The request to revise School Specialist Concentration in M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology

Date: January 30, 2015
To: College of Education
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: January 8, 2015
Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2015

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

Instructional Systems Technology (M.Ed.)

Overview

Designed for both teachers in public or private schools and persons in the private sector who wish to increase their instructional technology skills and who seek to develop skills for designing and implementing curriculum and instructional strategies that incorporate instructional systems technology. The M.Ed. Program in Instructional Systems Technology qualifies graduates who already hold either an “A” or “G” level teaching license from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (or from another state) for the new Masters/Advanced “M” license in Instructional Technology Specialists: Computers (NC 077) license as well as the Curriculum and Instructional Specialist (NC 113) “M” level license with additional coursework in Curriculum and Supervision. Students should work with an advisor to complete these requirements.

Students interested in the Curriculum and Instructional Specialist (NC 113) “M” level license should apply for the Graduate Certificate Program in Curriculum and Supervision. This Master’s program is offered as an Online Program through the Office of Distance Education.

This 36-credit hour M.Ed. program prepares instructional design professionals to analyze, create, use, integrate, implement, evaluate and manage instructional and performance solutions. When students graduate they hold instructional design and technology positions in education (P-12 and higher education), corporate, government, or military organizations. The program develops professionals who are solidly grounded in instructional technology foundations, principles, theories, applications, and current trends and provides opportunities for them to integrate different forms of technology to enhance teaching and learning.

Program Objectives

Aligned with the 1997 North Carolina Excellent Schools Act and the propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Aligned with the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) 2012 standards, the program prepares graduates to:

  1. Create, use, assess, and manage theoretical and practical applications of educational technologies and processes.
  2. Demonstrate effective analysis, integration and implementation of educational technologies and processes based on contemporary content and pedagogy.
  3. Facilitate learning by creating, using, evaluating, and managing effective learning environments.
  4. Design, develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich learning environments within a supportive community of practice.
  5. Explore, evaluate, synthesize, and apply methods of inquiry to enhance learning and improve performance.
  6. integrate appropriate technology into learning systems
  7. undertake instructional analyses that include task analysis, audience analysis, instructional environment analysis, and both target enabling objectives and measures
  8. identify criteria, strategies, services, and information sources for hardware and courseware evaluation, selection, and integration
  9. plan, develop, revise, and evaluate courseware using a standard planning process and accepted standards and criteria
  10. evaluate instructional technology systems
  11. work effectively as members of a design and development team that generates solutions to instructional problems
  12. provide leadership in the field of instructional systems technology systems

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, applicants seeking the new Master’s/Advanced Competencies “M” license in Instructional Technology Specialist: Computers must already hold either an “A” or “G” level teaching license from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (or its equivalent from another state).

Given the nature and size of the graduate degree program, applicants are only admitted for the Fall of each year. Each entering group of students will be provided a sequence of course offerings for the program. This allows students to know when the courses they will need are offered. Please contact the Graduate School for application deadlines.

Concentrations

The M.Ed. Instructional Systems Technology program has three concentrations

  1. School Specialist
  2. Training and Development
  3. Online Learning and Teaching

School Specialist

This concentration is for those who work in the P-12 system and who already hold either an “A” or “G” level teaching license from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (or from another state) for the new Masters/Advanced “M” license in Instructional Technology Specialists

Training and Development (Pending proposal approved)

This concentration is for the instructional technology personnel who wish to do training and development in corporate, higher education, government and military.

Online Learning and Teaching (Pending proposal approved)

This concentration is for those interested in designing, developing, or managing online learning and teaching.

Degree Requirements

The M.Ed. Program in Instructional Systems Technology requires a total of 36 credit hours comprising 9 hours of courses of foundations courses (18 9 hours), instructional development courses (6 hours), internship and seminar Capstone project (6 hours), plus related elective coursework (12 hours). Students must also complete the Capstone Experience described below. Students interested in adding the Curriculum and Instructional Specialist (NC 113) “M” level license will need to take additional coursework to complete the Graduate Certificate in Curriculum and Supervision that could include as much as 18 semester hours of additional coursework.

