The focus of the M.Ed. in Elementary Education is on becoming a master teacher in the elementary classroom and is based on the Advanced Teacher Education Conceptual Framework. The program is designed to guide in-service educators to become leaders who apply research and best practice theory to make reflective and synergistic decisions that consistently support and extend the learning of all students. Through the chosen program's core courses and individualized experiences, candidates are able to create a vision of themselves as reflective, synergistic decision makers.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

The mission of the Early Childhood and Elementary Education department is to develop educators who make reflective and deliberate decisions that support and extend the learning of all students.

Program of Study

Prerequisites required:

Master's degree candidates must hold teacher certification. Candidates must have a 3.0 overall major GPA. Applicants must also submit all necessary documents with the Graduate School application, a Professional Goals Statement that reflects their professional objectives for this program, two letters of recommendation and a copy of their current teaching certificate.

Plan of Study

The Master of Elementary Education program (ELED) consists of a core area of required courses (15 credits) and a concentration area of 18 credits. The concentration area includes a focus of 12 elementary education credits in addition to six credits of education electives that are chosen to meet the student's professional needs and personal interests. The 18 credits of the concentration are selected by the graduate student (in collaboration with the ELED Graduate Coordinator) from one of seven focus areas available for indepth study. The M.Ed. program supports the Advanced Teacher Education Conceptual Framework, developed by the ESU Teacher Education faculty. Core courses present research-based concepts related to teaching and learning as well as introduce various tools of inquiry. Concentration courses extend the master teacher's ability to articulate, apply, and adapt theoretical constructs to the classroom setting. At the end of graduate course work, the master teacher candidate will be able to demonstrate reflective, collaborative, and creative teaching practice and professional leadership qualities. A student may have a maximum of six credits of workshop courses included in a plan of study.

ELED 502 Psychology of the Elementary School Child

ELED 570 Introduction to Research

ELED 575 Graduate Seminar

ELED 592 Elementary School Curriculum

MCOM 510 Computers in Education

The student shall, in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, complete 12 ELED graduate credits in one of the following focus areas: Elementary School Teaching; Early Childhood; Middle School Teaching; Language Literacy and the Arts; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Differentiated Teaching and Learning; the ESL Endorsement or a student designed concentration. In addition, the student shall complete six graduate credits of electives.

Elementary School Teaching

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 512 Integrating the Arts in Elem Class

ELED 515 Individualizing Instruction

ELED 517 Creative Teaching Methods

ELED 520 Current Trends in Language Arts of Instructional Media

ELED 521 Children's Lit. for Advanced Students

REEDSelected by Advisement

ELED 525 Creative Drama

ELED 530 Science in Elementary School

ELED 540 Math in Elementary School

ELED 544 International Collaborative Learning Project

ELED 553 Teaching and Motivating

ELED 585 Planning for Change

ELED 550 Current Trends in Social Studies

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

PSED 510 Teacher and School Community

PSED 516 Learner and Learning Process

MCOM 520 Selection and Utilization of Instuctional Media

REED 523 Analysis of Inst Techniques

SPED 551 Inclusionary Practices

SPED 570 Collad. in Ed. Process

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 515 Individualizing Instruction

ELED 517 Creative Teaching Methods

ELED 523 Diversity in Children's Lit

ELED 557 Reducing Stress in the Classroom*

ELED 569 Research Laboratory in ECE and ELED

REED 521 Language and Reading Process

REED 550 Foundations of Reading in ECE Recovery

ELED 589 Org. and Admin. of ECE Programs

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

MCOM Selected by Advisement

SPED 567 Families in Ed. Process of Individuals with Exceptionalities

SPED 568 Early Intervention in ECE

PSED 516 Learner and Learning Process

ELED 574 Prob. and Issues in ECE

ELED 586 Intern: Method and Materials Recovery

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 512 Integrating the Arts

ELED 515 Individualizing Instruction

ELED 517 Creative Teaching Methods

ELED 525 Creative Drama

ELED 534 Science Seminar

ELED 542 Current Trends in Mathematics

ELED 549 Reducing Classroom Conflict*

ELED 550 Current Trends in Social Studies

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

PSED 510 Teacher and School Com.

