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Elementary Education



	Description

	Degrees Offered

	Admission

	Master of Arts in Elementary Education

	Master of Education in Elementary Education

		Mathematics Track

		Primary Track

	Contact Info

Description

The College of Education offers a master’s program in Elementary Education leading to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree or Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.

The M.Ed. degree is designed to meet the needs of the classroom teacher whose career goal is to remain in the classroom. It provides experiences in the foundations of education, an update of the student's skills and understanding related to current research and instructional trends in basic subject matter areas, and elective choices in specific areas.

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts in Elementary Education

Mathematics Track
Primary Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

GPA of 3.0 and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) of 840; if GPA is below 3.0, GRE of 1000 (in lieu of the GRE, a GMAT score of 500 or higher may be used for admission consideration)
Applicants to the M.Ed. program must (1) have completed all course requirements for Florida state teacher certification in the program's subject area and/or grade range, or (2) present a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate upon admission to the program. Applicants who have graduated from an accredited university or college teacher certification program in another state or country, in the appropriate subject and/or grade range, may also be admitted to the M.Ed. program at the discretion of the program director.
For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

Students may not switch from an M.A. program to an M.Ed. program, or vice versa, without going through the university's admission process. Courses used to gain initial state certification may not be transferred into an M.Ed. program.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Master of Arts in Elementary Education Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Master of Education in Elementary Education Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Mathematics Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Primary Track

International Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Master of Arts in Elementary Education Jan 15 Jan 15 Jul 1

Master of Education in Elementary Education Jan 15 Jan 15 Jul 1

Mathematics Track Jan 15 Jan 15 Jul 1

Primary Track

International Transfer Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Master of Arts in Elementary Education Feb 1 Mar 1 Sep 1

Master of Education in Elementary Education Feb 1 Mar 1 Sep 1

Mathematics Track Feb 1 Mar 1 Sep 1

Primary Track

Master of Education in Elementary Education

Minimum Hours Required for M.Ed.—30 Credit Hours

Area A: Core—9 Credit Hours

EDE 6933 Elementary Education Seminar I (2 credit hours)
EDE 6935 Elementary Education Seminar II (1 credit hour)
EDF 6233 Analysis of Classroom Teaching (3 credit hours)
EME 5050 Fundamentals of Technology for Educators (3 credit hours) OR
EME 6405 Application Software for Educational Settings (3 credit hours)

Area B: Specialization: Minimum of 12 Credit Hours

The adviser may approve courses taken as part of a UCF certificate program for this area of the M.Ed. (up to 12 credit hours). The adviser must approve elective courses for this area.

Select from the following:

LAE 5195 CFWP Teacher Consultant (3 credit hours)
LAE 5295 Writing Workshop I (1-3 credit hours)
LAE 5415 Children’s Literature Elementary Education (3 credit hours). (Use the course above only if no previous children’s literature course has been taken.)
LAE 6296 Writing Workshop II (3 credit hours)
LAE 6417 Investigations in Children’s Literature (3 credit hours)
LAE 6616 Trends in Language Arts Education (3 credit hours)
MAE 6517 Diagnosis/Remediation of Difficulties in Mathematics for the Classroom Teacher (3 credit hours)
MAE 6641 Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills (3 credit hours)
RED 6116 Trends in Reading Education (3 credit hours)
SCE 5825 Space Science for Educators (3 credit hours)
SCE 6616 Trends in Elementary School Science Education (3 credit hours)
SCE 6146 Environmental Education for Educators (3 credit hours)
SSE 6617 Trends in Elementary School Social Studies Education (3 credit hours)
TSL 5345 Methods of ESOL Teaching (3 credit hours)
TSL 6142 Critical Approaches to ESOL (3 credit hours)
TSL 6440 Problems in Evaluation in ESOL (3 credit hours)
EEC 5205 Programs and Trends in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 5206 Organization of Instruction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)

Area C: Select Option 1 or 2 below—Minimum of 9 Credit Hours

Option 1: Thesis Option: No comprehensive exam needed for this option—9 Credit Hours

EDE 6971 Thesis (6 credit hours)
LAE 6792 Teacher Researcher (3 credit hours) OR
EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)

Option 2: Non-Thesis Option: Comprehensive exam is required for this option—9 Credit Hours

EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours) OR
EDF 6446 Assessment of Learning (3 credit hours)
AND 6 credit hours selected with the permission of the adviser

Primary Track

Minimum Hours Required for M.Ed.—36-39 Credit Hours (Primary Track)

The purpose of this track is to prepare students to become master teachers of, or consultants for, programs in age three through grade three. Course work includes a professional core of research, human development, and measurement and evaluation courses; field experiences and courses focusing on programs, creative activities, organization of instruction, individualizing, and perception; and an overview of the exceptional student. Students must have State of Florida certification in Elementary Education. This degree does not meet the requirements for early childhood education.

