Elementary Education (PK-4) M.S.
Saint Joseph’s University offers a 36-credit Education M.S. for individuals looking to become an early childhood or elementary teacher. In your coursework, you deepen your understanding of early childhood development and learning needed to teach young learners lifelong learning skills.
The Elementary Education Pre-K - Grade 4 teacher preparation program is an accredited program aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements for teacher certification in Pre-K - Grade 4. However, students will also engage with content and pedagogical approaches relevant to grades 5 and 6.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 550 | His & Contemp Persp Ed w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 632 | Literacy/Literature I w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 640 | Literacy/Literature II w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 642 | Per in Dev & Child Ed w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 646 | Language and Culture w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 663 | Science Methods PK-4 w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 665 | Interd Teach Mat w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 667 | Soc St Thru Arts Pk4 w/Field | 3 |
| EDU 695 | PK-4 Student Teaching | 6 |
| SPE 600 | Found & Current Issues: Sp Edu | 3 |
| SPE 613 | Incl. Class Practices w/Field | 3 |
Learning Goals and Outcomes
Goal 1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of learner development.
Objective 1.1: The student will explain how learning occurs—how learners construct knowledge, acquire skills and develop disciplined thinking processes.
Objective 1.2: The student will identify readiness for learning and explain how development in one area may affect performance in others.
Goal 2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of learning differences.
Objective 2.1: The student will identify and explain reasons for differences in children’s learning and performance.
Objective 2.2: The student will articulate learner strengths based on their individual experiences, prior learning, and peer and social group interactions, as well as language, culture, family and community values.
Goal 3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the central concepts of PK-4 teaching.
Objective 3.1: The student will identify and describe major concepts, assumptions, debates, processes of inquiry, and ways of knowing that are central to PK-4 teaching.
Objective 3.2: The student will identify and describe PK-4 content standards and learning progressions.
Goal 4: The student will plan instruction that supports PK-4 student learning.
Objective 4.1: The student will plan for instruction based on appropriate curriculum goals and content standards.
Objective 4.2: The student will plan instruction that is responsive to the identified strengths and needs of individual learners.
Goal 5: The student will demonstrate understanding and effective use of multiple methods of assessment.
Objective 5.1: The student will define and interpret types of valid and reliable education assessments (including screening, diagnostic, formative, summative, and authentic) and identify principles of their effective use.
Objective 5.2: The student will analyze and interpret assessment data to identify patterns and gaps in learning, to guide planning and instruction, and to provide meaningful feedback to all learners and their guardians.
Goal 6: The student will demonstrate an understanding of educating for social justice.
Objective 6.1: The student will describe key elements of interacting positively and respectfully with those of different racial, ethnic, language and socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations.
Objective 6.2: The student identify and describe practices and policies that reinforce inequalities and that undermine