Elementary Education  {SF State Bulletin 2011 - 2012}

Image: San Francisco State University seal on a gold background

Elementary Education

Graduate College of Education

Dean: Jacob Perea

 

Department of Elementary Education

BH 179
Phone: 415-338-1562

 

Chair: Debra Luna
Graduate Coordinators:
Elementary Education: Ford
Early Childhood Education: Henderson and Meier
Language and Literacy: Borjian and Conrad
Mathematics Education: Foster

 

Faculty

Professors: Arce, Ford, Hamm, Henderson, Meier, Quita
Associate Professors: Borjian, Lao, Luna
Assistant Professors: Bravo, Conrad, Foster, Kim, Sisk-Hilton

 

Programs

M.A. in Education: Concentration in Early Childhood Education

M.A. in Education: Concentration in Elementary Education

M.A. in Education: Concentration in Language and Literacy Education

M.A. in Education: Concentration in Mathematics Education

 

 

Program Scope

The programs are designed to deepen theoretical knowledge, to promote professional growth, and to enhance the competencies of elementary and middle school teachers and early childhood educators.

 

Career Outlook

The Master of Arts in education: concentration in early childhood education provides early childhood educators with advanced knowledge and training in research, theory, and practice for working with children and families in multicultural and multilingual early childhood settings. This degree provides infant, toddler, preschool, primary grade, community college educators, and early childhood administrators with the skills and knowledge for teaching and leadership positions in the field of early childhood education. Courses taken for the program can qualify for Teacher and Administrator levels of the California Child Development Matrix.

 

The Master of Arts in education: concentration in elementary education provides elementary school teachers with advanced knowledge of research, theory, and practice in the field of elementary education in general as well as in particular subject matter disciplines. This degree provides advanced preparation and professional development for teaching and for assuming such leadership roles in mentoring, curriculum and instruction, and staff development.

 

The Master of Arts in education: concentration in language and literacy is designed to extend candidates' academic and professional knowledge in the field of language and literacy when teaching linguistically and culturally diverse student populations. The program provides elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers with advanced knowledge of research, theory, and practices in reading and language arts with a particular emphasis on the needs of English and second language learners. There is a strong emphasis on teaching literacy to students who are in urban school settings.

 

The Master of Arts in education: concentration in mathematics education provides elementary and middle school teachers with advanced knowledge of research, theory, and practice in the teaching and learning of school mathematics and expands their knowledge of mathematics content. Teachers holding Multiple Subject credentials will be eligible to apply for a supplementary authorization in mathematics for middle school teaching. This degree also prepares teachers to assume leadership roles in their schools and districts.

 

Elementary Education Graduate Programs

General Information

The following courses cannot be applied to any of the master's programs.

  • Statutory requirements (such as courses used to fulfill the undergraduate U.S. History and Government requirement)
  • General Education requirements
  • Corrective English courses
  • Student teaching and student teaching seminar courses

Only upper division courses approved on advisement are acceptable for the master's degree.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Applicants to all MA concentrations in the department of elementary education will have their statement of purpose essays (submitted within the admission process) evaluated for writing proficiency. Details about this evaluation appear in each concentration description below. Level Two: satisfied by demonstration of English competency on the Teacher Research Project, E ED 890; Field Study, E ED 895; or Master's Thesis, E ED 898.

 

Enrollment Requirement

Students who were admitted to a MA program before fall, 2008 are required to be enrolled in the university during the semester of anticipated graduation. To meet this requirement, many students choose to enroll in enroll in a zero-unit designated College of Extended Learning course established for this purpose.

 

Students admitted fall, 2008 and beyond have the semester they enroll in the culminating experience and the following semester to complete their degree requirements. Those who need additional time beyond the two semesters to complete their culminating experience must enroll in a zero-unit designated CEL course every subsequent semester until the culminating experience is completed.

 

For more information, please contact your department or the College of Education Graduate Office (BH 240).

 

On-line course descriptions for these programs are available.

 

Master of Arts in Education: Concentration in Early Childhood Education

This 33-unit program consists of a core of required courses and electives. The required courses provide students with advanced preparation in child growth and development, cultural and linguistic diversity, early childhood curricula, and research methodologies. The program places a special emphasis on teacher research as a primary methodology of inquiry for all early childhood practitioners. Coursework also focuses on understanding child development within varied social and cultural contexts, culturally responsive teaching and curriculum development for diverse populations, and providing family and community support. The culminating experience requirement for the concentration in early childhood education is the completion of a thesis or field study.

