Program: Elementary Education (M.A.) - University of South Dakota

Apr 03, 2025

2019-2020 Graduate Catalog

The M.A. in Elementary Education (CLD, Early Childhood, and STEM) 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.

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.

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Learners Specialization

Year One - Summer

ELED 773 - Research-Based Methods in Curriculum and Instruction 2-3 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)
EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr hrs
Language course (language other than English) 0-3 cr hrs*

*Unless completed at the undergraduate level

Elective 0-3 cr hrs

Note:

IAM students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 16 month program. IAM students need to enroll in EDFN 755 and EDFN 775 in place of the electives.

Early Childhood Education Specialization

Year One - Summer

ELED 713 - Advanced Curriculum & Practices in Early Childhood Education 3 cr hrs
ELED 773 - Research-Based Methods in Curriculum and Instruction 2-3 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)
ELECTIVE 3 cr hrs (LT 712 recommended)

Year One - Fall/Spring

ELED 512 - Kindergarten Education (C) 3 cr hrs
ELED 795 - Practicum 1 to 3 cr hrs Early Childhood (3 cr hrs required)

Year Two - Summer

EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr hrs
ELED 715 - Leadership & Administration in Ec 3 cr hrs
ELED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr hrs

Year Two - Fall/Spring

Fall:
SPED 770 - Survey: Early Childhood Special Education 3 cr hrs
Or
SPED 771 - Strategies, Planning & Assessment in Early Childhood Special Ed. 3 cr hrs
Spring:
ELED 711 - Research and Methods in Early Childhood Education 3 cr hrs

Note:

IAM students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 16 month program. IAM students need to enroll in EDFN 755 and EDFN 775 in place of two electives.

Science, Technology and Math Education (STEM) Specialization

Major Requirements

IAM students, please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 16 month program. IAM students need to enroll in EDFN 755 in place of the elective and EDFN 775 for an approved substitution for ELED 794 .

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

EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr hrs
ELED 700 - Stem Methods I: History, Foundations, Trends and Issues of Science Technology and Math 3 cr hrs
ELED 710 - Stem Methods II: Research Literature in Stem Education 3 cr hrs
ELED 720 - Designing Projects and Environmens in Stem Education 3 cr hrs
ELED 773 - Research-Based Methods in Curriculum and Instruction 2-3 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)
ELED 794 - Internship (M.A.) (C) 2 to 8 cr hrs (3 cr hrs required)

Elective courses (12 credit hours)

ELED 766 - Technology Integration for Effective Instruction 3 cr hrs OR
SEED 766 - Technology Integration for Effective Instruction 3 cr hrs
ELED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr hrs OR
SEED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr hrs
LT 712 - Instructional Technologies for Active Learning 3 cr hrs
LT 716 - Systematic Design of Instruction 3 cr hrs
LT 731 - Multimedia Production 3 cr hrs
TET 732 - Emerging Technologies in Teaching and Training 3 cr hrs
Also accepted: Any graduate level math and science courses will be accepted should the students be qualified and interested to take such courses.

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

Students in this program are required to take the Praxis Exam for Reading Specialists as an additional graduation requirement.

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

Major Area Coursework

ELED 752 - Reading/Literacy Program Leadership and Change 3 cr hrs
ELED 755 - Research & Practices in Reading in the Elementary School 2 to 3 cr hrs (3 credit hours required)
ELED 757 - Assessment, Diagnosis, and Interventions for Effective Reading Instruction 3 cr hrs
ELED 781 - Psychology of Reading 3 cr hrs
ELED 794 - Internship (M.A.) (C) 2 to 8 cr hrs (3 credit hours required)
Or
SEED 794 - Internship (M.A.) (C) 1 to 8 cr hrs (3 credit hours required)
ELED 795 - Practicum 1 to 3 cr hrs DIAGNOSIS AND CORRECTION OF READING DIFFICULTIES (3 credit hours required)
MLED 560 - Middle Level Reading Methods 3 cr hrs
SEED 550 - 7-12 Reading and Content Literacy (C) 3 cr hrs

Supporting Area Coursework

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

EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr hrs
Outside Elective 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

Note:

IAM students please work closely with your advisor to complete the requirements within the 16 month program. IAM students enroll in EDFN 755 in place of a course from the “Outside Elective Courses from the following Recommended Areas” and EDFN 775 in place of the technology course under “Required supporting course work”.