Department of Secondary Education

Master of Education in Secondary Education

Course Descriptions

Required Courses (18 credits without thesis, 21 credits with thesis):

EDUC 605: Research and Information Technology (to be completed within first 9 hours of coursework) (3)

SCED 741: Curriculum Theory and Development (3)

SCED 647: Advanced Teaching & Learning Processes (3)

EDUC 601: Concepts and Issues in Education (3)

EDUC 761: Research in Education (3)

SCED 781: Integrated Professional Practice Seminar (to be taken in the last 6 hours of coursework) (3)

SCED 897: Master's Thesis in Secondary Education (6)

Elective Courses (15 credits without thesis, 12 hours with thesis)

Diversity and Differentiation Elective:

EDUC 660: Teaching in a Multicultural Society (3) or alternative as approved by the

graduate director

All electives are planned in terms of the needs and goals of the individual student and must be approved by the adviser. Areas of focus include content areas, special education, leadership, and instructional technology. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken at the 500 level.

Below are descriptions of required courses:

EDUC 605
RESEARCH AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Use of database networks for information retrieval; computer hardware and software application programs appropriate for research and curriculum planning; introduction to distance learning; interactive technologies and resource-based learning. Must be completed within first 9 hours of coursework.

EDUC 601

CONCEPTS AND ISSUES IN EDUCATION

Social, economic, historical, political, and technological trends that shape educational policy and programs.

SCED 647

ADVANCED TEACHING & LEARNING PROCESSES

Thoery, research, and practices relating to the teaching process and instructional systems design; critical evaluation of current models of instructional design and instruction models for achieving cognitive, social, and personal learning objectives, as well as the application of a systems approach for analyzing, designing, implementing and evaluating instructional solutions.

SCED 741

CURRICULUM THEORY AND DEVELOPMENT

Principles and practices, significant historical and contemporary influences in K-12 curriculum. Emphasis on curriculum development process, evaluation, trends, and teachers as curriculum developers and implementers.

EDUC 761

RESEARCH IN EDUCATION

Theory and methodology of education research. Prerequisite: EDUC 605.

* please note: depending upon your particular program of study, this course is either required or strongly recommended. However, EDUC 761 is required for anyone planning to complete a action research project in SCED 781.

SCED 781

INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Trends, issues, problems in education. Integrative investigations through quantitative/qualitative research, curriculum and instruction development for selected aspects of secondary education. Prerequisite: 21 credits of graduate work and EDUC 761. This is a culminating course. Students design and develop one of the following projects: classroom research, curriculum development, or program development.

Diversity and Differentiation: Select One

* Please note: depending upon your particular program of study, the diversity/differentiation course may be counted as an elective.

EDUC 660

TEACHING IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY

This course will provide teacher-education students with the background knowledge, understanding and techniques to deal effectively with children from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 

SCED 649

TEACHING GIFTED STUDENTS/DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Characteristics of gifted adolescents, role of the gifted in society, educational programs, identification procedures, administrative arrangements, curriculum and methodology.

SPED 601

CURRICULUM & METHODS OF INSTRUCTION FOR SECONDARY TRANSITION

Practical application of legal requirements for preparing students with disabilities for transition into employment, post-secondary, and adult settings, including prevocational and vocational methodologies, student centered planning and interagency linkages. Prerequisite: SPED 301 or consent of instructor.

Elective Courses

(15 hours without thesis, 12 hours with thesis)

A maximum of 9 credits may be taken at the 500 level. All electives are planned in terms of the needs and goals of the individual student and must be approved by the adviser. Elective courses can be chosen from any field.