The graduate program in Elementary Education is designed for teachers who desire to develop advanced knowledge and skills related to successful teaching in the elementary and middle school. Within the program there are opportunities for the student to complete the Masters degree either on campus or online. The Teaching and Learning option has a research/practitioner focus specializing in hands-on experiences and is delivered on campus. The Curriculum and Instruction option has a theoretical/research focus emphasizing diverse approaches to instructional practices and is delivered through online coursework.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

1. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 33 approved graduate hours with a minimum overall GPA of 3.00.
2. No more than 16 hours of 500-level course work may be applied to the degree program.
3. Comprehensive Examination. A comprehensive examination must be passed by the candidate before a degree will be granted.
4. Research
   1. Option I: Completion of one research seminar which shall require an extensive paper or major creative work.
   2. Option II. Completion of a satisfactory thesis in the candidate’s discipline. This credit shall be not more than 6 hours of the minimum 33 required for the degree.
5. Transfer credit. A maximum of 30% of the 33 hours of graduate credit may be accepted toward the master’s degree. All transfer credit must be “A” or “B” grade status from an accredited college or university and must be approved by the Director of the Elementary Graduate Program or the Department Head of Childhood Education and Family Studies.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Courses may count only once in meeting the 33 hour program course requirements.

1. Required Core Courses 12 hrs
   
   • ELE 611 Cont. Issues in Elem. Curriculum OR
   • ECE 625 Trends and Issues in Early Childhood
   • ELE 620 Advanced Theory & Practice in Student Assessment & Evaluation
   • SFR 690 Introduction to Educational Research
   • ELE 672 Seminar in Elementary Education (Research Option I) OR
   • EEM 699 Thesis (Research Option II)
2. Select Option Area.
   
   • ELE 611 Cont. Issues in Elem. Curriculum OR
   • ECE 625 Trends and Issues in Early Childhood
   • ELE 620 Advanced Theory & Practice in Student Assessment & Evaluation
   • SFR 690 Introduction to Educational Research
   • ELE 672 Seminar in Elementary Education (Research Option I) OR
   • EEM 699 Thesis (Research Option II)Teaching and Learning (on campus option) OR
   Course work to be selected in consultation with advisor to bring the total to not less than 33 hours. Student should select from either

Teaching and Learning (on campus option) OR

Teaching Methods (select 4 to total 12 hrs)

1. ECE 626 Adv. Curriculum Development for Early Childhood Education Programs
2. ELE 610 Elementary School Curriculum
3. ELE 613 Adv. Theory & Practice in the Teaching of Communication Arts
4. ELE 614 Adv. Theory & Practice in the Teaching of Social Studies
5. ELE 615 Adv. Theory & Practice in the Teaching of Mathematics
6. ELE 616 Adv. Theory & Practice in the Teaching of Science
7. ELE 617 Adv. Theory & Practice in the Teaching of Economics
8. ELE 622 Differentiated Instruction for Early Childhood, Elementary & Middle School Classrooms

Electives: (select with advisor to total 9 hrs)

CFD (532, 560, 562)
ECE (624, 625, 626, 627)
EEM (576, 596, 597, 598, 696)
IMT (562, 565, 664)
MID (625, 710)
PSY (508, 603, 605)
RDG (560, 574, 674, 675, 677)
SFR (547, 560, 581, 650, 693, 758)
SPE (510, 556, 560, 615, 680)

Other electives may be added at the discretion of the program advisor

Curriculum and Instruction Option (online) 21 hrs

Teaching Theory (select 4 to total 12 hrs)
ELE 610 Elementary School Curriculum
ELE 621 Standard-based Integrated Curriculum, Learning and Teaching
ELE 622 Differentiated Inst. for Early Childhood, Elementary & Middle School Classrooms
RDG 678 Curriculum Design in Reading

Electives: (select with advisor to total 9 hrs) EEM (576, 696)

IMT (562, 664)
RDG (620, 625, 673)
SPE (615, 680)
PSY (603)
Other electives may be added at the discretion of the program advisor