Masters of Education in Elementary Education

Purpose of Degree:

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education is designed for early childhood, elementary, and middle level teachers who want to advance their careers and enhance their classroom instruction.  Teachers who already have their graduate degrees are also welcome to take selected courses in the program for professional development.  Participants in this comprehensive program will collaborate with other professionals as they learn how to create engaging learning environments based on current research, theory and practice.  The entire program may be taken online or on campus, depending on student preference.

Program Requirements:

This program requires 30 credits for the Master of Education Degree, including 9 credits of core courses, 12 credits of ELED elective courses, and 9 credits of elective courses.  All of the core courses and all of the ELED elective courses are taught through dual delivery, which allows students to choose either the online classroom or the campus classroom.  The campus sections of the fall and spring semester courses are taught in Bethlehem at the Lehigh Valley Center, while the campus sections of the summer courses are taught in East Stroudsburg on the main campus.  Many of the elective courses are also offered online, allowing students to complete the entire program via distance education.

 

Plan of Study:

30 credits

Required Core Courses - 9 credits required

Students are required to take the three Core Courses listed below.  These courses are designed to address foundational topics related to teaching in early childhood, elementary, and middle level classrooms.

ELED 502	Understanding the Developing Child	3 credits
ELED 570	Introduction to Research	3 credits
ELED 575	Graduate Seminar	3 credits
	Total Credit Hours:	9

ELED Elective courses - Select 12 credits (4 courses)

Students choose any four of the six concentration courses listed below.  There is some flexibility in this section, so students are encouraged to consult with the Graduate Coordinator regarding potential modifications that would best address their needs and interests.

ELED 505	Managing the Learning Environment	3 credits
ELED 520	Current Trends in Elementary School Language Arts	3 credits
ELED 530	Constructivist Approach to Teaching Science	3 credits
ELED 540	Constructivist Approaches to teaching Mathematics	3 credits
ELED 550	Current Trends in Elementary School Social Studies	3 credits
ELED 592	Curriculum Approaches and Design	3 credits
	Total Credit Hours:	12

Additional Elective courses - Select 9 credits (3 courses)

Select any three courses from ELED, PSED, SPED, REED and/or DMET, 500 level or above.

(Students select any two graduate courses from Elementary Education, Professional and Secondary Education, Special Education, Reading, and/or Digital Media Technology departments.  The Graduate Coordinator will help you select the courses that are most closely matched to your needs and interests.)

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 online.

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.

Entrance Requirements:

Candidates must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum 3.0 GPA in the major in their undergraduate program.  Candidates must submit a Graduate College Application, a Professional Goals Statement, and two professional letters of recommendation in order to be accepted into the program.

Contacts:

For more information regarding program advising or program admission, please contact the individuals listed below:

Program Advising
Dr. Craig Wilson, Graduate Coordinator, 
Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department 
[e-mail]  570-422-3357

Program Admission
Mr. Kevin Quintero
Associate Director of Graduate & Extended Studies 
[e-mail]