Comprehensive Exam, Degree Portfolio or Final Project
All Masters degrees conferred in New York State must include a culminating experience. Depending on their programs, degree candidates are required to complete one or more culminating experiences as specified for the relevant program. SEE PROGRAM PLANS FOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.
Different programs require comprehensive examinations at different stages. Comprehensive examinations in Secondary subjects, Special Subjects, Literacy, and Special Education are offered twice a year, during the Fall and Spring semesters. For students whose graduation would be substantially delayed or who will be student teaching in the Fall, examinations in all areas except Special Education may be offered in the Summer. Students must register for the relevant examination by the beginning of the semester in which they will take it.
Students who fail any comprehensive examination or whose portfolio is rejected may retake or resubmit it once and may be required to successfully complete the graduate education writing tutorial or other remediation approved by the program director or department chair before retaking the exam. Those who fail or are rejected a second time will be required to substitute additional remediation, which may include coursework and must include a substantial writing component, and will be prohibited from registering for any other graduate education courses until this requirement has been satisfied. Those who submit a portfolio for Childhood, Science Education, or Education Leadership which is rejected may revise and resubmit in the same semester.
Culminating Experience Reports required for all Childhood programs and Science Education portfolios will be due during the semester prior to student teaching, except in limited cases where students have not completed all pre-requisite courses. Education Leadership portfolios are due in the final semester of the student’s program. The above portfolios are submitted electronically. Information can be accessed at https://mville.digication.com/home_guest.digi.
Candidates in Teaching Languages Other Than English and in Bilingual Education must also complete the Oral Proficiency Interview and Written Proficiency Test of the American Council for Teaching Foreign Languages, with scores of “Advanced-Low” or above.