Elementary Education (M.Ed.) (no certification)
Administered by the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Effective Spring 2008
Admission. Applicants must satisfy the general admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies. This program does not lead to certification.
Meet with the program coordinator to clarify program requirements, review academic records and outline a plan for completing degree work.
Students must take the Miller Analogies Test (minimum score of 30). Waivers may be granted to students who score lower but have excellent academic records.
Students will be required to complete five days of classroom observation and 14 days of on-site, in-the-classroom participation working with a teacher(s).
Students will also complete and pass a screening examination, have three letters of recommendation on file, complete Act 34 and 151 clearances and possess recent TB test results.
Retention. Students must maintain a minimum QPA of 3.0 throughout their program. Courses in which a B- or lower are obtained must be repeated with a grade of B or higher. Nine graduate credits may be transferred into the program. Students must complete at least six to nine credits per calendar year (July 1 to June 30 of the preceding year) for retention in the master's program.
Graduation. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required to complete this master's program.
Core courses (15 credits)
60.501 Major Philosophies of Education or 60.584 Curriculum Theory, Design and Development
Choose one of the following five courses:
- 60.504 Technology for Teachers
- 60.512 Educational Media and Software
- 60.515 Integrating Technology into Teaching
- 60.516 Computers in the Curriculum
- 60.522 Internet for Teachers
60.506 Multicultural Education or 79.593 Human Diversity
60.514 Home, School and Community Relations or 60.502 School and Society
79.591 Research in Education or 62.590 Current Research and Development in ECE
Specialty Core (15 credits)
62.510 Methods and Materials in ECE (Mathematics and Science)
62.520 Methods and Materials in ECE (Language Arts and Social Studies)
62.521 Elementary School Curriculum or 62.524 Knowledge and the Curriculum
62.522 Curriculum Trends in ECE
62.523 Practices in Teaching the Young Child
62.525 Current Practices in Elementary School Science
62.526 Methods and Materials in Science and Mathematics
62.527 Social Studies in the Elementary School
62.528 Language Arts in the Modern Elementary School
62.529 Literature for Children in the Elementary Grades
62.530 Environmental Education for Elementary Teachers
62.531 Environmental Education Experiences
62.533 Values Clarification in the Elementary School
62.537 Methods and Materials in Language Arts and Social Studies
62.539 Current Topics in Elementary Education
62.581 Independent Study in Elementary Education
62.583 Seminar in Elementary Education
62.590 Current Research and Development in Early Childhood Education
62.591 Learning and Development of the Young Child
62.592 Identification and Prescription of the Needs of Young Children
62.593 Organization and Administration of Program for Young Children
62.594 Practicum in Elementary and Early Childhood Education (Student Teaching) 1-6 credits
62.595 Individualized Instruction - Principles and Practices for the Classroom
62.596 Practicum Elementary and Early Childhood Education (field experience only) 3-6 credits
79.501 Teaching, Learning and Assessment
79.599 Thesis (3-6 credits)
Area of Professional Interest Requirement (optional): Students may elect to enroll in 6-12 hours of course work related to an area of interest. Students are also encouraged to select courses that will meet their teaching needs as well as the needs of their school districts.
Thesis or Departmental Paper: Students are required to prepare a written document that demonstrates their ability to develop and complete a research project. Students who elect to prepare a thesis will follow the guidelines developed by the School of Graduate Studies.
The thesis will demonstrate the individual student's abilities to select, prepare, conduct and analyze data from one or more sources. Prior approval is required. A five-chapter format and use of APA as the style guide are strongly recommended. Final preparation of the thesis will be: seven copies on 100 percent cotton bond paper complete with a signed signature page indicting the names and titles of the adviser, members of the thesis committee, and the assistant vice president for Graduate Studies and Research.
The departmental paper demonstrates the ability of a graduate student to develop and complete a research project. The graduate student selects and adviser and one additional faculty member to critique his/her work. A five-chapter format and use of APA as the style guide are strongly recommended. The graduate student is directed to the guidelines for thesis preparation for the title, signature, etc., pages. Final preparation of the departmental paper will be: two copies on 100 percent cotton bond paper complete with a signed signature page indicating the adviser, additional faculty reader, and the assistant vice president for Graduate Studies and Research. The Departmental paper will be placed into a folder that contains a "pressure clip" to hold the papers. No holes are permitted in the final copies.