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Kutztown University
Graduate Programs

The Master of Education Degree in Elementary Education

* Applicants for this curriculum are required to be holders of a valid teacher's certificate in elementary education.

Program of Study

Hours: 30 or 36 Thesis: Optional

The Master of Education degree in elementary education is intended for students with INITIAL CERTIFICATION in elementary education. The program is designed to increase the student's knowledge and competence in developing curriculum and instructional methods. Emphasis is placed on the improvement of the student's leadership abilities.

Students certified in a different teaching field may obtain the M.Ed. degree and certification in elementary education through a special thirty-six (36) hour program designed especially for the student and approved by the chairperson of the Department of Elementary Education. (See Extension of Certificate Program).

Students with an undergraduate major in elementary education seeking an M.Ed. in elementary education must satisfy all curriculum requirements, all University graduation requirements, and fulfill one of the following options:

A.  Complete 30 semester hours of appropriate graduate course requirements in the proper distribution and submit an acceptable thesis. Six (6) hours of credit are awarded for the thesis and may be counted toward the required 30 semester hours.

B.  Complete 36 semester hours of appropriate graduate course work in the proper distribution, including ELU 569 Current Topics in Elementary Education and ELU 571 Application of Current Elementary Education Topics, which should be taken as the final two courses. This option will culminate in a comprehensive project. The development and implementation of the comprehensive project is an integral part of ELU 571. It is designed to enable a graduate student to demonstrate a knowledge of the research in the field of education through a major presentation. This project is intended to increase leadership abilities, improve peer training qualities, and produce materials to meet the professional development needs of elementary education teachers. By taking the minimum number of hours in each category candidates will have 30 hours. An additional two courses must be completed to meet full credit hours.

Graduate courses may be selected from and applied to the requirement indicated for each of the following four major areas. A specific course cannot be counted toward the fulfillment of a requirement in more than one area.

All students accepted into this program must complete all requirements within six (6) calendar years.

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Course Work

I. Problems of Education in Their Broad Setting (minimum 3 credit hours)

II. Theory with Practice in Teaching (minimum 6 credit hours)

III. Research (minimum 9 credit hours)

IV. Specialization

A. Academic (minimum 6 credit hours)

  • Courses may be selected from any other academic disciplines, as long as they do NOT have an EDU, ELU prefix and are NOT listed in Section II.

B. Professional (minimum 6 credit hours)

  • ELU 412 Curriculum for Children in Infant-Toddler Period
  • ELU 520 Folk Literature and Storytelling for Teachers of Elementary and Middle-School Children
  • ELU 524 Learning Styles and Teaching Strategies in Elementary Education
  • ELU 542 Integration of Mathematics for Elementary School
  • ELU 548 Contemporary Themes in Children's and Adolescent Literature
  • ELU 572 Strategies for Elementary Classroom Management and Discipline
  • EDU 523 Evaluation: Tests and Measurements for Teachers
  • EDU 551 Principles of Reading Instruction
  • EDU 552 Teaching Reading in Content Areas
  • EDU 553 Psychological Bases of Reading Instruction
  • EDU 555 Reading Disabilities
  • EDU 557 Foundations of Reading Comprehension
  • EDU 568 Middle School and Curriculum

A maximum of two (2) 400-level courses may be included toward the fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Ed. degree.

There is a limit of six (6) transfer credits. After admission, written approval for transfer credits is required from the chairperson of the Department of Elementary Education, the student's academic advisor, and the Graduate Dean at Kutztown University. To avoid loss of credit, the student should obtain this approval prior to registration for a course at another institution. Guidelines are established in the Graduate Bulletin. Elementary Education Department requirements are:

Courses with the EDU 565, ELU 566 prefix may be taken only by permission of advisor or chair of the elementary education department. A maximum of two courses with either EDU 565 or ELU 566 or combination of the two prefixes may be included toward the fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Ed. degree.

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Contact Person

Dr. Elsa Geskus, Elementary Graduate Committee Chairperson

Department of Elementary Education

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