Master’s – CS: National Board Certification Teacher Leader (p4c Hawaiʻi-Aloha Kumu Cohort)

Typical Length 2 years

Delivery Online

Nationally Accredited

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MEd-CS Interdisciplinary Education track with an emphasis on National Board Certification, Teacher Leadership, and philosophy for children Hawaiʻi is a unique 30-credit program through which teachers may: 1) earn a master’s degree, 2) pursue National Board Certification (Initial certification or renewal), 3) earn a Teacher Leader Graduate certificate, and 4) add-a-field of Teacher Leader to a Hawaii Teaching License.

This program is grounded in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the Teacher Leader Model Standards, philosophy for children (p4c) Hawaiʻi, and Aloha Kumu (Respect and appreciation for educators). The program is intended to prepare teachers with the knowledge and skills to 1) assume teacher leader roles in various community and educational settings; 2) improve their practice and student learning; 3) help students to think for themselves in meaningful ways; and 4) transform traditional classrooms into intellectually and emotionally safe communities of learning.

The National Board Certification (NBC) application process is built into the program.  Faculty will support teachers in developing National Board Certification (NBC) portfolios and through the NBC application process (initial certification or certification renewal). Formally applying for NBC is optional. Students who choose not to formally apply for NBC will develop mock-NBC portfolios. The NBC portfolio or mock-NBC portfolio will serve as the culminating master’s thesis project for the program. Courses are offered on-line (synchronous and asynchronous). The program is coordinated by Dr. Kimo Cashman and Dr. Chad Miller.

Who should consider this program

K-12 educators throughout Hawaiʻi with at least two years of teaching experience who wish to assume educational/teacher leadership roles in various school and community contexts. Educators who wish to pursue National Board Certification (initial, renewal) while earning a MEd degree with a cohort of awesome teachers.

Common Careers (Potential Job/Career opportunities)

Graduates will be prepared with the knowledge and skills to: 1) assume educational leadership roles in various school and community contexts, 2) conduct and disseminate research in education, 3) provide meaningful professional development for teachers, 4) analyze and construct curricula, 5) teach at the community college or university levels.

Admission Requirements

Must have graduated from an accredited, four-year institution of higher education recognized by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), prior to beginning the MEd, Curriculum Studies: National Board Certification Teacher Leader program.

An Undergraduate Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

A transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.

A written statement of objectives as part of your application.

Your resumé or CV.

Three (3) letters of recommendation

Applicants who are not native English speakers may need to take the TOEFL or IELTS (Academic) tests. For more information view the Graduate Division website.

International students that have been admitted are required to submit a copy of their Identification documents (i.e. Passport or Identification Card)

International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses


How to Apply
Application Deadlines
Starting Semester General Admission International Students Admission
Fall March 31 with rolling admissions if capacity allows *
Spring N/A N/A

We are currently not admitting international students residing outside of the US into our hybrid or online programs due to legal and tax implications. For more information, please contact Graduate Division at gradss@hawaii.edu.


How to Apply
Tuition & Funding

MEd-CS National Board Certification Teacher Leader courses are offered through Outreach College and regular day school. Depending on how the course is offered, participants pay either the UHM regular or Outreach College per-credit course rate and fees.

For the most current information, always refer to the Graduate Division website, UHM regular Tuition & Fees or UHM Outreach College Tuition & Fees.

Financial assistance may be found at:

Department

  • Department of Curriculum Studies Merit-based Giving Tree Scholarship (Notices come out in March)

College of Education

University of Hawaiʻi

Community/State

Federal

Delivery & Format

The National Board Certification Teacher Leader (p4c Hawaiʻi-Aloha Kumu Cohort) MEd track is a cohorted program that is delivered 100% online primarily via the Zoom online platform. The majority of instruction is held synchronously where we all meet online “live” together. 

Students will take 2-courses each semester for 5 semesters (Fall, spring, summer, fall, spring). One course per semester will focus on facilitating the National Board certification process. An effort will be made to hold synchronous classes at convenient times to accommodate the teaching and life schedules of our students. 

The NBC portfolio (or mock-portfolio for those who choose not to apply for NBC) will serve as the Plan-B “thesis” project for the master’s program. A Teacher Leader portfolio will serve as the capstone project for the Teacher Leader Graduate Certificate. The portfolios will be developed throughout the program as part of the program’s coursework.

Coursework

The MEd-CS National Board Certification MEd (Aloha Kumu) track is a 10 course (30 credit) graduate program consisting of the following:

Required Core Courses

  • EDCS 622G Curriculum Leadership: K–14 (3 credits)
  • EDCS 606 Introduction to Research in Curriculum and Teaching, NBC/p4c Hawaiʻi Focus (3 credits)
  • EDCS 632 Qualitative Research Methods, NBC/p4c Hawaiʻi Focus (3 credits)
  • EDCS 667 Seminar in Curriculum, NBC/p4c Hawaiʻi Focus (3 credits)

Required Specialization courses

  • EDCS 607: New Literacies Leadership (3 credits)
  • EDCS/EDEF 630: Cultural Diversity and Education (3 credits)
  • EDCS 640M: Seminar in Interdisciplinary Education, Teacher Leader Focus (3 credits)
  • EDCS 640M: Seminar in Interdisciplinary Education, NBC/p4c Hawaiʻi Focus (3 credits)
  • EDCS 695: Plan B Master’s Project – NBC Focus (3 credits)
  • EDEF/EDEA 675: Introduction to Educational Policy Studies (3 credits) or EDEF 667C: Leadership and Governance in Education (3 credits)

Culminating requirements that will be done through the courses: 1) Plan B Project – National Board Certification focus, 2) Teacher Leader Portfolio

Advising & Faculty

Our faculty and staff will provide you with guidance and resources to support your success from beginning to end. You will receive a dedicated faculty advisor to partner with you on your journey.

Faculty Coordinator/Contact Info:

Photo of Chad Miller

Chad Miller

Specialist