 

Admission to Program

Admission to the Master of Arts in education: concentration in early childhood education program is a two-step process that should be completed simultaneously:

  1. Apply to the university: Complete the on-line CSU Mentor application. Follow all other requirements for admission to the university by accessing http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/.
  2. Apply to the department by completing a department application, which can be accessed online at http://coe.sfsu.edu/docs/eed/documents/maappform.pdf or by contacting the graduate assistant at gradeed@sfsu.edu. Applicants must also meet the following requirements:
    1. Possession of an elementary teaching credential or the completion of a minimum of 12 units in professional course work relevant to early childhood education, including courses in child development and early childhood curriculum.
    2. A minimum of one full year successful experience working with young children.
    3. Submission of a written statement of purpose (2 page minimum) to the program co-coordinators. The statement of purpose should describe the applicant’s goals for seeking the MA, concentration early childhood education, and describe the applicant’s level of academic and professional preparation for the degree. The content and writing skill demonstrated will be evaluated as part of the admissions decision and to determine if the candidate has met Level One Written Language Proficiency at admission (see below).
    4. Two letters of recommendation: one letter from an instructor addressing the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate level work, and one letter providing evidence of recent work experience with young children.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Applicants to the program are assessed on the application essay based upon the early childhood education program’s criteria. The evaluation rubric considers: (1) mechanics and style, (2) coherence and argumentation, and (3) content, that is, the relevancy of applicants’ experience and goals for the program. Depending on their essay scores, applicants are either not admitted, admitted, or admitted conditionally. Applicants admitted conditionally are required to earn a minimum grade of B in two program approved writing intensive courses, E ED 721 and E ED 707. Level Two: Students are assessed on the quality of their culminating experience, EED 895 or EED 898.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Core Courses (Required)

Course Title Units
E ED 707 Cognitive Development in Early Childhood Education Sociocultural Contexts 3
E ED 708 First and Second Language Development in Early Childhood Education 3
E ED 717 Narrative Inquiry and Memoir in Early Childhood Education 3
E ED 801 Practitioner Inquiry for Administration of Early Childhood Curricula
(pre-requisites E ED 708, E ED 707, or E ED 709)		 3
E ED 700 Social, Emotional, & Physical Development in Early Childhood Education, Sociocultural Contexts 3
E ED 709 Early Childhood Education Curriculum in Pluralistic Society 3

Total for core: 18

 

Electives

Select three courses from the following:

Course Title Units
E ED 710 Children's Early Literacy Development in Early Childhood Education 3
E ED 715 Families in Early Childhood Settings and Communities 3
E ED 878 Multicultural Educational Theory and Practice for the Young Child 3
E ED 721 International Education in Early Childhood and Elementary Education 3
E ED 806 Leadership, Adult Supervision, and Advocacy 3
E ED 850 Seminar in Early Childhood Mathematics and Science Curriculum 3
E ED 704 Children's Play Development in School & Community 3
E ED 820 Seminar on Infant-Toddler Group Care Educational Programs 3
E ED 899 Independent Study 3

Early childhood coursework in SPED, ECE concentration: 3 units

Relevant course work: SPED, ISED, EDAD, or ITEC: 3 units

A course in a department outside the College of Education, with permission of adviser: 3 units

Coursework from recent SF State Multiple Subject Credential: 6 units

Total for electives: 9

 

Culminating Experience (Required)

Course Title Units
ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research 3
E ED 895
    or
E ED 898		 Field Study
 
Master's Thesis		 3

Minimum total: 33

 

Note: Nine units from the SF State Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program may be counted toward elective units within this degree. The following courses may be applied: E ED 782, E ED 783, E ED 749. Upon advisement, six units earned at another institution may be counted toward the degree. Courses can be counted from a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, upper division undergraduate courses, or graduate level coursework, only if these units were not used toward another degree. In keeping with university requirements, courses can count on the Advancement to Candidacy only within a seven-year window.

 

Master of Arts in Education: Concentration in Elementary Education

Admission to Program

Applicants must possess an elementary teaching credential or the equivalent.

Admission to the Master of Arts in education: concentration in elementary education program is a two-part process that should be completed simultaneously:

  1. Apply to the university: Complete the on-line CSU Mentor application. Follow all other requirements for admission by accessing http://www.sfsu.edu/~grad stdy/. Apply to the department by completing a department application, which can be accessed online at http://coe.sfsu.edu/docs/eed/documents/maappform.pdf, or by contacting the Ggraduate Aassistant at gradeed@sfsu.edu. Applicants must also
  2. meet the following requirements:
    1. Possession of a Multiple Subject or elementary teaching credential.
    2. Submission of a written statement of purpose (2 page minimum) to the program coordinator. The statement of purpose should describe the applicant’s goals for seeking the M.A., concentration elementary education, and describe the applicant’s level of academic and professional preparation for the degree. The content and writing skill demonstrated will be evaluated as part of the admissions decision and to determine if the candidate has met Level One Written Language Proficiency at admission (see below).
    3. Two letters of recommendation:
      1. from college/university instructor addressing the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate level work, and one letter providing evidence of recent work experience with young children.
      2. from a supervisor at a school or district addressing the applicant’s successful experience in classroom teaching or related work.