Foundation Courses (18 hours)

School Specialist Concentration

• EIST 5100 Technology Integration in Education (3)

• EIST 6100 Foundations in Instructional Systems Technology (3)

• EIST 6101 Learning Principles in Instructional Systems Technology (3)

• EIST 6110 Instructional Design (3)

• EIST 6130 Instructional Multimedia Development (3)

• RSCH 6101 Research Methods (3)

Foundations I (9 hours)

  • EIST 6101 The Adult Learner (3)
  • RSCH 6101 Research Methods (3)
  • EIST 6100 Readings in IST (3)

Foundations II (9 hours)

  • EIST 6110 Instructional Design (3)
  • EIST 6135 Learning, Media, Resources & Technology (3)

EIST 6121 Instructional Courseware Authoring (3)

Instructional Development (6 hours)

EIST 6130 Instructional Development Part I (3)

  • EIST 6140 Instructional Development Part II (3)

Internship Seminar (6 hours)

  • EIST 6491 Internship and Seminar IST Part I (3)
  • EIST 6492 Internship and SeminarIST Part II (3)

Recommended Elective Coursework (12 hours)

Courses may be selected from the following categories and must be approved by the student’s advisor: educational research and evaluation, MIS, technical writing, curriculum and instruction, computer systems and networking, administration and supervision courses. Students should work with an advisor to determine the related coursework that works best in their program of study. For the most current approved courses, please visit the Department of Educational Leadership website Instructional Systems Technology Program website.

Recommended electives (12 hours)

  • EIST 6121 Advanced Instructional Design (3)
  • EIST 6130 Current Trends in Instructional Systems Technology (3)
  • EIST 6140 Instructional Video Development (3)
  • EIST 6150 Design, Development, and Evaluation of Online Learning Systems (3)
  • EIST 6160 Designing Learning Systems with Simulation and Game Technology (3)
  • EIST 6000 Topics in Instructional Systems Technology (3)
  • EIST 6135 Learning, Resources and Technology (3)
  • RSCH 7196 Program Evaluation Methods (3)

Internship and IST Capstone Project (6 hours)

Students must complete an internship and a Capstone Project as part of the Capstone experience. For more specific information regarding the Master’s Capstone Project, please contact your advisor.

  • EIST 6491 Internship in Instructional Systems Technology (3)
  • EIST 6492 Capstone Project in Instructional Systems Technology (3)

Capstone Experience

Students must complete a Master’s Project or Thesis. The project may take the form of a thesis, research study, or program development activity. The project is followed by an oral examination in which the student clarifies, expands, and defends his or her Master’s project. Please contact the Graduate School for information regarding the Thesis requirements. For more specific information regarding the Master’s Project or Thesis, please visit Graduate School Website

Licensure

Instructional Technology Specialist (North Carolina 077)

The M.Ed. Program in Instructional Systems Technology also qualifies graduates who already hold either an “A” or “G” level teaching license from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (or from another state) for the new Masters/Advanced “M” license in Instructional Technology Specialists: Computers (NC 077) license. as well as the Curriculum and Instructional Specialist (NC 113) “M” level license with additional coursework in Curriculum and Supervision. Students should work with an advisor to complete these requirements

Program Certification / Accreditations

  • National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
  • Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) (with National Recognition)
  • North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)

Admission Requirements

Admission Deadlines

We accept applications for Fall, Spring and Summer admissions. Check the program website for application deadlines.

Admission applications are completed online through UNC Charlotte’s Graduate School at the Graduate School’s Online Application. Admission requirements published are in compliance with Graduate Council Policies.

The admission process is competitive and determined by the following, equally weighed, application components:

  1. Applicants are required to have a minimum of a B.A. or B.S. Degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Official transcripts showing an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.50 or better; and, an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher for the last two years of coursework
  3. GRE or MAT scores that meet or exceed the 30th Percentile
  4. Three letters of recommendation from professionals in the field who are able to judge the quality of the applicant as a future student in this program
  5. Statement of Purpose of no more than 750 words in 12-point font and double-spaced, written definitively, coherently, and incorporating thoughtful expression in response to:
    1. What skills and knowledge do you hope to acquire and develop as a result of this program?
    2. Characterize what you would contribute to the collective learning experiences of your fellow students.
    3. How you will help the College reach its Diversity Goal?
  6. Additional items required for those using this program to satisfy the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Instructional Technology Specialists: Computers (10877). This requirement is only for those who wish to earn the 077 license. Those who wish to work in other instructional technology settings (higher education, corporate, military, government) do not have to fulfill this requirement.
    • A valid appropriate North Carolina teaching license A or G level (or equivalent from another state). In the online admission application, there is a field in which to specify the type of teaching license. Rather than uploading a copy of the teaching license into the application system, scan the license and email a copy to the Program Director
    • A minimum of 2 to 3 years teaching experience.