PSED 565 Curr. Dev. in Mid. Schools

PSED 593 Teaching Techniques in Mid. School

MCOM Selected by Advisement

SPED 551 Inclusionary Practices

SPED 570 Collab. in Ed. Process

REED 527 Reading in Content Areas

REED 530 Teaching Reading through Young Adult Literature

Language, Literature, and the Arts

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 512 Integrating the Arts

ELED 515 Individualizing Instruction

ELED 517 Creative Teaching Methods

ELED 520 Current Trends in Language Arts

ELED 521 Children's Lit. for Advanced Students

ELED 523 Diversity in Children's Lit.

ELED 525 Creative Drama

ELED 545 BookArts

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

PSED 513 Learner and Learning Process

REED Selected by Advisement (6-credit maximum)

SPED 540 Language Arts for Exceptional Individuals

SPED 551 Inclusionary Practices

MCOM Selected by Advisements

Mathematics, Science, and Technology

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 515 Individualizing Instruction

ELED 517 Creative Teaching Methods

ELED 530 Science in Elem School

ELED 531 Life Sci.Wkshp. for Elem Teach*

ELED 532 Phys. Sci. Wkshp. for Elem Teach*

ELED 534 Science Seminar

ELED 540 Math in Elem School

ELED 542 Current Trends in Mathematics

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

SPED 551 Inclusionary Practices

PSED 516 Learner and Learning Process

PSED 565 Curr. Dev. in Mid. School

PSED 593 Teaching Techniques in Mid. School

MCOM Selected by Advisement

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 515 Individualizing Instruction

ELED 523 Diversity in Children's Lit.

ELED 533 Designing & Implementing Programs for Prof. Dev.

ELED 535 Diversity in the Classroom

ELED 555 Clinical Supervision

ELED 560 Adaptive Education

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

SPED 551 Inclusionary Practices

SPED 570 Collab. in the ED. Process

PSED 510 Teacher and School Com.

PSED 516 Learner and Learning Process

MCOM Selected by Advisement

Elementary Education Focus 12 credits

ELED 527 Second Language Acquisition

ELED 528 Linguistics for ESL Teachers

ELED 529 Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL

ELED 535 Classroom Diversity (also may be taken as PSED 535 or SPED 535)

Education Elective Courses 6 credits

Electives selected through advisement

Students in collaboration with the Graduate Coordinator may design a concentration area that meets their professional needs and personal interests.

Students select one of the following exit criteria to complete the M.Ed. program: Professional Portfolio, Curriculum Project, or Action Research. The planning and developing of the Comprehensive Evaluation is an integral part of ELED 575, Graduate Seminar, a course taken between 24-27 credits.

The Elementary Education Extended Certification Program is open to individuals who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree and who are certified in an area other than elementary education (e.g., special education, secondary education). The CertificationProgram is guided by the ESU Advanced Teacher Education Conceptual Framework and consists of specific ELED certification courses.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Candidates must hold teacher certification. Candidates for this program are admitted through the Graduate School and adhere to the graduate standards. Applicants must have a 3.0 major GPA. Candidates must also submit all necessary documents with the Graduate School application, a Professional Goals Statement that reflects their professional objectives for this programtwo letters of recommendation and a copy of their current teaching certificate.

The Certification Program consists of 39 credits and offers the option of taking courses atthe undergraduate or graduate level. Some courses taken at the graduate level may be applied toward a master's degree in elementary education. All requirements and course work must be completed prior to receiving certification in elementary education. Field experience in elementary education classrooms may be required as determined by the graduate coordinator. All candidates must meet with ELED Graduate Coordinator to review transcripts and discuss the ELED certification and/or M.ED. programs, screening requirements, and opportunities.

Certification Courses (Professional Education) - 9 Semester Hours

PSED 161 Foundations of Education or
PSED 510 Teacher and the School Community

PSED 242 Educational Psychology or
PSED 516 Learner and the Learning Process

MCOM 262 Educational or
MCOM 520 Selection and Utilization of Communications Instructional Media for the Classroom

Elementary Education - 30 semester hours

ELED 132 Child Growth and Development (Prerequisite for all other Elementary Education courses)

Apprentice I Semester

ELED 351 Music in Childhood Education

ELED 311 Art in Childhood Educationor
ELED 512 Integrating the Arts

ELED 342 Language Arts inChildhood Educationor
ELED 520 Current Trends in LanguageArts

ELED 343 Mathematics inChildhood Educationor
ELED 540 Math in Elementary School in Childhood Education

Apprentice II Semester (undergraduate courses taken as a cohort semester fulltime)

ELED 344 Science in Childhood Education or
ELED 530 Science in Elementary School Education

ELED 345 Social Studies in Childhood Educationor
ELED 550 Current Trends in Social Studies

