EDUC604

Curriculum Design  (3 cr.)

Curriculum is defined and curricular theories are examined in this course. Curriculum development models that align curriculum, assessment and instruction are studied. School district curriculum development, implementation and evaluation processes, and the roles of personnel responsible for these processes are explored. 

EDUC605

Effective Teaching Techniques  (3 cr.)

A variety of teaching styles are examined in this course and students identify their preferred style. Different teaching methods and techniques essential for meeting the needs of diverse learners are explored. Methods for adapting the teacher's preferred style of teaching to meet the needs of students are examined.

EDUC607

Communication Skills  (3 cr.)

Written and oral communication skills used by educators in their contacts with students, parents, colleagues and the public are the focus of this course. Processes of preparing, evaluating and delivering written and oral presentations are explored. The APA style of writing is examined. Approximately 80% of the class time will focus on writing skills and 20% on oral communications.

EDUC613

Ethics in Education  (3 cr.)

Ethical behavior and decision making in an educational environment are the focus of this course.  Ethical theory and moral principles central to school policies and rules are identified.  The distinction between ethics and values, preferences and cultural norms is examined. The role of the educator as an ethical leader is explored.

EDUC617

Educational Research  (3 cr.)

The impact of educational research on the development of educational theory and the improvement of educational practices are examined. The research methodology is introduced. Students explore processes for conducting educational research projects.

EDUC618

Summary Paper Preparation  (1 cr.) (P/NC)

This course guides students through integration of the experiences of the Master of Arts in Education program into the design of the summary paper.  Students prepare the introduction and literature review sections of their summary paper. The APA style of writing and a variety of organizational styles for the material gathered through the literature review portion of the research process are examined.

EDUC640

Teacher and the Law  (3 cr.)

Legal issues, statute and case law related directly to the classroom teacher are identified and reviewed in this course.   Legal trends and standards that have been established for education are analyzed.

EDUC642

EDUC603

Leadership Skills for Educators  (3 cr.)

This course examines various dimensions of leadership in varied, complex educational organizations. Leadership qualities, styles, functions and tasks are explored. Decision making, motivation, job satisfaction, communication and negotiating skills are addressed.  Processes for developing leadership plans are examined.

EDUC608

Student Management  (3 cr.)

This course provides an overview of cognitive and behavioral theory with an emphasis on developing productive relationships between the teacher and students. Results-oriented techniques for working with culturally diverse student populations and for managing varied types of student behavior are explored.

EDUC620

Active Listening  (1 cr.)

A variety of listening techniques utilized to enhance communication in varied settings are studied and practiced in this course.

EDUC633

Child Abuse and Neglect  (1 cr.)

This course provides opportunities for students to develop a practical understanding of child abuse and neglect based on recent case studies, national/local trends and legal requirements for mandated reporters.  Child abuse and neglect are examined and defined in respect to MN State Statute 626.556. Legal requirements for mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect are defined.

EDUC635

Psychological Development of Children  (3 cr.)

The characteristics of changes in behavior and functioning at each stage of life from conception through adolescence are examined in this course.

EDUC637

Integrating Technology in the Curriculum  (3 cr.)

A variety of technology tools for teaching and learning and their professional and ethical implications are explored.  Projects, lessons, and teaching materials to integrate technology into the curriculum are examined.

EDUC638

Program Design for Gifted and Talented Education  (3 cr.)

The history, research and program design options for gifted education are examined in this course. The identification and characteristics of gifted learners, curricular and instructional design, and topics such as meta-cognition, reflective and moral reasoning, and critical thinking are examined.

EDUC639

Program Design for Special Education  (3 cr.)

This course is an overview of special education including an historic perspective, federal law and state mandates.  Pre-referral interventions, referral procedures, assessment and evaluation procedures are examined.  Programming trends from segregation to full inclusion and educational strategies for learner and teacher success are explored.

EDUC645

Creativity  (3 cr.)

The history and theory of creativity are examined in this course. Topics include types and degrees of creativity.  Identifying and serving highly creative students, developing strategies for all students to be better creative thinkers, and strategies for becoming a more creative person are explored.

EDUC646

Strategies for the Mixed Ability Classroom  (1 cr.)

In this course students examine differentiated instruction, instructional strategies and management techniques for responding to the learning needs of students in mixed-ability classrooms.  Students design instructional strategies and classroom management plans to respond to the diverse needs of their students.

EDUC654

Brain-Based Learning  (3 cr.)

Prerequisite: EDUC 605

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices based on brain research are explored in this course. Students design experiential learning experiences, concept-based curriculum, instructional strategies and assessments that align with brain research.

EDUC656

Media Literacy  (2 cr.)

Media literacy is examined through advertising, news, television programming and print media. Special emphasis is placed on media and the school-aged child to help teachers become media-literate. Learning activities that use media appropriately and foster media literacy are developed in this course.

EDUC657

Implications of Culture and Style for Learning and Teaching (3 cr.)

In this course students examine how culture, ethnicity, poverty and cognitive style relate to teaching and learning.  Diversity theories and research and their impact on learning are examined.  Techniques for transforming educational climate and practice to support student achievement in a culturally diverse environment are studied.

EDUC658

Children's and Adolescents' Literature  (3 cr.)

The major elements of literature for school-aged students are examined in this course.   Critical reaction and evaluation, censorship, motivating readers, writing in response to reading, and the gifted and remedial reader are examined.  Approaches for using literature across the curriculum are explored.

EDUC667

Teaching Strategies for the Gifted and Diverse Classroom (1 cr.)

Students research, analyze and develop innovative strategies for recognizing and accommodating giftedness. This course provides class participants with research literature regarding gifted and talented identification and programming for students in under-represented populations including children from diverse linguistic, geographic, economic and cultural backgrounds.

EDUC672

Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom (1 cr.)
The role of emotional intelligence in the teaching and learning process is explored in this course.  Participants design instructional activities to enhance the emotional intelligence of their students.