Elementary Education, M.Ed.

course descriptions

Course Requirements and Descriptions for M. Ed. in Instructional Leadership Educational Studies - Elementary

(with K-9 State of Illinois initial teaching certification)

Each of these courses:

CIE 410: Literature, Social Studies and the Arts in the Elementary School (4) Theory and practice in curriculum development, planning instruction, and assessing learning in elementary classrooms. Literature, social studies and the arts content foci. 30 hours fieldwork in urban, multicultural classrooms required. Taken in the first semester of study.

CIE 411: Creating Learning Environments in the Elementary School (3) Examination of beliefs about teaching, culture, and learning in urban America in relation to the creation of learning environments. Emphasis on understanding application of state standards in classrooms and beginning development of electronic teaching portfolio based on the Illinois professional teaching standards. Taken in the first semester of study.

CIE 412: Dynamics of Learning Environments (3) Exploration of multiculturalism and bilingualism/biculturalism in schools and families. Continued development of electronic portfolio for meeting Illinois professional teaching and technology standards. (Those pursuing Bilingual/ESL Approval or the 15 month option may substitute CIE 481: Foundations and Cross-Cultural Issues in Teaching English Language Learners, for CIE 412.)

CIE 413: Foundations of K-8 Literacy Instruction (4) Introduction to teaching literacy K-8; examining cognitive, social, developmental perspectives; relationship between language and literacy; connections to other school subjects; aligning instruction, assessment, standards. 15 hours fieldwork in urban, multicultural classrooms required.

SpEd 410: Survey of Characteristics of Learners with Disabilities (3) Fulfills requirements for Illinois House Bill 150. Learning and personality characteristics of exceptional learners. Diagnostic processes and educational approaches are examined. 30 hours fieldwork experience in urban, multicultural classrooms required.

CIE 507: Teaching and Learning Mathematics in the Elementary School (4) Integrating mathematics content with teaching and learning issues, including adapting and developing curriculum, planning, classroom interactions, and assessment in K-9 classrooms. 30 hours fieldwork experiences with focused observations in urban, multicultural classrooms (Bilingual Teachers and others, with permission, may substitute CIE 571: Integrating Math, Science, and ESL, for CIE 507.)

CIE 508: Teaching and Learning Science in the Elementary School (4) To help prospective teachers develop multiple frameworks for facilitating the learning of science in students of various abilities, cultures, and backgrounds. 30 hours supervised field experience in urban, multicultural classrooms required.

CIE 511-512: Student Teaching in the Elementary Grades I and II (12) Culminating course in graduate elementary teaching. Students are placed in K-8 Chicago Public School classrooms, with mentor teachers, under the supervision of a UIC field supervisor. The Project 29 option allows eligible, employed, Type 29 certified teachers to student teach in their CPS K-8 bilingual classrooms under the supervision of UIC bilingual field supervisors.

One of the following two courses:

ED 421: Advanced Educational Psychology (3) Examines current theory and research on the teaching-learning process with particular attention to general learning and curriculum-relevant problem-solving skills. OR

ED 422: Advanced Developmental Psychology and Educational Processes (3) Focuses on cognitive and social development from birth to adolescence. Examines relations between development, learning, and educational processes.

One of the following two courses:

ED 402: Philosophy of Education and Urban School Policy (3) Selected social and education philosophies and their impact on urban school curriculum design, school organization, and control.

ED 403: Policy Issues in the History of American Education (3) Political, economic, and cultural influences shaping the development of American education policy; emphasis on issues of education theory and practice in their historical settings.

One of the following two courses:

CIE 464: Bilingualism and Literacy in a Second Language (4) Theoretical foundations of second language acquisition and the teaching of English as a second language. Methods and materials for teaching reading and writing in bilingual/ESL settings. 30 hours fieldwork required.

CIE 505: Integrating Reading and Writing Instruction (4) Examination of the reading-writing relationship. Specific instructional strategies for teaching reading and writing together in the elementary grades. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Total Hours for Masters degree: 35
The courses described above for the Masters degree, in addition to the requirements which follow, must be completed to obtain a State of Illinois Type 03 Elementary Education Initial Teaching Certificate.
General Education Courses and State of Illinois Test Requirements

Students will show evidence of having completed at least one course, with a grade of C or better, from an accredited college or university, in each of the six core curricular areas of the Illinois Content Area Standards for Elementary Education: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Science (to include at least one course in either American History or American Government), Physical Development and Health, and Fine Arts.

Students must also demonstrate content knowledge by passing the Illinois Basic Skills Test (an admission requirement), the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Content Test - Elementary Education, and the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) Test. Additional courses are required for those seeking middle school endorsement and/or Bilingual/ESL approval.