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About the Career and Technical Education Professional Development M.S.Ed. Program

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DESIGNED FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS

The Career and Technical Education Professional Development Program is offered online, and addresses the needs of licensed CTE educators who wish to earn a master’s degree in CTE, and who are working in the fields of

  • Agricultural Education
  • Business and Information Technology
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Health and Medical Sciences
  • Marketing Education
  • Trade and Industrial Education

INTERACTIVE, INNOVATIVE, ONLINE INSTRUCTION

The School of Education is renowned for preparing individuals to advance the goals of equity and social justice through education, applied research, advocacy, and research.

Our goal is to help current CTE teachers become better educators and to provide opportunities to invigorate their joy for teaching, and to enhance their knowledge in their given fields and promote professional enrichment. Create your path to success!

As an institution, Virginia Tech excels in developing knowledge through experience, discovering lasting solutions to complex problems across disciplines, and partnering to serve communities to develop and share knowledge that addresses real-world concerns.

RELEVANT, RESEARCH-BASED PROGRAM

Reimagining the future begins with practices that put educational excellence, innovation, and equity at the fore. At the Virginia Tech School of Education, you will develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to transform teaching and learning, conduct groundbreaking research, and engage with learning communities around the globe. Teacher candidates from historically underrepresented populations are especially encouraged to join and contribute to our learning community. 

Graduates of our CTE Professional Development Program provide instruction, support, management, and leadership to facilitate success for all of their secondary students. Our goal is to help you become a better educator and to provide opportunities for you to focus and enhance your teaching. Many teacher pay scales include an increase for a master's degree.

Virginia Tech’s CTE programs have achieved a 100% placement rate for its graduates for the past 10 years!

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WHAT YOU'LL STUDY

Students in the Professional Development CTE Program will complete 33 hours of graduate-level coursework, concentration, and elective courses.

The courses required for this program are offered during the following semesters. You will work with our faculty to design the path that best serves your needs and professional goals. All transfer credit requests must be processed through the CTE Program and filed with the Graduate School during the development of your Plan of Study

Courses Offered During the Fall Semester:

  • EDCT 5604: Foundations of Career and Technical Education
  • EDCT 6604: Administration and Leadership in CTE
  • EDCI 5554: Educating Exceptional Learners
  • EDEP 5114: Advanced Educational Psychology

Courses Offered During the Spring Semester:

  • EDCT 5634: Curriculum and Instructional Processes in CTE
  • EDCT 5684 Advanced Curriculum & Program Management
  • EDCT 5714: Education and Work in a Changing Society
  • EDCT 6664: Policy Analysis for Education and the Workforce

Courses Offered During the Summer Semesters:

  • EDCT 5624: Managing a CTE Program
  • EDCT 5784: GS: CTE in a Global Society
  • EDCI 5524: Behavior Management in K-12 Classrooms

Course Descriptions

Focus on the history and development of career and technical education with emphasis on the philosophical bases of the field. The conduct and purposes of career and technical education under different philosophical orientations are compared. An overview of the organization and administration, the relationship of career and technical education to agencies both in and outside of education, and how economic conditions have impacted career and technical education are explored. Definition and development of a personal philosophy is required.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Provides prospective career and technical education teachers with research bases, resources, and available curricula for teaching content in their respective fields. Develops the ability to plan, manage, develop, and evaluate curricula. Pre-requisite: Graduate standing in the CTE degree program.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Responsibilities of the career abd technical education teacher regarding work-based program standards, student guidance, school and community relations, on-the-job training, youth organization sponsorship, work-based program coordination, and program management. Pre-requisite: Graduate Standing Required
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Planning CTE courses and units of instruction to include industry competencies and academic standards of learning, performance objectives, and performance assessment. Pre: Graduate standing.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3

Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Focus on identifying the major instructional methods that are appropriate in career and technical education and identifying and resolving problems that emerge from these methods that can have a negative impact on the overall effectiveness of the teacher. Various methods to evaluate the teacher's instructional effectiveness are addressed. Graduate standing or two years of teaching experience required.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Integrative learning development in Career and Technical Education (CTE) through incorporation of classroom and extracurricular experiences. Strategies and best practice to ensure interdisciplinary CTE cultural relevance. Methods of facilitating teacher professional development. Student safety.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s): (EDCT 5614 OR EDCT 5634), EDCT 5624
Corequisite(s): 

This course explores the major social, economic, and political issues and trends expected to have continuing impacts on career and technical education and the workforce. The current status and philosophies of career and technical education are evaluated relative to these changes. Alternative directions for the future are identified and analyzed, with emphasis on proactive rather than reactive strategies for educators.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s): EDCT 5604 (UG) OR EDCT 5604
Corequisite(s): 

Selected topics in career and technical education related to curriculum development, special education, administration, research, and evaluation. (Max 6C per course)
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate

Instruction Type(s): Research Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19

Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 19

Level: Graduate

Instruction Type(s): Lecture

Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 12
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture Prerequisite(s):

Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate

Instruction Type(s): Independent Study Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19

Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 19

Level: Graduate

Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online

Lecture Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19
Lecture Hour(s):
Level: Graduate

Instruction Type(s): Research Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s): 

Administrative structure of career and technical education at the local, state, and national levels, and in business and industry; leadership for administrative planning, facilities and support services management, personnel management, supervision of instruction, professional development, and assessment in career and technical education. Alternate years.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Study of the theory and application of evaluation to career and technical education. Major emphasis on the unique requirements of program, personnel and student evaluation as specified in Federal and State legislation and regulations. National and state evaluations of career and technical education are assessed.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

In depth treatment of the nature of policy and the policy-making process as they pertain to the workforce and to education, especially to career and technical education. Included are significant aspects of policy development at local, state, and federal levels; examination of the basic questions that are answered by policy decisions; appropriate organizations for formulation of policy; an examination of current policy pertaining to career and technical education at state and federal levels; and procedures for establishing policy.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s): EDCT 5604 (UG) OR EDCT 5604
Corequisite(s): 

Critical review, presentation, and discussion of current literature, research, and national reports in designated areas of education. (6C max. credit allowed toward program of study) Consent required.
Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 6
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s): 

Credit Hour(s): 1 TO 19 Lecture Hour(s): 1 TO 19 Level: Graduate

Instruction Type(s): Lecture Prerequisite(s): Corequisite(s):