MAEd Courses

Required Education Core Courses (15 credit hours)

EDU 6104 - Foundations of Graduate Level Writing
Writing well is a component of many graduate course assignments. This course provides practical experience in writing and provides students with the necessary skills to succeed at graduate-level writing tasks. The course content covers prewriting, proofreading, peer- and self-editing, revision, reflection, and final results. “Writer’s grammar” – sentence structure, word choice, and punctuation – is also explored. (3 credits)

EDU 5101 - Learning Theories and Instruction
Past and present learning theories are examined. Participants expand their awareness in the area of research-based instructional strategies and effective lesson design. Beliefs about learning and best teaching practices are reviewed. Students reflect on their learning and practice of instruction and teaching. MAEd Core Course (3 credits)

EDU 5102 - Assessment Strategies
This course expands awareness of multiple strategies for assessing the progress of students and increases abilities to utilize standardized tests, for both formal and informal modes of assessment. Students design a project that outlines the use of varied modes of assessment. MAEd and MSSL Core Course (3 credits)

EDU 5103 - Curriculum Development and Design
This course assists students in understanding and applying the rationale for integrated studies. Current and projected styles of curriculum are assessed and the course project features designing a model curriculum. MAEd Core Course (3 credits)

EDU 5531 - Today’s Learner
This course explores the changing face of classroom students through current research on academic success. This course examines how classroom diversity has implications for curriculum, instruction, and school climate. Participants learn about building strengths in their classroom students, fostering resiliency, and creating supportive environments and relationships to encourage academic and social growth. MAEd and MSSL Core Course (3 credits)

Required Research Course (3 credit hours from this group)

EDU 5120 - Action Research in the Classroom
This course provides students with tools to reflect on their teaching practices, assess their performance, and make informed decisions about their teaching. Through this process teachers create an environment of improved student learning. (3 credits)

EDU 5121 - Inquiry and Research
This course gives educators a simple, practical, believable way to conduct and interpret their research for the general betterment of both their instructional practices and the profession of teaching. (3 credits)

EDU 5108 - Differentiated Classroom Instructional Practices
The purpose of this course is to help teachers continue to learn, grow, and improve as they practice the art of teaching. This course helps teachers to examine the impact of instructional practices on student understanding and learning. Students participate in an action research project. Students reflect on their instructional and teaching practices and the impact on student performance. (3 credits)

Online Teaching & Learning Concentration Core Courses (12 credit hours)

OTL 5001 - Web 2.0 Tools for Tomorrow’s Learner
Students explore and implement Web 2.0 tools for online learning and topics that support development and exploration of such innovative tools in the educational environment. Following the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Standards and Indicators, students identify different features and benefits of using Web 2.0 tools that will support effective teaching and learning practices. The course is required in the cybergogy concentration. (3 credits)

OTL 5002 - Active Learning in Online Environments
Active learning refers to techniques where students DO something, typically discovering, processing, and applying information. In this class, students focus on learning as an active endeavor, cognizant that different people learn in different ways. At first glance, active learning in an online class may seem problematic. On closer observation, the two are synonymous. This course is required in the cybergogy concentration. (3 credits)

OTL 5003 - Assessing and Evaluating Online Teaching and Learning
Students in this course plan assessment strategies to accommodate differences among online student learners, including their unique knowledge, experiences, ability, learning styles, multiple intelligences, motivations, behaviors, and attitudes. The outcome of the course is the development of multiple timely and appropriate instructional and assessment activities closely aligned to learning objectives that provide students regular feedback about their performance in an online course. (3 credits)

OTL 5004 - Best Practices in Online Learning
Students study and consider best practice in cybergogy by developing strategies, concepts, and areas of consideration when beginning or revising an online course. Content includes a consideration of course aesthetics, online activities, and course enhancement although many aspects of cybergogy complete to a face-to-face course, certain nuances and differences need particular consideration. Successful completion of this course assists future online instructors consider those differences. (3 credits)

Liberal Arts Courses (9 credit hours)

Select courses from the following areas: Arts, Literature, Philosophy, Religion, Social Sciences, and Science and Culture.

Education Elective Courses (9 credit hours)

Select approved graduate-level courses in Education.