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Kutztown University
Graduate Programs

The Master of Education Degree in Elementary Education - Extension of Certification

* This is a graduate degree program leading to a Master of Education degree in elementary education for those students who desire to extend their current teacher certification to include certification in elementary education. Only certified teachers may apply to this program.

Program of Study

Hours: 36 Thesis: Optional

Teachers who have initial certification, including student teaching, in a field OTHER than elementary education may wish to extend their certification to the elementary area. This can be done at the graduate level, earning a master's degree simultaneously. Kutztown University offers a 36-hour program of courses which will enable teachers to accomplish this dual purpose.

Students 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 are counted as additional credit to equal 36 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. A total of 36 credit hours is required in the following distribution. All courses are three semester hours, except where otherwise noted.

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

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Course Work

AREA I Required Curriculum Core (minimum credit hours 21). One course from each category is required in Area I

Reading

  • EDU 452 Current Trends in Reading Instruction OR
  • EDU 551 Principles of Reading Instruction OR
  • EDU 552 Teaching Reading in Content Areas OR
  • EDU 557 Foundations of Reading Comprehension

Math

  • ELU 542 Integration of Mathematics for Elementary Schools OR
  • MAU 415 Learning and Teaching Mathematics OR
  • MAU 425 Middle School Mathematics OR
  • MAU 574 Seminar in Mathematics Education for Elementary Teachers

Language Arts

  • ELU 519 Teaching Writing to Children OR
  • ELU 548 Contemporary Themes in Children's and Adolescent Literature OR
  • ELU 560 Seminar in Language Arts Instruction

Social Studies

  • ELU 518 Strategies for Outdoor Education OR
  • ELU 570 Seminar in Elementary Social Studies Instruction

Science

  • ELU 518 Strategies for Outdoor Education OR
  • ELU 587 Resource Materials in Elementary Science OR
  • SCI 514 Life Science in the Elementary and Middle School Curricula OR
  • SCI 517 The Earth Sciences as Studies in the Elementary and Middle School's Curricula

Arts

  • ARU 538 Arts Teaching Strategies for Atypical Learners OR
  • ARU 581 The Teaching of Response to the Arts OR
  • EDU 517 Relating the Arts to Education OR
  • MUS 506 Seminar in Elementary School Music OR
  • MUS 510 Music Listening in the Elementary School

Evaluation

  • EDU 523 Evaluation: Tests and Measurements for Teachers

AREA II Problems of Education in Their Broad Setting (minimum credit hours 3)

  • ELU 530 Historical Background of Elementary Education
  • ELU 540 Seminar in Elementary Curriculum Development
  • EDU 528 Education and the Culturally Different Student
  • EDU 533 Social Interpretations of Education
  • EDU 535 Major Philosophies of Education
  • EDU 578 Comparative Education: Analysis of International Education Systems
  • EDU 597 Change in Education

AREA III Research (minimum credit hours 9)

  • EDU 500 Methods of Research (REQUIRED: Must be taken as one of your first three courses)
  • OPTION: CHOOSE A OR B
    • Option A
      • EDU 503 Thesis (6 hours—see Graduate Bulletin for details)
    • Option B
      • ELU 569 Current Topics in Elementary Education (taken at end of program)
      • ELU 571 Application of Current Elementary Education Topics (usually last course)

AREA IV Professional Applications (minimum credit hours 3)

  • AVC 614 Instructional Technology
  • AVC 525 Microcomputers for Educators
  • AVC 532 Integrated Video/Computer Productions for Educators
  • AVC 553 Development of Projected Instructional Materials
  • EDU 515 Creating Learning Materials
  • EDU 543 Methods of Creative Education
  • ELU 510 Seminar in Early Childhood Education
  • ELU 524 Learning Styles and Teaching Strategies in Elementary Education
  • ELU 542 Integration of Mathematics for Elementary School
  • ELU 572 Classroom Management and Discipline
  • LIB 585 Seminar: Materials for Children and Young Adults
  • PSY 525 Developmental Psychology of Childhood
  • PSY 565 Theories of Learning

A maximum of two (2) 400-level courses may be included towards 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 from another institution. Guidelines are established in the Graduate Bulletin. Elementary Education Department requirements are:

  • Course must be accepted for masters credit at the University where you took the course.
  • Course must be equivalent to a Kutztown University course.
  • Course must be approved by the chair of the graduate committee or by the chair of the Elementary Education Department.

Upon completion of coursework, the appropriate PRAXIS certification tests must be taken to receive certification.

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Contact Person

Dr. Elsa Geskus, Elementary Graduate Committee Chairperson

Department of Elementary Education

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