MEd: Elementary Education

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Concentration Options

Master of Education: Elementary Education

• Early Childhood emphasis
• General emphasis
• Reading emphasis

The Masters in Elementary Education is appropriate for early childhood and elementary teachers, specialists, department chairpersons, and those who work in informal or international educational settings. Candidates choose two 9 hour concentration areas that will support their personal growth and development as an educational leader. It is important that both students and advisors plan ahead to insure courses in concentration areas are taken when they are offered in the 3 year rotation schedule. Programs must be planned with the academic advisor and meet the approval of the faculty advisor, adhering to the College of Education and UMSL Graduate School policies.

Concentration area choices will appear at the end of the M.Ed. transcript. 

General emphasis Program for ELE ED

The M.Ed. in Elementary Education consists of 15 required hours (5 courses) plus student choice of two 9 hour concentrations from the list below. The General emphasis requirements are met by (a) completing three required foundational courses (9 hrs.) toward the beginning of the M.Ed. program, (b) completing the coursework for two choice concentration areas (2*9 hrs each), and (c) completing the two exit capstone research classes (6 hrs.) for a total of 33 hours.

Concentration areas indicate zero to three REQUIRED courses; some then offer a list of course CHOICE selections as a menu to choose your remaining hours for that concentration. ALL Concentration choices total nine hours of graduate credit.

An Elective Concentration allows students, with advisor sign-off, to construct an individualized set of target courses for 1 of their 2 concentration areas. Transfer graduate credit from another institution could also fit into this concentration choice. Finally, those who want to take 9 graduate hours in an academic content area may use the Discipline Content Area Concentration to integrate this advanced work into their M.Ed. program.

Reading and Early Childhood Emphasis Areas for ELE ED

Students who applied to the reading or early childhood emphasis areas and wish to focus intensively (e.g. 18 hrs) in one area of expertise  are required to sign up for two sequential 9 hour concentrations.  Those in reading should select the Literacy I and II concentrations.   Those in early childhood should select the Early Childhood I and II concentrations.  Additional coursework may be required for licensure.

3) 9 hour Concentration Choices (CHOOSE 2 or both Concentrations I & II under an emphasis option as indicated)

a) Early Childhood Concentrations I and II (Option A or B)
b) Curriculum and Instruction Concentration
c) Literacy Concentrations I and II (Certificates in Reading and Writing available)
d) Special Education Concentration
e) Social Justice Issues Concentration (Social Justice in Education Certificate available)
f) Leadership in Education Concentration
g) STEM Concentration
h) Discipline Content Area Concentration
i) Elective Concentration
j) Supporting Language Learners: TESOL Concentration I (DESE TESOL endorsement available under SEC ED)
k) Middle School Education Concentration

Early Childhood Education Concentration I and II (Options A & B): 9 hours each

Designed to enable candidates to further their competencies as teachers or program administrators in public and private early childhood program, early childhood education also prepares people for positions in community agencies that support families and young children. Job opportunities working with young children continue to expand. New research tools have altered our understanding of learning processes in young children with the plasticity of the brain and children’s gift for inquiry in systematic ways. Language acquisition and numeracy are acquired in social communities of practice. Explore this exciting field. Concentration I is designed for those who want to increase knowledge and skills in working with young children in school, after school, and home settings. Concentration II is geared for professionals in field.

Early Childhood Concentration I: *Courses offered online*

Early Childhood Concentration II: Choice A: 9 hours *Courses offered online*

Early Childhood Special Education Concentration II: Choice B: 9 hours *Courses are NOT offered on line*

Curriculum and Instruction Concentration: 9 hours

In order for all students to optimally achieve, teachers must develop integrated, standards-based, innovative curriculum delivered as engaging instruction that equips students to develop the knowledge and skills for a global society. This concentration explores common issues in curriculum design and implementation. Educators will create curriculum and design instruction for their own educational settings.

