Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Elementary Education (M.A.)


Admissions Information  

The M.A. in Elementary Education (Master Teacher, ELL, Early Childhood) has been distinctly designed for the practicing educator. Our 30-credit hour, 24-month programming is a unique departure from traditional formats. An accelerated track (15 months) for the Professional Development Center cohort is also available. At USD, teachers will experience a current and relevant curriculum that is customizable to meet their professional needs. Ours is a program that is theoretically-laden, research-based, and highly customizable. Through compressed, hybridized, and online coursework, teachers will experience a significant role in deciding their own master’s level professional development in an affordable and timely manner. The express purpose of our programming is to work collaboratively, through a cohort model, with in-service teachers toward excellence and effectiveness in teaching. New cohorts begin every June.

Degree requirements vary and are based on the student’s individual need. Below is a brief explanation each program’s credit-hour requirements.

Master of Arts, Elementary Education Plan B (non-thesis) option: Total 30 credit hours


Note: Plan A (thesis) also available. Four credit hours of thesis are required in lieu of an elective. 

Standard “Master Teacher” Track


Year One - Summer


Summer courses are offered in hybridized and compressed formats to help accommodate teachers’ busy summer schedules. During the summer, teachers will experience theoretically-laden and research-based courses. Summer courses are designed to introduce teachers to current practices and interventions with the view in mind that what is learned in the summer will then be practiced in classrooms during the school year.   

Year One - Fall/Spring


Fall and spring courses are offered online. The expectation is for teachers to implement selected practices and interventions learned during the previous summer into their own classrooms in a research-based manner, culminating in an artifact that demonstrates effectiveness. The fall and spring semesters are a time of research implementation.

Year Two - Fall/Spring


Note:

PDC students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 15 month program. PDC students need to enroll in EDFN 755  in place of the elective and EDFN 775  for an approved substitution for ELED 796 .

English Language Learning Specialization


Year One - Summer


Year Two - Summer


Year Two - Fall/Spring


Note:

PDC students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 15 month program. PDC students need to enroll in EDFN 755   in place of the elective and EDFN 775   for an approved substitution for ELED 794 .

Early Childhood Endorsement Specialization


Year One - Summer


Year One - Fall/Spring


Note:

PDC students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 15 month program. PDC students need to enroll in EDFN 755  in place of the elective and EDFN 775   for an approved substitution for ELED 796.

Science, Technology or Math (STM) Specialization


Year One - Summer


Year One - Fall/Spring


Fall:

  • Advisor approved elective in Science, Technology or Math 3 cr hrs

 

Spring:

  • Advisor approved elective in Science, Technology or Math 3 cr hrs

Year Two - Summer


Year Two - Fall/Spring


Fall:

 

Spring:

  • Advisor approved elective in Science, Technology or Math 3 cr hrs
     

Select 15 graduate credits of Science, Technology or Math with approval from advisor(minimum 6 of these credits in ELED, TET or SEED).

PDC students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 15 month program. PDC students need to enroll in EDFN 755  in place of the elective and EDFN 775  for an approved substitution for ELED 794 .

Master of Arts Elementary Education, Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach Plan B (non-thesis) option: Total 32 credit hours


Note: Plan A (thesis) also available. Four credit hours of thesis are required in lieu of an elective.

Major Area Coursework


Supporting Area Coursework


Required supporting course work (4-6 credit hours required):
Technology course 1-3 credit hours

  • 3 cr hrs
  •  

  • Elective Outside Support Courses from the Following Recommended Areas (2-4 credit hours required):

    • Linguistics and Language Development
    • Language Arts
    • Children’s and Adolescent Literature
    • Special Education/Learning Disabilities