Elementary Education M.S.

The MS in Elementary Education program at Central Connecticut State University is not being offered by the Department of Literacy, Elementary, and Early Childhood Education at this time.

Program Rationale

This program is designed for elementary education and K-12 certified teachers wishing to pursue graduate study which extends their knowledge of the theory and practice of elementary education. The program offerings enable working teachers to increase knowledge and skills related to the most effective research-based strategies in teaching, learning, and assessment. Students will have opportunities to analyze, extend, and increase the relevance and responsiveness of their current work in classrooms, particularly as it relates to leadership and diversity issues.

The program consists of a number of courses in the introductory block, curriculum and instruction block, and specialization block. It also provides the opportunity to develop and implement research skills in the final two semesters of the capstone requirement, during which candidates are enrolled in courses that facilitate the planning and conducting of an action research project in the school classroom and/or professional teaching setting in which they are employed. Teacher certification in either elementary, early childhood, middle-level education, or an NK-12 special area is required for admission to the program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students are expected to:

• demonstrate and implement varied instructional, assessment, management, and technological strategies that facilitate learning for diverse students;
• demonstrate improvement in the quality of students' teaching skills by self-reflecting and analyzing teaching practices through data collection and analysis;
• demonstrate best practice teaching as agents of change by designing and conducting action research grounded in professional literature to have an impact on schools and their surrounding communities;
• assess a variety of teaching strategies in light of research-based practices around developmental stages and cultural/linguistic backgrounds; and
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the course material in the introductory block courses that incorporate and highlight insights from the study of diversity in schools, socio-cultural and historical issues influencing schools, and research in education.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.70 on a 4.00 point scale (where A is 4.00), or its equivalent, and good standing (3.00 GPA) in all post-baccalaureate course work. Teacher certification in either elementary, early childhood, middle-level education, or an NK–12 special area is required for admission to the program.

The graduate application, application fee, and official transcripts are to be submitted to the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Office. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Office from each institution attended except Central Connecticut State University.

Contact: 860-832-2428

Program Sequence

Students should complete the core requirements before enrolling in the professional and specialization courses. Courses in the professional and specialization areas may be taken concurrently with courses from the core with permission of advisor. All core and professional courses, as well as 6 credits in the specialization block, must be completed prior to taking EDEL 591.

In the case of a student who is not employed in a professional setting with children during the capstone semesters, the student may opt to fulfill Plan A, Thesis Capstone (3 credits). In this case, the student must take an additional course, with advisor counsel, to complete the 33 credits in the planned program. The student must also find a faculty member in the department to supervise the thesis work.

Note: A maximum of six credits in 400-level courses may be taken, with the approval of the graduate advisor.