Literacy Concentrations I: 9 hours

Concentration I is designed for educators who want a deeper understanding of reading and writing processes across the lifespan. This area emphasizes the preparation of leaders in a wide range of school and community settings, including literacy coaches or grade-level leaders. Concentration I emphasizes cutting-edge theory, research and instructional practices in literacy education. Concentration II, for those wanting a Literacy endorsement, applies these understandings through a variety of readings, writings and experiences, both in Clinical and online settings. There are two choices for Concentration II: Writing and Reading. Students who complete Concentrations I and II in Literacy can apply these courses to a K-12 DESE reading certificate or the UMSL Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing, but additional coursework may be required.

Literacy Concentration II: 9 hours Choice A:

Courses to complete the Reading Emphasis Certification

The M.Ed. program with emphasis in reading (literacy) is designed to enable candidates to further their competencies as teachers of reading, writing, and the other communication arts. The program also prepares them for positions as literacy coaches, reading specialists, curriculum specialists in communication arts and reading areas, consultants in areas of communication arts, and/or for further graduate study. Concentration II enables a student to earn a master’s degree in education with credit towards an emphasis in reading as per requirements laid out by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for special reading certification in Missouri. Students must complete the required 15 hours of M.Ed. courses, an educational psychology course, plus 18 hours of literacy courses.

Concentration II: 9 hours Choice B:

Courses to complete the Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing

Admission
Applicants who wish to earn a Graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Writing must apply for admission to the certificate program. Applicants must have a 2.75 GPA in undergraduate coursework to be admitted. A background in K-12 or adult education is desirable.

Special Education Concentration: 9 hours

For educators who are not receiving a degree in Special Education, but would like to expand their understanding of Special Education law and the needs of students with cross-categorical disabilities and those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, this concentration offers coursework on the characteristics and effective strategies for teaching students with varied abilities in educational settings. Those interested in the M.Ed. in Special Education or the Graduate Certificate in Autism and Developmental Disabilities should choose concentrations in those designated programs under the Masters in Special Education or Autism Certificate links in Bulletin.

 
Social Justice Issues Concentration: 9 hours

Educators need to challenge themselves to understand the variety of assets diverse students and their families bring to educational contexts. An interdisciplinary group of courses is offered for this concentration that invite personal growth and academic knowledge in the area of social justice. An emphasis on engagement and action permeates the course activities.  (With completion of TCH ED 6010,TCH ED 6020 and TCH ED 6910 and 9 hours from the list below, students will meet requirements for the Social Justice in Education Certificate. (Applicants who wish to earn a Graduate Certificate in Social Justice in Education must apply for admission to the certificate program.)

Leadership in Education Concentration: 9 hours

Organizations need leaders who understand the complexities of systems and working with diverse staff and families within situated communities in a dynamic and changing educational environment. Leadership skills can be taught and nurtured. This Leadership in Education concentration allows educators in various roles and career levels to apply principles of leadership to creating effective communities of practice.

STEM Concentration: 9 hours

Many challenges remain in the attraction and preparation of youth for the careers in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Those who teach in these areas need to continually work toward developing and implementing relevant curricula and develop new instructional strategies as well as revise and upgrade current methodology. The STEM Concentration focuses on professional development with respect to instructional research and best practices for all involved in enhancing STEM literacy.

Discipline Content Area Concentration: 9 hours

Educators recognize the importance of staying current in their field of teaching. This Discipline Content Concentration allows for 9 hours of graduate level credit in a content area related to one’s field of practice. This includes graduate credit in areas such as history, English, math, science, foreign language, health and PE, and art and music. Courses for this concentration need to be approved by advisors before they are included on the M-1 program form.

Elective Concentration: 9 hours

To insure maximum flexibility in course selection to meet the individual needs of professional educator’s development, this concentration represents an opportunity to select three unique courses from the various concentration areas in an eclectic and personalized way. Choices to include in this concentration need to be approved by advisors and signed off on by the program director.

Supporting Language Learners: TESOL Concentration I: 9 hours

This concentration is designed for those who want to better understand Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) processes. Courses emphasize the theoretical foundations of Second Language Acquisition and TESOL and their practical application to practice. Concentration I is open to all Masters in Education students. A TESOL endorsement from DESE is available under the SEC ED M.Ed. options.

 Middle School Education Concentration: 9 hours

The concentration in middle level education is designed for graduate students who would like to further their competencies as a middle level educator.