must be a minimum of five pages, in academic form, and including appropriate citations. The paper will be examined for coherence of thought, organization, spelling, and punctuation. Applicants who have already completed a master’s degree are exempt from submitting an academic paper.
7. Letter of Cooperation from a school administrator if applicant is not currently employed as a teacher or administrator in a K-12 setting, stating the applicant will have access to classroom or school situations where graduate coursework can be applied.
8. International applicants should refer to the international requirements located in the General Information  section.

Admission Procedures for Special Student Applicants

The following are required for admission as a special student:

1. A completed application form; payment of $50 non-refundable application fee. The application fee is waived for all application packets postmarked by February 1.
2. Written statement of faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Official transcripts of all college and graduate coursework.
4. Letter of Cooperation from an administrator if the applicant is not working in a school situation.
5. Submit documents and $50 application fee to the Master of Education, Covenant College.

Admission Status

Regular Student Status

An applicant meeting all admission requirements of the MEd is accepted as a regular student. Regular student status is required to complete the MEd degree.

To maintain regular student status a 3.0 grade point average must be maintained throughout enrollment.

Provisional Student Status

An applicant not having fully met admissions criteria may be considered for provisional admission. The student will be informed that unmet criteria must be satisfied during the course of the program. The status of a provisional student is reviewed after nine hours of coursework; no more than nine hours taken while in this category may be applied toward the degree. A student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on courses taken as a provisional student. Regular student status is required for the MEd degree to be granted.

Special Student Status

An applicant not intending to complete the MEd degree may be considered for special student admission. An individual may take up to 12 hours as a special student.  An applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and one year of teaching experience. If the applicant is not working in a school, a Letter of Cooperation from a school administrator must be submitted assuring access to a school situation where graduate coursework can be applied. A grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate study is expected. No more than 12 hours taken as a special student may be applied toward the degree should the student apply for admission as a regular student in the MEd. 

See admission procedures for special student admission.

Financial Information

Deferment Status

Returning students who have previously received federal student loans must register by April 15 in order to remain in deferment status. The terms of attendance for federal financial aid purposes will be considered to be April 15 through January 15. Federal aid will be earned on a prorated basis up to 60% of the term of attendance.

Fees and Expenses: 

General

Housing

Special

Payment Schedule

1. Submitted with application for admission: $50 application fee. The application fee will be waived for all applications postmarked by February 1. Note: application, references, academic paper, statement of faith must be submitted to qualify for fee waiver.
2. Submitted with registration form:
   1. $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit towards tuition
   2. Application for financial aid, if applicable
3. Tuition and fees are assessed on May 1 for Semester 1 (summer/fall) and January 1 for Semester 2 (spring online). Interest will be added at the end of the following month and each successive month on the last business day of the month at 4:00 pm on any unpaid balance. Returning students may not register until all financial obligations from the previous year have been satisfied.
4. Housing is paid during the on-campus session.
5. Details regarding payment are included in the registration packet.
6. Covenant College accepts payment for student accounts from an e-check online, MasterCard, Discover, check or cash. A processing fee is assessed for online payment based on payment method and amount. See Application or Registration form for complete details.
7. Students are responsible to verify their account balance through their Banner account. Students receive a monthly electronic statement to their Covenant email. College offices will also communicate with students via their Covenant College email account.
8. Students are responsible for purchase of textbooks and supplies. Included with the registration packet is a list of textbooks and materials required for each course in the MEd. 

Housing and Meals, On-Campus Session

On-campus housing is available for the on-campus session. Housing requests are submitted with registration and housing arrangements are finalized after registration concludes. Full payment for housing is due at the beginning of the on-campus session. No housing refunds are provided once the on-campus session begins. Housing is not available for family members.

MEd students are ordinarily housed in Maclellan and Rymer Halls. These facilities consist of suites incorporating two rooms and a bathroom. Kitchen and commons areas are available on each floor (two floors are designated for MEd students).

Meals are available through the college dining facility at a discounted price which may be purchased on a meal-by-meal basis. The meal schedule varies greatly according to the summer conference program schedule. Typically meals are not available Friday through Monday breakfast.

Additional information about housing and meals is provided in the registration and May packets.

Registration for Semester 1 (summer/fall)

On February 15, registration information opens to Master of Education students. Students may register through April 15 without penalty and through May 1 with late registration fee applied.

Individuals choosing to drop a course after May 1 will not receive a refund and are responsible to pay total course tuition and fees. This policy is in compliance with federal and fiscal regulations. No exceptions may be made. See Refund Policy .

