Elementary Education - Master of Arts in Education

Admission Requirements

  1. General admission to graduate study (for criteria, refer to Admission to Graduate Study).
  2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on the baccalaureate degree awarding final transcript or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the master's degree awarding final transcript for those who have completed a previous master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education is required.
  3. A valid teaching certificate or statement of eligibility.

Program Competencies

The following list includes the student competencies for the MAE program and the course(s) in which each competency is discussed (D) and/or contains a key assessment (KA).

  1. Accesses and uses data literacy and research to improve practice and student learning [EDF 600 (KA) EDGC 661 (D)]

  2. Develops contextual understanding of school, students, teaching and learning [EDF 680 (KA) EDF 610 (KA) EDF 611 (KA) EDUC 606 (D)]

  3. Facilitates improvements in instruction and student learning [EDUC 606 (KA) EDUC 640 (KA)]

  4. Promotes the use of assessments for school and district improvement [EDF 600 (D) EDGC 661 (KA) EDF 610 (D) EDF 611 (D)]

  5. Designs curriculum to support student, school and district improvement [EDUC 640 (KA) EDF 610 (D) EDF 611 (D) EDF 680 EDUC 606 (KA)]

Assessment

  1. A minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 is required for the degree and no credit is allowed for a mark below "C."
  2. Completion of the objective Exit Exam with a score of 70% or higher.

Program Requirements

Required Core

Professional Core

EDF 600Research Methods in Education

3

EDF 610Advanced Human Growth and Development

3

EDF 680History and Philosophy of Education

3

Total Credit Hours:9

Advanced Teaching and Learning Core

EDUC 606Curriculum and Instructional Design P-12

3

EDUC 640Contemporary Instructional Practices P-12

3

EDGC 661Measurement Principles and Techniques

3

Total Credit Hours:9

Concentrations - choose one

1. Alternate Area

This concentration is designed for Master’s of Arts in Education candidates who want to add skills and knowledge not defined in the other areas of concentration. For example, a candidate may want to pursue advanced courses related to assessment or instructional design. The candidate works with his or her advisor to identify a graduate faculty consultant with expertise in the candidate’s concentration. The candidate, advisor, faculty consultant (who may be the advisor) and department chairs complete and sign the curriculum contract that lists the approved courses for the alternative concentration.

The selected concentration MUST: 1. Enhance the competency of the initial teaching certification; 2. Add a certification area not covered by the initial certificate; or 3. Advance professionally to a higher position. This concentration requires a signed curriculum contract that lists the courses required in the alternative concentration.

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

2. Communications

Choose 12 hours from any COMM 600-level courses

COMM 600-level electives

12

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

3. English/Language Arts

Choose 12 hours from any ENG 600-level courses

ENG 600-level electives

12

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

4. Gifted Education (with Gifted endorsement)

EDSP 641Conceptions and Identification of Gifted Children and Youth

3

EDSP 642Meeting the Individual Needs of Gifted Children and Youth

3

EDSP 643Teaching the Gifted Student

3

EDSP 645Practicum in Gifted Education

3

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: Requires successful completion of the PRAXIS. Program completion will add the gifted education endorsement to the certificate.

5. Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE)

EDEC 627Infant and Toddler Curriculum

3

EDEC 637Early Childhood Education

3

EDSP 605Early Childhood Special Education

3

IECE 615Families and Young Children

3

IECE 631Guidance for Young Children

3

Total Credit Hours:15
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

6. Interdisciplinary P-5

EDEL 627Reading in the Elementary School

3

MATH 631Problem Solving for the Elementary Teacher

3

Total Credit Hours:6
Choose 6 hours from the following:
EDUC 622Trends and Practices in P-12 Social Studies

3

EDEL 623Advanced Language Arts for the Elementary Teacher

3

EDEL 629Literature Across Curriculum

3

SCI 690Advanced Science for the Elementary School Teacher

3

Total Credit Hours:6
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

7. Literacy Specialist (with Literacy endorsement)

EDEL 624Literacy Practicum

3

EDEL 625Foundations of Language Development

3

EDEL 626Investigations in Reading

3

EDEL 662Literacy Assessment

3

EDEL 677Literacy in the Content Areas

3

Total Credit Hours:15
Choose one of the following two options (six hours):
ENG 608 and ENG 609

6

EDUC 608 and EDUC 609

6

Total Credit Hours:6
NOTE: The Literacy Specialist Endorsement concentration requires successful completion of the PRAXIS. The concentration will add the literacy specialist endorsement to the candidate's certificate.

8. Rural Education

SOC 659Social Change in Appalachia

3

Total Credit Hours:3
Choose 9 hours from the following:
SOC 616Family Dynamics

3

SOC 617Globalization

3

SOC 626Communities

3

SOC 630Social Inequality

3

SOC 665Environmental Sociology

3

SOC 676Directed Study

1-3

RAPP 620Economic Development

3

RAPP 630Graduate Seminar in Regional Issues

3

RAPP 637Environmental Policy and Management

3

Total Credit Hours:9
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

9. School Community Leader

EDIL 621Research for Instructional Leadership

3

EDIL 635Understanding Professional Responsibilities of Teacher Leaders

3

EDIL 636Mentoring for Improved Results

3

EDIL 638Designing and Implementing Professional Development

3

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

10. School Health

Choose 12 hours from any HLTH 600-level courses.

HLTH 600-level electives

12

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

11. Social Studies

Choose 12 hours from the following:

HST 600Special Class

1-3

HST 610American Biography

3

HST 680History for Teachers

3

GEO 600Political Geography

3

GEO 602Geographic Factors and Concepts

3

GEO 605Conservation of Natural Resources

3

GEO 615Urban Geography

3

GEO 680Geography for Teachers

3

GOVT 600Seminar: State and Local Government

3

GOVT 605Environmental Law and Policy

3

GOVT 680Government for Teachers

3

ECON 600Survey of Economics

3

ECON 690Economic Education for Teachers

3

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

12. Sociology

Choose 12 hours from any SOC 600-level courses

SOC 600-level electives

12

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

13. Special Education

EDSP 621Operation of Special Education Programs

3

EDSP 630Universal Design for Learning

3

EDSP 631Advanced Behavior Management

3

EDSP 632Applied Research in Special Education

3

Total Credit Hours:12
NOTE: This degree will NOT change the area in which a candidate is certified to teach.

Total Credit Hours: 30-39