Elementary Education (M.A.)

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Program Overview

The master’s program in elementary education provides you, the classroom teacher, an opportunity to study in greater depth all curriculum and instructional areas related to teaching in elementary schools. It strengthens your teaching skills and exposes you to a variety of materials and programs. Specifically designed for the practicing educator, you will experience a current and relevant curriculum designed to meet your professional needs. Our programs focus on teaching principles of learning and instruction through a framework of current theory, research, best practices, diversity and technology in order to prepare reflective graduates that have broad knowledge of the multiple factors affecting individuals’ development, performance and leadership within P-12 classrooms and professional practice. Specialize in early childhood education (on campus only), culturally and linguistically diverse learners, reading specialist/literacy coach, or science, technology and math education. Degree requirements vary and are based on the student’s individual need. Below is a brief explanation of each program’s credit-hour requirements. The USD School of Education has been accredited by CAEP (formerly NCATE) since 1956. Learn more at usd.edu/ci or usd.edu/online-eled.

DELIVERY: On campus | Online

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

Major Requirements - 30 credit hours

ELED 562 - Teaching English as a New Language (C) 2 cr
ELED 564 - Linguistics and Language Acquisition for P-12 ELL Teachers 3 cr
ELED 566 - P-12 Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment for ELL 3 cr
ELED 570 - P-12 Literacy Methods for English Language Learners 3 cr
EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr
ELED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr
ELED 778 - Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Assessment and Evaluation 3 cr
ELED 783 - Research and Advocacy in Diverse Educational Contexts 3 cr
ELED 794 - Internship (M.A.) (C) 2 to 8 cr (4 cr hrs required)
Select 1 of the following courses (3 cr hours):
Language course (language other than English) 0-3*
*Unless completed at the undergraduate level l or approved for a waiver based on bilingual identity
Elective approved by program advisor 0-3

Accelerated Master’s Program: B.A. or B.S./M.A with Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Learners specialization

Up to 12 credits applied toward the B.S. program may be used to satisfy graduate credit. The following restrictions apply:

Dual-listed courses taken at the 500-level can be applied to both the B.A./B.S. and M.S. degrees. Dual-listed courses must be taken at the 500-level.
The student must apply to, and be admitted to, the accelerated program prior to taking courses to be credited toward the accelerated program.
No courses taken prior to admission to the accelerated program may be counted toward an accelerated graduate degree.
Courses that are “double counted” must be approved by the program coordinator for inclusion in the program of study prior to registration for the course or the credits will not be applied toward the accelerated graduate degree.
Only courses taken at the student’s home institution are eligible for accelerated program credit. No transferred courses from other institutions will be allowed to count toward the accelerated master’s degree.
Students admitted to the accelerated M.A. Program may be allowed to register for all courses included in his/her program of study and these credit hours may apply to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

Early Childhood Education Specialization

Major Requirements - 30 credit hours

EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr
ELED 512 - Kindergarten Education (C) 3 cr
ELED 711 - Research and Methods in Early Childhood Education 3 cr
ELED 713 - Advanced Curriculum & Practices in Early Childhood Education 3 cr
ELED 715 - Leadership & Administration in Ec 3 cr
ELED 773 - Research-Based Methods in Curriculum and Instruction 2-3 cr (3 cr hrs required)
ELED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr
ELED 795 - Practicum 1 to 3 cr (3 cr hrs required)
Electives (LT 712 recommended) 3 cr hrs
Select one of the following for 3 hours:
SPED 770 - Survey: Early Childhood Special Education 3 cr
SPED 771 - Strategies, Planning & Assessment in Early Childhood Special Ed. 3 cr

Science, Technology and Math Education (STEM) Specialization

Major Requirements - 30 credit hours

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

Elective courses (12 credit hours)

ELED 766 - Technology Integration for Effective Instruction 3 cr OR
SEED 766 - Technology Integration for Effective Instruction 3 cr
ELED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr OR
SEED 776 - Theory and Pedagogy for Diverse Learners 3 cr
LT 712 - Instructional Technologies for Active Learning 3 cr
LT 716 - Systematic Design of Instruction 3 cr
LT 731 - Multimedia Production 3 cr
TET 732 - Emerging Technologies in Teaching and Training 3 cr
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 30 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
ELED 757 - Assessment and Interventions for Struggling and Dyslexic Readers 3 cr
ELED 781 - Theoretical Foundations of Literacy and Dyslexia 3 cr
ELED 794 - Internship (M.A.) (C) 2 to 8 cr (3 credit hours required)
Or
SEED 794 - Internship (M.A.) (C) 1 to 8 cr (3 credit hours required)
ELED 795 - Practicum 1 to 3 cr (3 credit hours required)
Or
SEED 795 - Practicum in Secondary Education (M.A.) 1 to 6 cr (3 credit hours required)

Supporting Area Coursework

EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr
ELED 792 - Topics (C) 1 to 3 cr Research Topics -Advanced Readings 1 cr required
Student Teaching or Electives approved by advisor (student may also take Plan A Thesis in these credit hours) 8 cr hrs
ELED 688 - Student Teaching (C) 1-8 cr
SEED 688 - Student Teaching (C) 1-8 cr
Elective with approval of Advisor-Students who have not completed graduate level middle level reading (MLED 560) or secondary reading methods courses (SEED 550) will be required to take one of them as an elective. Students who have completed either MLED 560 or SEED 550 will enroll in an elective approved by the advisor. (3 credit hours required)

Note:

Students who have not completed SEED 550 7-12 Reading and Content Literacy or its equivalent, or MLED 560 or its equivalent, will be required to select one of the two courses as an elective. Students who have completed SEED 550 or MLED 560 while completing their undergraduate degree may count one of these on their Master’s degree.

Accelerated Master’s Program: B.A. or B.S./M.A. with Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach specialization

Up to 12 credits applied toward the B.A./B.S. program may be used to satisfy graduate credit in the Elementary Education, M.A.-Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach Plan B (non-thesis) option.

The following restrictions apply:

Dual-listed courses taken at the 500-level can be applied to both the B.A. or B.S. and M.A. degrees. Dual-listed courses must be taken at the 500-level.
The student must apply to, and be admitted to, the accelerated program prior to taking courses to be credited toward the accelerated program.
No courses taken prior to admission to the accelerated program may be counted toward an accelerated graduate degree.
Courses that are “double counted” must be approved by the program coordinator for inclusion in the program of study prior to registration for the course or the credits will not be applied toward the accelerated graduate degree.
Only courses taken at the student’s home institution are eligible for accelerated program credit. No transferred courses from other institutions will be allowed to count toward the accelerated master’s degree.
Students admitted to the accelerated M.A. Program may be allowed to register for all courses included in his/her program of study and these credit hours may apply to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

Application Requirements

Completed application
$35 application fee
Official transcripts*
Letters of recommendation*
Admission test scores*
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. For specific program requirements and submission deadline, visit: catalog.usd.edu.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The educational curriculum for your academic program may or may not meet educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, please review that state and your program on USD’s Licensure-Track Programs webpage. Licensure-Track Programs

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Questions?

Division of Curriculum and Instruction
605-658-6639 | ci@usd.edu | usd.edu/ci

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu | usd.edu/grad