The master's program in early childhood/elementary education is intended for certified teachers who wish to continue their study of learning and teaching in early childhood/elementary settings. The program has five major goals: 1) to foster a vision of learning as an active process in which students construct their own knowledge and understandings; 2) to foster a vision of teaching that promotes depth of understanding and problem solving rather than mere curriculum coverage, and that recognizes children's individual and cultural differences; 3) to extend teachers' knowledge of current research and theory on learning and teaching so they can make informed decisions about educational practice and can help to bring about change in schools; 4) to encourage teachers to be teacher-researchers who reflect on and systematically inquire into their own practice; and 5) to provide an opportunity for teachers to acquire depth in an area of early childhood/elementary education that is of particular interest to them.
Program Requirements
I. Psychological Foundations of Education (6 credits)
Two courses chosen from the following (or others, with advisement): 15:255:512 Enhancing Learning and Development for Infants and Young Children (3) 15:290:501 Introduction to Educational Tests and Measures (3) 15:290:521 Child, Family, and Community: Relationships in Development (3) 15:290:522 Cognition and Language from Birth to Age Eight: Normal Development and Implications of Risk and Disability (3) 15:293:522 Learning Disabilities (3) 15:293:525 Psychology of the Exceptional Child (3) 15:295:510 Cooperative and Collaborative Learning (3) 15:295:512 Introduction to Child Psychology: Infancy through Adolescence (3) 15:295:578 Developmental Theory of Jean Piaget (3) 16:300:591 Cognitive Development (3) 16:300:595 The Psychology of Sex Differences (3)
II. Early Childhood/Elementary Education (18 credits)
A. Required Courses (9 credits) 15:251:570 Advanced Pedagogical Techniques for the Elementary Classroom (3) 15:251:577 History and Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Education (3) 15:251:578 Theories and Practices in Early Childhood Education (3)
B. Area of Specialization (12 credits) Courses for the area of specialization must be selected with advisement. 1. Content Area Study (in one or more of the following areas: creative arts education, literacy, English as a Second Language and bilingual education, instructional technology, mathematics education, and science education) 2. Early Childhood Education and Applied Child Development (focus on settings for children birth through age seven; child care, family and parenting issues; and developmentally appropriate practices)
III. Electives (6 credits)
With adviser's approval, may be taken anywhere in the university.
IV. Comprehensive Examination or Examination Alternative
The comprehensive exam consists of three take-home questions. One typically deals with problems in classroom organization and management (e.g., use of time, motivation, and behavior); one emphasizes early childhood education and psychology; and one focuses on the the area of specialization. Students who wish to do the alternative to the exam must develop a proposal for a project that will be carried out under the guidance of a faculty member in the program. A second faculty member, who will serve as a second reader of the final paper, must also sign off on the proposal. The comprehensive exam will be given only once a year. Students will pick up the exam questions in May and return them in September. Total Minimum Credits: 30