Area A: Core—12 or 15 Credit Hours

EDF 6155 Lifespan Human Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)

Select Option A or B

Option A—Research Project or Thesis—6 Credit Hours

EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours)
EDE 6971 Thesis (2,1 credit hours) OR
EDE 6909 Research Report (2,1 credit hours)

Option B—Non-Thesis—9 Credit Hours

Electives approved by adviser (6 credit hours)
EDF 6886 Multicultural Education (3 credit hours)

Area B: Specialization—24 Credit Hours

EEC 5205 Programs and Trends in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 5206 Organization of Instruction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 5208 Creative Activities in Early Childhood (3 credit hours)
EEC 6269 Play Development, Intervention, and Assessment (3 credit hours)
EEC 6406 Guiding and Facilitating Social Competence (3 credit hours)
EEX 5750 Communication with Parents and Agencies (3 credit hours)
EEX 6017 Typical and Atypical Applied Child Development (3 credit hours)
EEX 6224 Observation and Assessment of Young Children (3 credit hours)

Mathematics Education Track

Minimum Hours Required for M.Ed.—33 Credit Hours (Mathematics Education Track)

This is a track for elementary teachers who serve as special mathematics laboratory teachers; as adjunct mathematics/learning disability teachers helping the regular classroom teacher in diagnosing, prescribing, and remediating the instruction of children identified as learning disabled in mathematics; or as mathematics specialists who are the curriculum resource instructional leaders in their school. Course work includes the development of competencies in diagnosing learning difficulties and error patterns in mathematics, organizing and managing laboratory experiences, using a wide variety of specific teaching techniques for all content strands in K-8 (pre-algebra) mathematics classroom individualized instruction programs.

This track is not approved for automatic certification by the state of Florida. The track may qualify students for certification in Middle School Mathematics if sufficient mathematics (8 credit hours) content courses and certain experience/methods requirements have been taken. To be certified as an Elementary Mathematics Specialist, a person must have a minimum of 18 credit hours in mathematics.

Area A: Core—12 or 15 Credit Hours

EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6401 Statistics for Educational Data (3 credit hours) OR
EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)

Select one course from the following list.

EDF 6155 Lifespan Human Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
EDF 6517 Perspectives on Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6608 Social Factors in American Education (3 credit hours)
MAE 6909 Research Report or two electives (2,1 or 6 credit hours)

Area B: Specialization—12 Credit Hours

MAE 4634 Programs in Teaching of Mathematics (3 credit hours)
MAE 6517 Diagnosis/Remediation of Difficulties in Mathematics for the Classroom Teacher (3 credit hours)
MAE 6899 Seminar in Teaching Mathematics (3 credit hours)
MAE 6946 Practicum (3 credit hours)

Area C: Electives—9 Credit Hours—Approved by adviser

MAE 5318 Current Methods in Elementary School Mathematics (3 credit hours)
MAE 6145 Mathematics Curriculum, K-12 (3 credit hours)
MAE 6641 Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills (3 credit hours)

Master of Arts in Elementary Education

Minimum Hours Required for M.A.—36 Credit Hours

The Master of Arts in Elementary Education can be completed in the minimum 36 credit hours only if the student has completed previous initial certification in another area, including a supervised internship, and the state-approved beginning teacher program. Students without previous certification must complete all requirements listed. Please note that if this M.A. program provides your initial certification, 80 clock hours of field experience must be completed prior to enrolling in internship.

Area A: Seminars—3 Credit Hours

EDE 6933 Elementary Education Seminar I (2 credit hours)
EDE 6935 Elementary Education Seminar II (1 credit hour)

Area B—15 Credit Hours

EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6155 Lifespan Human Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
EDG 6236 Principles of Instruction (3 credit hours)
One elective from EDF 6608, EDF 6517, or EDF 6886 (3 credit hours)

Area C: PR or CR EDE 6933—21 Credit Hours

LAE 5319 Methods of Elementary School Language Arts (3 credit hours)
LAE 5415 Children’s Literature in Elementary Education (3 credit hours)
MAE 5318 Current Methods in Elementary School Mathematics (3 credit hours)
SCE 5716 Methods in Elementary School Science (3 credit hours)
RED 5147 Developmental Reading (3 credit hours)
RED 5514 Classroom Diagnosis and Development of Reading Proficiencies (PR: RED 5147) (3 credit hours)
SSE 5115 Methods of Elementary School Social Science (3 credit hours)

Area D: Internship—6 Credit Hours

EDE 6946 Graduate Internship (6 credit hours)

Satisfactory completion of Graduate Internship requires the student to demonstrate proficiency in all 12 Florida Educator Accomplished Practices at the pre-professional level in accordance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.065.

Co-requisites

ARE 4313 Art in the Elementary School (3 credit hours)
HLP 4722 Teaching Elementary School Health and Physical Education (3 credit hours)
MUE 3210 Music in the Elementary School (3 credit hours)

Additional Program Graduation Requirements

Complete a portfolio according to program guidelines. This portfolio requires demonstration of professional growth, reflection, and proficiency in the 12 Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.
Pass all applicable sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination.

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.

Contact Info

Master of Arts in Elementary Education

Enrique Ortiz, Ed.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5222
ortiz@mail.ucf.edu