Secondary Education (M.A.)

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The M.A. in Secondary Education (Master Teacher, ELL) 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 (16 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.

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

- 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.

Fall:
SEED 794 - INTERNSHIP (M.A.) (C) 1 to 8 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)
Spring:
SEED 795 - PRACTICUM IN SECONDARY EDUCATION (M.A.) [online] 1 to 6 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)

Year Two - Summer

SEED 776 - THEORY AND PEDAGOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS 3 cr hrs
TET 715 - SOCIOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION [online] 3 cr hrs
ELECTIVES 3 cr hrs

Year Two - Fall/Spring

Fall:
SEED 796 - FIELD EXPERIENCE (M.A.) 1 to 8 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)
Spring:
SEED 786 - CAPSTONE 3 cr hrs

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 SEED 796 .

English Language Learning Specialization

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 one of the electives and EDFN 775 for an approved substitution for SEED 794 .

Science, Technology or Math (STM) Specialization

Year One - Summer

EDER 761 - GRADUATE RESEARCH & DESIGN (C) [online] 3 cr hrs
SEED 773 - RESEARCH-BASED METHODS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 3 cr hrs
ELECTIVE 3 cr hrs (LT 712 recommended)

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

SEED 776 - THEORY AND PEDAGOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS 3 cr hrs
Advisor approved elective in Science, Technology or Math 3 cr hrs (TET 715 recommended)
Advisor approved elective in Science, Technology or Math 3 cr hrs

Year Two - Fall/Spring

Fall:

SEED 794 - INTERNSHIP (M.A.) (C) 1 to 8 (3 cr hrs required)

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).