2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Master of Arts in Education, Elementary Education

Professionals in the fields of early childhood and elementary education will enhance and expand their professional knowledge and expertise. Coursework includes opportunities to pursue special projects, engage in timely conversations about current topics, and advocate for children’s educational experiences and outcomes. Concentration areas in literacy, elementary education, and early childhood education are available.

30 credits

Reading/Literacy Concentration

EDRD 615Early Literacy Development

3

or

EDRD 620Disciplinary Literacy & Integrated Instruction: Addressing Content Area Reading & Informational Text

3

EDRD 627Teaching Literacy to Diverse Learners

3

EDRD 680Classroom Literacy Assessment

3

EDEL 676Research in Elementary Education

3

EDRD 610The Teaching of Reading in the Elementary School

3

EDRD 630Psychological Foundations of Reading

3

EDRD 624Integrating Technology in the Literacy Program

3

EDRD 640Issues in the Teaching of Literacy

3

or

EDRD 650The Organization and Supervision of a School Reading Program

3

EDRD 645History of Reading

3

EDRD 685Advanced Teaching Methods in Language Arts

3

Elementary Education Concentration

EDEL 600Basic Concepts in Elementary Education

3

EDEL 626Building Classroom Community & Restorative Justice

3

EDEL 644Education in a Diverse Society

3

EDEL 655Principles of Differentiation in a Responsive Elementary Classroom

3

or

EDEL 657Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Elementary Classroom Programs

3

EDEL 660The Effective Use of Technology in the Elementary School

3

EDEL 663Understanding Data to Inform Teaching and Learning in Elementary Schools

3

EDEL 676Research in Elementary Education

3

EDRD 610The Teaching of Reading in the Elementary School

3

EDPS 603Psychology of Human Development

3

or

EDPS 627Child Development

3

ECYF 630School, Family, and Community Partnerships

3

Early Childhood Education Concentration

ECYF 630School, Family, and Community Partnerships

3

ECYF 640Introduction to Early Childhood Education

3

ECYF 648Play and Creativity in Early Childhood

3

ECYF 653Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood

3

ECYF 651Educational Programs for Young Children

3

EDEL 644Education in a Diverse Society

3

EDEL 676Research in Elementary Education

3

EDPS 627Child Development

3

EDRD 615Early Literacy Development

3

Choose one:

ECYF 641Administration of Early Childhood Programs

3

ECYF 649Infant and Toddler Education

3

ECYF 672Mentoring Early Childhood Professionals

1 TO 3

Focus Areas
Elementary Education with a Focus Area

Students may opt for an elementary focus area by completing a license in Gifted and Talented or a certificate in Autism, Computer Education, Gifted and Talented Education, Human Development and Learning, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders or TESOL paired with the courses listed below.

*Students must apply into the Certificate (through the admissions process) they wish to pursue in order to have the certificate officially awarded to them.

Choose one of the certificates as a focus area listed below:

  • Autism: Students required to take EDPS 627
  • Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Students required to take EDPS 627
  • Human Development and Learning: Students required to take EDPS 603
  • Computer Education: Students required to take EDRD 610
  • TESOL: Students required to take EDRD 610
  • Gifted and Talented (certificate or licensure): Students required to take EDPS 627and also take either EDCU 610 or EDPS 646.
EDEL 600Basic Concepts in Elementary Education

3

EDEL 644Education in a Diverse Society

3

EDRD 610The Teaching of Reading in the Elementary School

3

or

EDRD 615Early Literacy Development

3

EDPS 603Psychology of Human Development

3

or

EDPS 627Child Development

3

EDEL 676Research in Elementary Education

3

Elementary Education with T2T focus

Students completing the Transition to Teaching license can earn their MAE in Elementary Education by taking the courses listed below. T2T students are required to take MATH 680 and EDEL 690, which do not count toward the MAE degree.

EDEL 600Basic Concepts in Elementary Education

3

EDPS 627Child Development

3

EDRD 610The Teaching of Reading in the Elementary School

3

EDRD 615Early Literacy Development

3

EDEL 644Education in a Diverse Society

3

EDEL 663Understanding Data to Inform Teaching and Learning in Elementary Schools

3

EDEL 626Building Classroom Community & Restorative Justice

3

ECYF 630School, Family, and Community Partnerships

3

EDEL 655Principles of Differentiation in a Responsive Elementary Classroom

3

or

EDEL 657Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Elementary Classroom Programs

3

EDEL 676Research in Elementary Education

3

Early Childhood Education with a Focus Area

Students may opt for an early childhood focus area in Autism by completing the Autism Certificate in addition the courses listed below.

*Students must apply into the Certificate (through the admissions process) they wish to pursue in order to have the certificate officially awarded to them.

ECYF 640Introduction to Early Childhood Education

3

EDRD 615Early Literacy Development

3

EDEL 644Education in a Diverse Society

3

EDPS 627Child Development

3

EDEL 676Research in Elementary Education

3

Total Credit Hours: 30