Course Descriptions
EDU 515 - Instructional Leadership - 3 units
This course will provide students with an understanding of school organization and the management and leadership of schools. Effective techniques for instructional leaders to teach concepts, skills, and values will be presented and modeled. Theories of cognitive development and strategies implemented by instructional leadership conduct classroom observations will be explored. Specific techniques to guide, motivate, delegate, and build consensus will be examined.
EDU 520 - Curriculum Design and Assessment - 3 units
This course will provide students with an intensive study pedagogical approaches and materials for teaching in schools, including state curriculum documents, the curricular recommendations of professional associations, recommendations that have emerged from recent educational research, and the recommendations of recent reform movements. Specific emphasis will be given to the study of alternative approaches to curriculum theory, design, practice, and evaluation.
EDU 522 Assisting Change in Education - 3 Units
This course focuses on change, the dominant influence of the present century and its impact on education. Students will explore how all levels of education are required to make the changes needed to bring educational practice in line with the needs of 21st century learners. The course reviews models of learning that may be more appropriate for changing times, with particular emphasis placed on innovations for curriculum, instruction and assessment. Throughout the course, students will address the question, “What would learning look life if it were oriented toward the future?”
EDU 524 - Coping w/ Stress & Violence in Today's Classroom - 3 units
This course will address a variety of issues regarding stress and violence in students’ lives. We will discuss how the nature and content of culture are reflected in the symptoms and causes of stress and violence facing today’s children from birth through adolescence. Included in discussion will be the role of schools and teachers from preschool through high school in providing support for students experiencing stress and/or violence. We will also discuss how teachers can provide assistance to the larger family structure through broadened knowledge of cultural stressors, use of age appropriate and culturally sensitive coping skills, and how teachers can serve as active agents of social change leading to advocacy for children.
EDU 534 Working with Diverse Family Structures - 3 units
This course will provide students with evaluation of current research of the family with the goal of recognizing and responding to the diversity represented in schools. Because of changing demographic patterns the focus will be mostly on racial and ethnic families. Review of theories about families, culture, history, and sociological and political issues impacting the family. Candidates will explore how they might exercise leadership in initiating, developing, and implementing policies that will foster success for all students.
EDU 547 - Brain-based Instruction - 3 units
This course is designed to provide experienced, credentialed teachers with the latest in psychological research findings that can be directly applied to the classroom. Topics will include the functions and anatomy of the brain and multiple intelligences. The course will bring together the most accurate depiction of how the brain works with the experience and expertise of classroom teachers.
EDU 550 Educational Diversity: Change and Reform - 3 Units
This course will examine the historical, legal, social, political, ethical, and economic perspectives that have impacted schools in the American society. Students will examine the dynamics of curriculum change and key role leaders play in creating a learning community in schools. Opportunity will be provided for students to debate the problems and possible approaches to deal with problems confronting schools. Special emphasis will be placed on the importance of involving communities in the life of a school. Persons and groups involved in establishing and developing educational policies and practices that will meet the diverse need of the public will be explored.
EDU 557 Differentiating Instruction for Special Populations - 3 units
This course explores various educational research on differentiating instruction to meet the special needs of target populations, such as at-risk or under-challenged learners, students with Autism or Aspergers Syndrome, and students who require more personalized instruction. This course delineates between what differentiated instruction is and what it is not. Multiple forms of data collection and analysis are examined to provide educators with on-going assessment and instructional strategies based on the practices of differentiated instruction. This course assists educators in formulating and articulating the connection between theory and practice. There is a strong focus on providing educators with advanced methods for accommodating the needs of struggling learners and supporting them in the regular classroom.
EDU 580 - Educational Research - 3 units
This course examines the field of educational research by exploring research models, analyzing research articles and applying measurement and statistical techniques to problems of educational research. Each student will learn the essentials needed to carry out the entire research process and develop a research proposal that will guide the action research project.
EDU 605 – Capstone: Action Research Project and Oral Presentation - 3 units
To complete the action research, the student plans and implements a project that engages the student in applying research to practice at a local school site. Each student, under the supervision of his or her advisor, completes an action research paper in preparation for the oral presentation. The oral presentation involves a critique of the student's action research experience. Prerequisite: Successful completion of EDU 580 and approval by the program director.