Graduate Courses

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN Transformative teaching in secondary education

The Master of Science in Transformative Teaching in Secondary Education helps classroom teachers (grades 6-12) upgrade their skills, become informed about new ideas in teaching and prepare for leadership roles in public and private schools. Whereas coursework in the credential program focuses on knowledge and skills necessary for a beginning teacher, the program allows students to extend their knowledge and deepen their skills in leadership, curriculum design, linguistically and culturally sustaining teaching, instructional and assessment strategies, integration of technology and reflection skills.

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 (21 units)

  • EDSC 504 (3) Advanced Instructional Proficiency in Educational Technology
  • EDSC 506 (3) Graduate Studies in Secondary Writing
  • EDSC 524 (3) Assessing Student Learning
  • 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
  • EDSC 591 (3) Professional Seminar in Secondary Education

Electives (6 units) - Choose from among the following:

  • EDSC 522 (3) Family, Community, and Professional Partnerships
  • EDSC 537 (3) Teaching Secondary Ethnic Studies
  • EDSC 540 (3) Research and Pedagogy in Language Learning
  • EDSC 542M (3) Advanced EMthods of Teaching Foundational Level Mathematics 
  • MAED 532 (3) Teaching Problem Solving in Middle School Mathematics 
  • Six units of Bilingual Authorization coursework (EDSC 446 and EDSC 541) 

Culminating Experience (3 units)

  • EDSC 534 (3) Capstone: Project Seminar (Professional presentation, article for publication, or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards portfolio)

 

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 537: Contextualizes and explores the prospective applications of Ethnic Studies frameworks, pedagogies and practices in secondary schooling contexts. Analyze foundational Ethnic Studies pedagogical principles. Apply Ethnic Studies pedagogies using interdisciplinary strategies. Review the existing research of Ethnic Studies in public schools.

 

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 units). This course focuses on the theory, research, and policy foundations for effective instruction and practice with English language learners (ELLs). The course focus on the current issues, as well as techniques in instructing and assessing students at all stages of language education. Students will learn to identify and assess ELLs' strengths and needs to design classroom language and content-area learning experiences based on current language and academic standards.

 

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.

 

EDSC 591 Professional Seminar in Secondary Education (3): Introduction to pathways for professional leadership in teaching, including requirements for National Board certification, writing for publication, and presenting at professional conferences.  Topics include research-based analysis of teaching; preparing for and conducting classroom research; and publishing in academic journals. Requires consent of graduate advisor.

 

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.

 

MAED 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.