 

Awarding of the degree of Master of Arts in Education: Concentration Elementary Education

Candidates must provide documentation of one year of teaching or the equivalent in the semester the Advancement to Candidacy is accepted.

 

Program

The M.A. in education: concentration in elementary education emphasizes six major areas that are germane to elementary education teaching/learning in diverse communities. These interrelated strands are as follows:

  • Principles of curriculum design and instruction.
  • Development of subject matter knowledge in core subjects.
  • Analysis of current programs and practices.
  • Interpretation and application of research on curriculum and teaching.
  • Teacher research.
  • Trends and issues in schooling from historical and contemporary perspective.

Students can specialize in a core curriculum area with adviser approval - Students may take courses designated as ECE, math education, and language and literacy, circumstances permitting.

Advancement to Candidacy must initially have the approval of the appropriate graduate coordinator.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Applicants to the program are assessed on the application essay based upon the elementary education program’s criteria. The evaluation rubric considers: (1) mechanics and style, (2) coherence and argumentation, and (3) content, that is, the relevancy of applicants’ experience and goals for the program. Depending on their essay scores, applicants are either not admitted, admitted, or admitted conditionally. Applicants admitted conditionally are required to earn a minimum grade of B in the program approved writing intensive course: E ED 760. Level Two: Students are assessed on the quality of their culminating experience, EED 890 or EED 895.

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

Course Title Units
E ED 760 Seminar on Social Issues and Curriculum Development 3
E ED 781 Teacher Leadership in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 3
ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research 3
E ED 895
    or
E ED 890
    or
E ED 898		 Field Study
 
Seminar on Field Studies in the Elementary Classroom
 
Master's Thesis		 3

One or more of the following: E ED 761, E ED 763, E ED 764, E ED 765, E ED 767, E ED 769: 3 units

Related or distributed field (at least 6 units must be in elementary education): (Must be selected upon approval of graduate major adviser) 15 units

Minimum total: 30

 

Note: Nine units from the SF State Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program may be counted toward this degree. The following courses may be applied: E ED 782, E ED 783, E ED 749.

 

Master of Arts in Education: Concentration in Language and Literacy Education

Admission to Program

Admission to the master of arts in education: concentration in language and literacy education program is a two-part process that should be completed simultaneously:

  1. Apply to the university: Complete the on-line CSU Mentor application. Follow all other requirements for admission by accessing http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/.
  2. Meet the following program requirements:
    1. Possession of an elementary or secondary education credential or 24 units of professional course work directly related to education.
    2. Applicants must have two years of teaching experience or equivalent professional experience that is directly related to literacy education.
    3. Applicants who do not meet the professional education requirements above may meet with the coordinator for an evaluation of his/her academic background and experience.
    4. Applicants must submit a written statement of purpose to the graduate coordinator of language and literacy. The statement of purpose should describe the applicant’s goals for seeking the M.A., concentration in language and literacy education, and describe the applicant’s level of academic and professional preparation for the degree. The content and writing skill demonstrated will be evaluated as part of the admissions decision and to determine if the candidate has met Level One Written Language Proficiency at admission (see below).
    5. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester units.
    6. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation addressing the following:
      1. Academic ability to pursue graduate work (from a professor).
      2. Professional experience teaching children, youth, or adults (from an administrator, or another educator who has collaborated with the applicant)

 

Written English Proficiency Requirements

Level One: Applicants to the program are assessed on the application essay based upon the language and literacy education program’s criteria. The evaluation rubric considers: (1) mechanics and style, (2) coherence and argumentation, and (3) content, that is, the relevancy of applicants’ experience and goals for the program. Depending on their essay scores, applicants are either not admitted, admitted, or admitted conditionally. Applicants admitted conditionally are required to earn a minimum grade of B in one of the program approved writing intensive course: E ED 720, E ED 723, or E ED 869. Level Two: Students are assessed on the quality of their culminating experience, EED 890 or EED 895.

General Information

The Master of Arts in education: concentration in language and literacy education provides elementary to high school teachers with in-depth knowledge of research, theory, and practice in teaching and observing the learning development of students who are native English speakers, bilingual speakers, and/or students who speak variations of English. This degree provides advanced preparation and professional development for teaching in schools as well as for assuming such leadership roles as mentor teachers, literacy curriculum leaders, and staff developers. In addition, graduate students may combine this concentration with a reading and language arts specialist credential or reading certificate (see Credential Programs section).

