Master of Education Master of Education MASTER OF EDUCATION PROGRAM Director: Janice R. Fauske Location: Education Building, Room 230E Telephone Contact: Cathie Soutas 626-6278 Weber State offers to educators a graduate program leading to a Master's Degree in Education (M.Ed.). Although primarily for K-12 teachers in the public schools, non-traditional educators will benefit from the program. The program has a practical orientation and is specifically designed to improve the professional and instructional skills of teachers. Also, students may choose general preparation or specific areas of subject specialization. The goals of the program are accomplished through courses, seminars, independent study, cooperative learning groups, and individual and group assignments and projects emphasizing a practical implementation of theory to the student's teaching environment. Courses are generally scheduled weekly at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. during the academic year and in two three-week daytime blocks during the summer. The 54-hour program of study consists of a 24 hour professional core requirement and 30 hours of graduate committee-approved professional education electives and/ or courses in the student's discipline. A significant portion of the core requirement is the completion of a Master's project, a practical application of knowledge and skills to develop curriculum, instruction and management strategies, etc. The student first develops a detailed project proposal which must be formally approved by his/her graduate committee. With the assistance of the committee, the student then describes the completed project in a Master's project report which is presented to the graduate committee and is accompanied by an oral presentation. A graduate synthesis seminar, taken at the completion of the program, helps the student synthesize, apply, and evaluate his/her graduate experience. Program evaluations indicate students are especially pleased with the helpfulness and individual concern shown by the faculty, the application of what is learned to their teaching situation, increased confidence in their professionalism, improved teaching ability, and leadership skills. Courses, workshops, and conferences are open to educators who are not seeking an M.Ed, but wish only to improve their professional knowledge and teaching skills. Admission deadlines for the Master of Education program are February 1 for spring and summer quarters and July 1 for autumn and winter quarters. Application for admission to the program is a separate process from class registration or matriculation at Weber State University. Application packets for program admission are available in the M.Ed, office. To be considered for admission to graduate study in Education, applicants must complete requirements 1 through 9 listed below: 1. Have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. 2. Have a teaching certification and/or presently be in a teaching situation. 3. Have the equivalent of one year's professional classroom teaching experience. 4. Have submitted applications for Weber State University and the M.Ed, program and paid the Weber State application fee. 5. Have colleges previously attended send official transcripts to the M.Ed, office. 6. Have three people familiar with the teaching experience submit to the M.Ed, office completed program recommendation forms . 7. Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 or above on the last 90 quarter hours of approved undergraduate/ graduate course work. or Have a minimum GPA of 3.00 to 3.24 on the last 90 quarter hours of approved undergraduate/ graduate coursework and a minimum score of either 40 on the Miller's Analogies Test or 1275 on the Graduate Record Examination. 8. Receive a positive recommendation based on a formal interview with a representative of the Program Committee. 9. Pass a writing proficiency assessment. Candidates for the Master of Education degree must satisfy the following requirements: • Professional education core requirements (24 credit hours): MEduc 601 (1), 604 (3), 615 (3), 641 (3), 664 (3), 666 (3), 675 (3), 696 (3), 698 (2). • 30 additional credit hours of graduate professional education electives, supporting content courses, or specialized courses leading to a Special Education or Gifted and Talented endorsement. Note: Contact the Master of Education Program Director for more information regarding the Special Education or Gifted and Talented endorsement. At the present time, Weber State offers graduate level elementary and secondary content courses in the departments of English; Health, Physical Education and Recreation; and the College of Science. Other departments offer certain undergraduate and 500 level postbaccalaureate courses that may count in the M.Ed, with prior approval. u MASTER OF EDUCATION COURSES-MEDUC 581B. Teaching for Thinking (3) Theory and practice for teaching thinking skills in elementary, middle, and high school. 600. Classroom Management (3) Eclectic review of the popular teacher-pupil interaction models as they are classified into ideological camps and effect. Management and strategies for classroom discipline. 601. Introduction to Graduate Studies (1) Introduction to program goals, policies, and procedures in the M. Ed. Student Handbook, the library, writing style and format, and word processing facilities. Development of cohort groups, including a student mentor from MEduc 698. Assessment of student needs related to the program. 602. Current Topics in Education (1-6) 604. Educational Measurement and Evaluation (3) Evaluation of educational procedures, including principles of measurement, objectives of tests, and experience in test construction. 608. Teaching Interpersonal Skills (3) Study and application of interpersonal skills leading to the application and teaching of selected techniques and systems in the classroom. 609. Reading in the Content Areas (3) Use of reading as an effective means to help students comprehend their course material. Explores how to incorporate these skills into the curriculum of the content areas. 614. Human Development: Adolescence (3) Study of physical, mental, social, and psychological characteristics of adolescents, their needs and problems, and methods of working with adolescents who have behavior problems. 615. Curriculum Design and Instruction (3) An overview of the theories of curriculum development as well as a practical appraisal of curriculum design and implementation. 619. Theories of Instruction (3) Review of the various models of teaching as defined by Bruce Joyce and Marsha Weil. Exploration of theoretical and practical issues related to the classroom application of the various models. 620. Improvement in Early Childhood Education (3) An advanced course in Kindergarten program based upon the latest research in the areas of psychology, child development, education and sociology. 623. Computer Applications for Teachers (3) Designed for students that have had a prior introduction to the computer. Development of classroom applications, software evaluations, curriculum development and specific topics as deemed pertinent by the instructor and class. 624. Current Problems in Education (3) Study of selected issues in American education today, with special emphasis on practices in Utah. Students are expected to analyze the process of problem identification as well as the educational problems identified during the course. 635. Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Ability (3) For teachers, supervisors and other interested school personnel in remedial reading instruction. Concerned with causes of reading deficiencies, diagnostic tests and procedures used in remedial reading programs. 638. Values Education (3) Designed for teachers, administrators, parents and community leaders. Examines the developmental processes of socialization and moral development. Four separate approaches of values education are evaluated. 640. Secondary Science Curriculum and Instruction (3) An examination of professional practices and methods of instruction related to recent research and theory; emphasis upon science program improvement. 641. Historical, Social, and Philosophical Perspectives to Educational Issues (3) Relationship of the modem school issues to society with special emphasis upon historical and philosophical literature having influenced the direction of American education. 642. Nature and Needs of the Gifted and Talented (3) An overview of education for the gifted and talented: historical and philosophical background; characteristics, needs, and developmental patterns of the gifted; issues in identification, differentiating curriculum, and educational program options; special populations of gifted students. 645. Creativity and Applied Imagination in the K-12 Classroom (3) Exploration and development of readily available personal and community resources to encourage creative thinking/reasoning, classroom involvement, and transfer of learning. 648. Differentiated Curriculum for the Gifted (3) Curriculum theories and educational strategies for educating gifted and talented students. A practical course, with special attention to the development of instructional materials appropriate for use by gifted students in special programs as well as in the regular classroom. Student Services Science 158 159