Course Descriptions (Middle Level Track)

  1. EDUC 6003: Educational Research—A basic course in research and statistical methods to include a study of frequency distributions, graphing, measures of central tendency, data collection, sampling, simple research design, and interpretation of basic research and statistical information.
  1. EDUC 6403: School Law—This course is an introduction to the federal and state legal systems and applicable federal and state educational case law. Particular emphasis is placed on the current federal and state laws and regulations governing students, employees, finance, and the administration of programs for special student populations.
  1. EDUC 5273: Classroom and Group Management—This is an introduction to basic principles of behavior modification and contingency management. Procedures of conditioning, reinforcement, token economy, and self-control as applied to individuals and groups in a variety of settings with emphasis on discussion of research, application, and ethics.
  1. EDUC 6043: Current Issues and Trends in Education—The course explores issues and trends in education which face the region, state, and nation using historical, philosophical, political, multicultural, and other forces as a basis to study how ideas and opinions are shaped.
  1. EDUC 5033: Classroom Assessment—This course is an introduction to tests and measurements as applied to education. It includes elementary statistics essential to compiling and interpreting test data. Emphasis is placed on accountability in the classroom and the latest developments of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
  1. EDUC 6153—Balanced Literacy: It is important for teachers to incorporate learning theory and research data for curriculum planning, assessment, and classroom management. This course reflects current trends in reading and literacy, is research-based, and addresses standards of the National Council of Teachers of English and The International Reading Association. A variety of instructional strategies will be presented for an integrated and interdisciplinary approach.
  1. EDUC 5203: Strategies for Content Area Reading—This course will provide education majors with an overview of the instructional strategies for teaching and integrating reading into content areas. Students will develop a conceptual understanding of reading processes and appropriate instructional strategies, which emphasize reading skills necessary for the learning of content area information.
  2. EDUC 6853: Capstone Portfolio—Thiscourse will provide for the development of the capstone portfolio, based on the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and required for the Master of Education Online Program. Candidates will learn to select, categorize, and document their achievements and accomplishments for review and assessment related to the NBPTS certification process. Computer literacy and graduate-level writing skills will be strictly enforced. Teaching experience is strongly recommended.
  1. Approved Elective—Elective must be approved by Program Director. It may be compressed video, transfer, online, or face-to-face credit.

Courses Needed for 5th/6th Grade Endorsement

  1. MSED 5013: Middle School Concept—Candidates develop models of middle level

schooling, contexts, and explore early adolescent educational sociology. Develop lessons that demonstrate an emphasis on the relationship between characteristics of transient students, society, and schooling. Candidates develop a middle level philosophy which reflects the philosophical foundations of middle level education.

  1. MSED 5033: Middle School Student—The physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral characteristics of the developmental period of early adolescence within social and cultural contexts are examined. The changes in family settings, social contexts, threats to health and safety and risk behaviors in contemporary society that affect health and development of young adolescents are explored.
  1. S ED 5053: Middle School Methods and Curriculum—Recommended procedures for

teaching middle school pupils with special emphasis on the areas of reading, language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. A course designed for secondary education students who wish to meet middle school certification requirements.