Graduate Courses

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION IN SECONDARY EDUCATION

The MSE Concentration in Secondary Education is designed to help career secondary classroom teachers upgrade their skills, become informed about new ideas and research in secondary teaching, and prepare for curriculum leadership roles in public and private schools.

The advisor-approved 31 units (minimum) on the study plan will include the following:

Prerequisite Course Work (1 unit)

  • EDSC 501 (1) Introduction to Graduate Studies in Secondary Education

Core Course Work (15 units)

  • EDSC 504 (3) Advanced Instructional Proficiency in Educational Technology
  • EDSC 506 (3) Graduate Studies in Secondary Writing
  • EDSC 535 (3) Survey of Educational Research
  • EDSC 536 (3) Curriculum Theory and Development
  • EDSC 539 (3)  Conceptual Foundations of Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Teaching

Emphasis Courses (6 units)

  • EDSC 522 (3) Family, Community, and Professional Partnerships
  • EDSC 524 (3) Assessing Student Learning

Electives (6 units)

Culminating Experience (3 units)

  • Professional presentation, article for publication, or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards portfolio

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION EMPHASIS IN TEACHING FOUNDATIONAL MATHEMATICS

Offered in collaboration with the CSUF Department of Mathematics, this program is designed for experienced teachers of mathematics in grade 4-geometry who wish to extend their knowledge of both mathematics content and mathematics teaching as well as to prepare for curriculum leadership roles in public and private schools. Reflective of the College of Education’s Mission Statement, there is a strong emphasis on issues of equity in public schooling and teachers’ role in becoming   change agents   in their workplaces.

Prerequisite Course Work

  • EDSC 501 (1) Introduction to Graduate Studies in Secondary Education

Core Course Work (15 units)

  • EDSC 504 (3) Advanced Instructional Proficiency in Educational Technology
  • EDSC 506 (3) Graduate Studies in Secondary Writing
  • EDSC 535 (3) Survey of Educational Research
  • EDSC 536 (3) Curriculum Theory and Development
  • EDSC 539 (3)  Conceptual Foundations of Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Teaching

Emphasis Courses (12 units)

  • EDSC 542M (3) Advanced Methods of Teaching Foundational Level Mathematics
  • MATH 403A (3) Fundamental Concepts of teaching foundational level mathematics I
  • MATH 403B (3) Fundamental Concepts of teaching Foundational level mathematics II
  • MATH 530 (3) Problem Solving in teaching foundational level mathematics

Culminating Experience (3 units)

  • Project, thesis, NPBTS application, or article for publication

 

MSE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

EDSC 501   Introduction to Graduate Studies in Secondary Education (1): Introduces students to graduate studies in secondary education. Allows students to prepare program plan. Overview of library and web-based resources. Students must have capacity for electronic communication, including e-mail, attachments, and web courseware. May be taken before or during the first semester. Credit/No Credit.

EDSC 504   Advanced Instructional Proficiency in Secondary Educational Technologies (3): Prerequisite: Ed Sec 404 or equivalent; candidate must have been issued a preliminary credential. Theoretical basis and strategies for improving teaching and learning in secondary school classrooms through multimedia technologies. Emphasis on the utilization of technology for curricular, instructional, and assessment purposes to support all students in learning

EDSC 506   Graduate Studies in Secondary School Writing (3): Focus on current issues, theory, and practice regarding the teaching of writing in secondary schools (grades 7-12). Candidates will actively and continuously write as they learn about ways to foster the writing development of secondary school students.

EDSC 522   Family, Community, and Professional Partnerships (3): This course examines effective teaching practices in working with diverse student populations so as to promote equal learning opportunities. Overview of successful community collaboration with service providers, business leaders, policy makers, and parents. Addresses complex diversity of families and teaching situations. Stresses importance of partnerships with professional agencies concerned with adolescents.

EDSC 524   Assessing Student Learning (3): Techniques and methods of assessing and evaluating student achievement. Attention given to improving student performance through assessment; congruence between purposes and instruments used; audiences for assessment. Design of a selection of instruments including performance assessment, portfolio, observation, and personal communication forms. Focuses on assessment strategies that promote equal learning opportunities.

EDSC 535   Survey of Educational Research (3): Introduces students to the major forms of both quantitative and qualitative research used in education. Students will learn how to select an appropriate research method and the characteristics of sound research. Stress will be placed on making reasoned judgments as consumers of research as well as selecting appropriate information collection strategies.

EDSC 536   Curriculum Theory and Development (3): The secondary school curriculum including the forces operating on the curriculum and the participants involved in middle and high school curriculum building. The process of curriculum building.

EDSC 539 Conceptual Foundations of Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Teaching (3): Course explores historical and contemporary approaches to culturally and linguistically sustaining curriculum, pedagogy, and policy, with a focus on applications in secondary and single-subject education.  Prerequisite: EDSC 501 or Instructor Consent.  Sections of this class may be offered hybrid or fully online; see the course notes for details.

EDSC 540 Research and Pedagogy in Language Education  (3): Prerequisite: Ed Sec 410; candidate must have been issued a preliminary single subject credential. Students must be in their second semester of student teaching or have completed preliminary credential requirements. Final course required for CLAD Certificate. Includes methodology of English language development and content instruction for English learners, strategies for specially-designed academic instruction in English. Focuses on research and policy implications.

EDSC 550   Instructional Strategies (3): A general course in pedagogy designed for students whose professional work involves instructional responsibilities. General teaching strategies, course design, instructional planning, and student evaluation are emphasized.

EDSC 594   Project Seminar (project class) (3): The preparation, evaluation, development, and presentation of curriculum research projects culminating in a graduate project. Individuals and groups will participate in critiquing proposals, curriculum projects, and research results. May be repeated for credit.

 

EDSC 599   Independent Graduate Research in Secondary Education (1-3): Prerequisites: consent of instructor or graduate advisor. Individual research with conferences with the instructor.

TEACHING FOUNDATIONAL LEVEL MATHEMATICS EMPHASIS COURSES

EDSC 542M Advanced Methods of Teaching Foundational Level Mathematics (3):  Expanded methods in mathematics pedagogy focusing on curriculum for grades 6-10. Meets California state requirement for single subject methods coursework to add authorization.

MATH 403A   Fundamental Concepts of Teaching Foundational Level Mathematics I (3): Prerequisite: Math 303B. Designed to help provide the content background to satisfy the requirements for the California Supplementary Credential in mathematics. Focuses on gaining a thorough understanding of algebra, including patterns, functions and the use of technology.

MATH 403B   Fundamental Concepts of Teaching Foundational Level Mathematics II (3): Prerequisite: Math 403A. Designed to help provide the content background to satisfy the requirements for the California Supplementary Credential in mathematics. Focuses on gaining a thorough understanding of advanced algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, and the use of technology.

MATH 532   Problem Solving in Teaching Foundational Level Mathematics (3): Prerequisite: Math 403A. Designed to help teaching foundational level mathematics teachers develop expertise in teaching problem solving.