Returning students may not register if carrying more than one incomplete course grade, if tuition/fees/fines are outstanding, or with any other unmet obligation to the college. 

Late Registration

Registration from April 16-May 1 will incur a $100 late registration fee. Individuals choosing to drop a course after May 1 will not receive a refund and are responsible to pay total course tuition and fees. This policy is in compliance with federal and fiscal regulations. No exceptions may be made. See Refund Policy .

The Robert B. Ashlock Award

Each year the faculty of the Master of Education selects a third-year student to receive the Robert B. Ashlock Award. This award is in memory of Dr. Ashlock as the organizing and first director of the Master of Education at Covenant College and as a published scholar in the field of elementary mathematics. The award is given to a MEd student who exemplifies the mission of Covenant College through scholarly academic performance.

The Norman Harper Scholarship

Each year the faculty of the Master of Education selects a third-year student to receive the Norman Harper Scholarship. This honor is bestowed on a MEd student who exemplifies the mission of the college relative to scholarly work in the program. The award memorializes Dr. Harper, a key initiator of the predecessor of the program when it was housed at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.

Tuition Grant Plan

The Tuition Grant Plan offers an incentive for multiple educators from the same school to participate in the Master of Education. The plan is solely based on the number of participants from a particular school. The details of the plan include adjustments in tuition at the following rates:

10% grant for individuals when two MEd students are enrolled from the same school 
20% grant for individuals when three MEd students are enrolled from the same school
25% grant for individuals when four or more MEd students are enrolled from the same school

The grants do not include non-tuition fees. To apply for participation, the school administrator submits a letter listing participants in the Tuition Grant Plan from his/her school. This letter is requested by the student and is submitted each academic year for eligible applicants to receive tuition grant benefits. Upon receipt of registration forms and initial deposit, the tuition grant will be applied to participants.

Submit letter to:
Associate Dean Graduate School of Education
Master of Education, Covenant College
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750-9601

or med@covenant.edu

General Academic Information

Academic Calendar for 2023-24

On-Campus:

Post-Campus and Fall:

Spring Online 2024:

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to be in attendance at all on-campus sessions. One day of excused absence is permitted for an emergency. More than one day of absence will result in the student being required to retake the on-campus portion of the course. This also applies to virtual/remote students for synchronous sessions. Appeals may be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School of Education for consideration by the graduate faculty.

Hybrid Program Calendar for 2023-2024

Abbreviated Calendars

2023-2024

Commencement: May 6, 2023
Dinner and Convocation: June 25, 2023
On-campus session: June 26-July 14

2024-2025

Commencement: May 4, 2024
Dinner and Convocation: June 23, 2024
On-campus session: June 24-July 12, 2024

2025-2026

Commencement: May 10, 2025
Dinner and Convocation: June 22, 2025
On-campus session: June 23-July 11, 2025

Certification

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

Graduates of the MEd are eligible to apply for an ACSI certificate upon completion of the degree. The certificate is valid for five years. Student teaching or a minimum of two years of teaching or school leadership experience is required to qualify.

Course Completion Dates

Course Deadlines and Incompletes

Coursework is to be turned in by the published Course Completion Date for each course. Students failing to meet this deadline can expect to be penalized as much as one letter grade. If a student believes that a deadline will not be met, communication with the professor prior to the deadline is essential. An Incomplete Grade Request form must be agreed to and completed by student and instructor prior to the conclusion of the term in order for an incomplete course grade to be granted. Any incomplete (I) granted for a course not completed by the date specified will be replaced with an F. All work for a course with an incomplete grade must be submitted to the instructor by the specified date or on the Monday morning following if the specified date falls on a weekend.

Incomplete received must be completed by April 1

Students may not register for additional coursework with more than one incomplete course grade. Incomplete Grade Request forms are available from the office of the Graduate School of Education. 

Degree Requirements

A total of 30 semester hours of coursework is required for completion of the Master of Education: 18 hours of core courses and 12 hours within a specialization. The degree must be completed with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and only one course with the grade of C will be applied to graduation requirements. All coursework applied toward the degree must be taken within six years of degree conferral.

If a student is unable to complete the degree within the six year limit, application may be made to the Dean of the Graduate School of Education to extend the program. If extended, continuation fees apply.

Covenant does not offer noncredit courses and noncredit coursework is not accepted to fulfill degree requirements.

