Why choose an accelerated option?
It shortens the time to earn your degrees. Earn graduate credit that you can apply to your bachelor's degree.
Save time and money. Finish with two degrees.
It shortens the time to earn your degrees. Earn graduate credit that you can apply to your bachelor's degree.
Save time and money. Finish with two degrees.
If you meet the admission requirements listed below, you can start earning graduate credit in your junior or senior year.
Work with your advisor or our department to complete a mixed credit form.
Up to 12 hours of graduate credit will count toward your bachelor’s degree.
Hill Hall, Room 219; Phone 417-836-8736
CBolyard@missouristate.edu
Education.MissouriState.edu/CEFS
The graduate program in Elementary Education is designed primarily for practicing educators who desire to continue their professional growth toward master teacher with deeper knowledge and advanced skills in elementary teaching. With a curriculum focusing on theory, practice and content knowledge, candidates completing this degree are prepared for greater responsibility within their district, the role of mentor to colleagues and preservice teachers or pursuit of doctoral studies.
The program requires a minimum of 33 semester hours with 15 hours of required courses and 18 hours of elective courses. All required courses may be competed online; elective courses are offered in a combination of face to face or online. Students may apply their elective course hours towards earning a MSU Graduate Certificate in one of the following areas: Curriculum and Instruction, Gifted and Talented Education, Educational Technology, Elementary Mathematics Specialist, Environmental STEM for Teachers, Literacy, Student Mental Health, Family and Community Support, or TESOL. Or students may earn a graduate certificate in a different area that is approved by the Coordinator of the Elementary Education Graduate Program.
Successful completion of focus area coursework provides eligibility for an MSU Graduate Certificate. Graduate certificates may be earned independently or as part of the MSEd in elementary education program. Students must formally apply for admission to a graduate certificate program separately from the admission to the MSEd, Elementary Education program. The graduate certificate is awarded upon successful completion of coursework in the focus area and the certificate will be placed in the official university transcript.
To be considered for admission to this program, a student must submit a Graduate Application and meet the following criteria.
A candidate who does not meet all of the above criteria, but who demonstrates outstanding potential, may be fully admitted on the basis of individual merit and successful completion of the first nine hours (3.00 GPA or higher) by the Coordinator of the Elementary Education Graduate Program or the Department Head of Childhood Education and Family Studies.
The MSEd-ELE accelerated program master's option provides exceptional Missouri State University students the opportunity to enroll in graduate-level coursework as a baccalaureate candidate and earn up to 12 credits toward the Elementary Education master's degree program.
Eligible BSEd majors may apply for preliminary acceptance into the MSEd-ELE program after admission requirements for the accelerated master's option have been satisfied. After acceptance into the Accelerated Master's in Elementary Education program, candidates must receive approval from the MSEd-ELE Coordinator, CEFS Department Head and the Dean of the Graduate College before enrolling in a dual BSEd/MSEd course. Acceptance into the program and all approvals must be completed prior to the end of the Change of Schedule period for the course(s). A student will be fully admitted to the Graduate College upon completion of the requirements for the baccalaureate degree and all other Graduate College admission requirements. See the Graduate Catalog for further information.
Admission Requirements for the Accelerated Master's Degree in Elementary Education:
Students admitted to the Accelerated Master's option may take 12 hours from the following courses or a course in consultation with the MSEd-ELE Coordinator/advisor:
Courses may count only once in meeting the 33 hour program course requirements.
1. Required Core Courses - 15-16 hrs
Course Prefix | Course Title | Course Hours |
---|---|---|
ELE 711 | Contemporary Issues in Elementary Curriculum | 3 hrs |
ELE 725 | The Emerging Master Teacher | 3 hrs |
ELE 720 | Advanced Theory and Practice in Student Assessment and Evaluation | 3 hrs |
OR ELE 771 AND |
Action Research Proposal Development OR Proposal Development AND Educational Research Methodology |
3 hrs OR 3 hrs AND 1 hr |
OR |
Research Seminar in Elementary Education (Research Option I) OR Thesis (Research Option II) |
3 hrs |
2. Electives. Students in consultation with the Coordinator of the Elementary Education graduate program of advisor will select at least 18 credit hours of electives based on student interest.
Graduate Certificate in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction - select 12 hrs
Graduate Certificate in Elementary Mathematics Specialist (EMS) with Missouri DESE Certification - 24 hrs
The Master of Science in Education, Elementary Mathematics Specialist is designed for practicing teachers (with at least 2 years of experience teaching elementary or middle school). This track is part of a statewide Mathematics specialist certification in collaboration with other Missouri universities. Elementary Mathematics Specialist (EMS) professionals can serve students and schools in a variety of ways including as classroom teachers, lead or mentor teachers, and school or district-based mathematics specialists.
Prerequisites - 8 hrs
Required Courses - 16 hrs
Graduate Certificate in Environmental STEM for Teachers - 12 hrs
Visit the Graduate Catalog for details about the Environmental STEM for Teachers Focus and Certificate Program in Elementary Education.
Graduate Certificate in Education of the Exceptionally Gifted-Talented Child - 12 hrs*
*Also, completing the following courses will allow a student to earn MIssouri DESE certification for Gifted and Talented Education.
ELE 720 Adv. Theory and Practice in Student Assessment and Evaluation
SFR 780 Educational Research Methodology, OR ELE 770 Action Research Proposal Development
EEM 796 Problems in Education, which is a Culminating Experience with Gifted Students (three semester hours to include both elementary and secondary settings)
Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology - 12 hrs
Visit the Graduate Catalog for details about the Educational Technology Focus and Certificate Program in Elementary Education.
Graduate Certificate in Literacy - select 12 hrs
Visit the Graduate Catalog for details about the Literacy Focus and Certificate Program in Elementary Education.
Course Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
EEM 720 | Introduction to Learner Development and Differences in Gifted and Talented Education | 3 |
EEM 721 | Curriculum Planning, Instruction and Assessment in Gifted and Talented Education I | 3 |
EEM 722 | Curriculum Planning, Instruction and Assessment in Gifted and Talented Education II | 3 |
EEM 723 | Learning Environments and Collaborations in Gifted and Talented Education | 3 |
*Adding SFR 780 Introduction for Educational Research and ELE 772 Research Seminar in Elementary Education or EEM 799 Thesis will earn Missouri DESE certification for Gifted and Talented Education.
Courses must be completed with a 3.00 GPA for successful completion of certificate.