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Core courses:

Select one of the following: (3 units)

Course Title
E ED 725 Classroom Issues in Language, Literacy, and Culture 1
E ED 708 First and Second Language Development in Early Childhood Education 2
ISED 747 Culture, Language, and Society in Education 1

 

Background and Theory

Course Title Units
E ED 785 Literacy Theories: Connections to Classroom Practices in Elementary Education 3
E ED 770 Literacy Education Clinic I: Multidisciplinary Assessment of Reading and Language Problems 3

 

Select one of the following: (3 units)

Course Title
E ED 705 Literacy Development Through Literature Study in the Elementary and Secondary Classroom 2
ISED 750 Language and Culture: Second Language Acquisition in Schools
ISED 780 Adult Literacy and Basic Education

 

Select one of the following: (3 units)

Course Title
E ED 763 Integrating Language, Literacy, and Technology in Elementary School Curriculum
E ED 703 Family Literacy Studies of the Elementary Age Child
E ED 760 Seminar on Social Issues and Curriculum Development
S ED 850 Research Seminar: Critical Issues in Secondary Education
ISED 738 Critical and Postmodern Pedagogies
ISED 748 Culture, Cognition, and Power Issues in Education

Total for core and background: 15

 

Classroom Applicants: 9 units required

Course Title
E ED 771 Literacy Education Clinic II: Multidisciplinary Assessment and Remediation of Language and Literacy Problems 2
E ED 726 Teaching Process Writing in Elementary Classrooms
E ED 869 Teaching Reading and Writing to Second Language Learners 1

 

Select one of the following: 3 units required

Course Title
E ED 720 Research and Practice in Language and Literacy Education
ISED 744 Curriculum for Bilingual, Cross-cultural, and Second Language Development 1

 

Culminating Experience

Course Title
ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research
E ED 898/
S ED 898/
ISED 898
    or
E ED 895/
S ED 895/
ISED 895		  
Master's Thesis



Field Study

Minimum total: 33

 

Note: For administration and interdisciplinary studies students, the culminating experience can be met by taking ISED 897, Advanced Seminar in Educational Research, and one additional graduate course and oral examination. Upon advisement, the candidate may substitute the additional course for one E ED required course.

 

Master of Arts in Education: Concentration in Mathematics Education

Admission to Program

Admission to the Master of Arts in education: concentration in mathematics education program is a two-part process that should be completed simultaneously:

  1. Apply to the university: Complete the on-line CSU Mentor application. Follow all other requirements for admission by accessing www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/.
  2. Apply to the department by completing a department application, which can be accessed online at http://coe.sfsu.edu/docs/eed/documents/maappform.pdf or by contacting the graduate assistant at gradeed@sfsu.edu.
     
    Applicants must also meet the following requirements:
    1. Possession of a Multiple Subject or elementary teaching credential.
    2. A minimum of two years of experience teaching mathematics at the elementary or middle school level.
    3. In the event the candidate has not met the requirements in (a) or (b) above, he/she may meet with a mathematics education adviser to evaluate his or her academic and professional background.
    4. Submission of a written statement of purpose (2 page minimum) to the program coordinator. The statement of purpose should describe the applicant’s goals for seeking the M.A. concentration elementary education, and describe the applicant’s level of academic and professional preparation for the degree. The content and writing skill demonstrated will be evaluated as part of the admissions decision and to determine if the candidate has met Level One Written Language Proficiency at admission (see below).
    5. Two letters of recommendation that address (1) the applicant's ability to pursue graduate level work and (2) successful experience in classroom teaching of mathematics.

 

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: Applicants to the program are assessed on the application essay based upon the program’s criteria. The evaluation rubric considers: (1) mechanics and style, (2) coherence and argumentation, and (3) content, that is, the relevancy of applicants’ experience and goals for the mathematics education program. Depending on their essay scores, applicants are either not admitted, admitted, or admitted conditionally. Applicants admitted conditionally must earn a grade of at least B on the literature review assignment, as well as an overall grade of at least B in the program approved writing intensive course: S ED/E ED 760 and must clearly demonstrate graduate level writing appropriate to our discipline. Level Two: Students are assessed on the quality of their culminating experience, E ED 895 or E ED 898.

 

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

 

Mathematics Courses

Course Title Units
MATH 575 Mathematics in the Middle School Classroom I 3
MATH 576 Mathematics in Middle Schools II 3
MATH 577 Mathematics in Middle Schools III 3
MATH 578 Mathematics in the High School 3

Education Courses

Course Title Units
E ED 761 Elementary School Mathematics: Problem Solving 3
E ED 796 Analyzing Cases of Mathematics Teaching 3
E ED 856 Assessing Mathematical Thinking 3
E ED 807 Leadership Development Seminar in Mathematics Education 3

Core Courses

Course Title Units
ISED 797 Seminar in Educational Research 3
E ED 895 Field Study 3

Minimum total: 30

 

 

Footnotes

  1. To be taken for emphasis in cross-cultural, language, and academic development. Back to courses
  2. To be taken for emphasis in early literacy. Back to courses

 

SF State Home