Covenant Fellows Program for MED Graduates

Graduates of the MEd program may enroll in up to six hours in the combined summer/fall term, and three hours during the spring semester of the MEd program, if seats are available following registration. Fellows will be charged the appropriate tuition rate with an offsetting Covenant Fellows Grant applied to result in the effective tuition rate of $33 per credit hour charge. These hours may apply toward a second MEd specialization if seats are available following registration.

MEd graduates may also enroll in up to six hours per semester of traditional undergraduate classroom courses at the same effective tuition rate, if seats are available following registration.

Fellows are limited to two courses per semester and a maximum of 12 hours per year. The MAT courses apply toward a different degree program, so no MAT classes are eligible to be taken through the Covenant Fellows Program. Registration for undergraduate May term, summer, or distance education courses, as well as MAT courses will be charged at the respective published student tuition rate.

Graduates must pay all other college and course-related fees, purchase texts and other required materials, complete assignments, and take examinations. Covenant Fellows are not degree seeking students and are not eligible for other institutional financial assistance and no refund of tuition or fees is issued from a withdrawal.

Program and Specialization Outcomes

Students select one of two specializations upon application to the program: Educational Leadership or Integrated Curriculum and Instruction. If a change in specialization is desired after admission, a written request to change the specialization is required as well as two new references. Requests and references are submitted to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education.

Mission:

The mission of the Covenant College Master of Education is to develop and equip biblically faithful educators.

Educational Leadership Specialization Standards

Professional Standards of Educational Leadership (PSEL)

1. Mission, vision, and core values. Effective educational leaders develop, advocate, and enact a shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education and academic success and well-being of each student.

2. Ethics and Professional Norms. Effective educational leaders act ethically and according to professional norms to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

3. Equity and Cultural Responsiveness. Effective educational leaders strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

4. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. Effective educational leaders develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

5. Community of Care and Support for Students. Effective educational leaders cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that promotes the academic success and well-being of each student.

6. Professional Capacity of School Personnel. Effective educational leaders develop the professional capacity and practice of school personnel to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

7. Professional Community for Teachers and Staff. Effective educational leaders foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

8. Meaningful Engagement of Families and Community. Effective educational leaders engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

9. Operations and Management. Effective educational leaders manage school operations and resources to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

10. School Improvement. Effective educational leaders act as agents of continuous improvements to promote each student’s academic success and well-being.

11. Evidence Based Practice. Evaluate, conduct, and apply educational research to improve practice.

Integrated Curriculum and Instruction Specialization Standards

The integrated curriculum and instruction specialization provides graduate instruction which enables students to:

1. Curriculum Design:  Develop integrative instruction for solving problems, making connections within and between subject areas, and with the everyday world.

2. Nature of Knowledge: Use the structure of knowledge as a basis for integrating the curriculum.

3. Content: Demonstrate advanced depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in their academic disciplines and pedagogy.

4. Learner Characteristics: Evaluate and apply learning theory to meet the needs of learners as multi-dimensional image-bearers.

5. Assessment: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of assessment and the ability to use multiple sources of assessment for maximizing student learning.

6. Evaluate, conduct, and apply educational research to improve practice.

Last updated May 2018.

Programs and Courses

Courses are listed by Core, Educational Leadership specialization, and Integrated Curriculum and Instruction specialization.

Programs

• •  Graduate Certificate in Christian Education
• •  M.Ed. Educational Leadership Specialization
• •  M.Ed. Integrated Curriculum and Instruction Specialization

Courses

Education: MEd Core

• •  EDU 610 Foundations for Curriculum Development (Core Course)
• •  EDU 620 Introduction to Research (Core Course)
• •  EDU 630 Learning Theory Applied to Teaching (Core Course)
• •  EDU 712 Shaping School Curriculum, K-12 (Core Course)
• •  EDU 740 Supervision of Instruction (Core Course)
• •  EDU 750 The Nature of Knowledge and Curriculum Integration (Core Course)

Education: MEd Educational Leadership

• •  EDU 725 Personnel and Organizational Leadership
• •  EDU 745 School Law, Standards and Policy
• •  EDU 760 School Business Management
• •  EDU 785 Field Experience in Educational Leadership

Education: MEd Integrated Curriculum and Instruction

• •  EDU 730 Implementing Instructional Strategies
• •  EDU 735 Integrative Approaches to Curriculum
• •  EDU 765 Educational Assessment
• •  EDU 790 Project in Integrated Curriculum and Instruction