ELED 346 Children's Literature in Childhood Educationor
ELED 521 Children's Literature for Advanced Students

REED 313 Foundations of Reading or
REED 523 Analysis of Instructional Techniques in Reading

3 additional credits by advisement

• Successfully complete All ELED Requirements - no Incompletes
• Maintain a GPA 3.0 overall
• Professional Field Experiences determined by the Graduate Coordinator
• File Application for certification
• Demonstrate proficiency on PRAXIS: Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Initial Certification in Elementary Education

53 credits

The Elementary EducationInitial Certification Program is designed for individuals whohave successfully completed an undergraduate degree in an area other than education. The purpose of the program is to develop beginning educators who make reflective and deliberate decisions that support and extend the learning of all students. The Certification Program is completed primarily at the undergraduate level with some options for graduate course work that may be applied to the Master of Education degree (individuals working toward their initial certification in Elementary Education may choose to pursue their M.Ed. simultaneously). The Certification Program is guided by the ESU Initial Teacher Education Conceptual Framework.

Program of Study

Prerequisites required:

Candidates for this program are admitted through the Graduate School and must fulfill all criteria for admission as determined by the Graduate School. Candidates must have a 2.85 overall and 3.0 major PA, demonstrate proficiency on PRAXIS Series I (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics), submit a Professional Goals Statement that reflects their professional objectives for entrance into this program, and two letters of recommendation. Candidates must meet with ELED Graduate Coordinator to review transcripts and discuss the ELED certification and/or M.Ed. programs, screening requirements and opportunities.

The candidate's undergraduate degree program is reviewed to see if the coursework meets the General Education requirements. Students are also required to have 6 credits of Mathematics and 6 credits of English composition and literature in order to meet State Standards for certification. Any student whose undergraduate transcript does not meet those requirements will be required to fulfill them, in addition to any other undergraduate deficiencies.

Plan of Study

Required Courses (courses are three credits each unless otherwise indicated)

Professional Education - nine semester hours

PSED 242 Educational Psychologyor
PSED 516 Learner and the Learning Environment

PSED 161 Foundations of Education or
PSED 510 Teacher and School Community

MCOM 262 Ed. Communications or
MCOM 520 Selection and Utilization of Instructional Media for the Classroom

Elementary Education - 30 semester hours

ELED 132 Child Growth and Development (Prerequisite for all other ELED courses)

Apprentice I: Content Areas through Field Based Application

ELED 342 Language Arts in Childhood Education

ELED 343 Mathematics in Childhood Education

ELED 346 Children's Literature in Childhood Education

ELED 351 Music in Childhood Education

Apprentice II: Professional Development School Cohort Semester

ELED 311 Art in Childhood Education*

REED 313 Foundations in Reading Instruction* (six credits) or WITH PERMISSION

ELED 344 Science in Childhood Education*

ELED 345 Social Studies in Childhood Education*

REED 523 Analysis of Reading Instructional Techniques and two other REED credits by advisement

SPED 351 Inclusionary Practices (optional)

Resident Semester/Student Teaching - 12 semester hours

ELED 430 Student Teaching (12 credits)

The following are requirements for the successful completion of the program. This list is not inclusive and may change, so it is advised that all candidates regularly with the ELED Graduate Coordinator for advisement and to discuss concerns about your academic program, departmentadmittance procedure, or other advising matters.

• Successfully admitted into department
• Successfully complete All ELED Requirements - no Incompletes
• Demonstrate proficiency on PRAXIS II - Fundamental Content Knowledge (0511) prior to Student Teaching Review
• An overall GPA of 3.0
• Complete Professional Field Experiences
• Provide proof of current clearances
• ALL students need Act 34 and Act 151
• Non-PA residents also need FBI Clearance
• Provide proof of current SPSEA membership

Prior to Certification

• File application for certification
• Demonstrate proficiency on Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment test

Graduate Assistantships:

Graduate assistantships are available through the department. These are awarded based upon merit and achievement to full-time students in the graduate program. Graduate assistants do not teach classes, but complete projects and tasks assigned by professors. The graduate assistantship is awarded for the first year of full-time study, with the possibility of extension through the first summer. Prospective students should apply for a graduate assistantship at the time of original application to the program, using the application form provided by the Graduate School or apply on-line. Full consideration will be given to those students who meet the Application Deadlines. Candidates will be selected and interviewed by the department chair and/or graduate coordinator. Contact the department chair and/or graduate coordinator at 570-422-3356 for additional information.