Curriculum

• Core Requirements
• 30 Units

• EDU 515: Instructional Leadership
• 3

This course will provide students with an understanding of the organization, management, and leadership of schools as effective techniques for instructional leaders to teach concepts, skills, and values are presented and modeled along with specific techniques to guide, motivate, delegate, and build consensus.

OR

• EDUA 516: Instructional and Transformational Leadership
• 3

This course will combine the important theories of educational leadership with the theories of transformational leadership as it examines the context of change and its impact on society and its schools; determines leadership qualities and skills necessary for creating successful and enduring change in schools; explores the culture and politics of change as it relates to various members of the school community including administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community leaders; and develops effective strategies for marketing, managing, implementing, and integrating change in three essential areas: teaching, learning, and leadership.

• EDU 520: Curriculum Design and Assessment
• 3

This course will provide students with an intensive study of pedagogical approaches and materials for teaching 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.

OR

• EDUA 517: Curriculum Design and Evaluation
• 3

This course will provide students with an intensive study of pedagogical approaches and materials for teaching in schools, including state curriculum documents, the curricular recommendations of professional associates, recommendations that have emerged from recent educational research, and the recommendations of recent reform movements with emphasis on the study of alternative approaches to curriculum theory, design, practice, and evaluation.

• EDU 550: Educational Discourses: Change and Reform
• 3

This course will examine the historical, legal, social, political, ethical, and economic perspectives that have impacted schools in America as students examine the dynamics of curriculum change and the key role leaders play in creating a learning community. Opportunity will be provided for students to debate the problems and possible approaches in dealing with the issues confronting schools with an emphasis on the importance of involving communities in the life of a school. Persons and groups involved in establishing and developing educational policies will be discussed and the practice of meeting the diverse needs of the public will be explored.

• Selected K-12 Curriculum

• EDU 524: Coping with Stress and Violence in Today's Classroom
• 3

This course will address a variety of issues regarding stress and violence in children's lives as students discuss how the nature and content of culture are reflected in the symptoms and causes of stress and violence. Included in the discussion will be the role of schools and teachers, from preschool through high school, in providing support for children experiencing stress and/or violence and 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 they can serve as active agents of social change leading to advocacy for children.

• EDU 542: School, Community and Diverse Family Structures
• 3

This course will provide students with skills that offer effective approaches in working with family and community members from culturally and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds within the larger political and social context of today’s world. The student will explore the relationship of schools to other community agencies and investigate approaches to provide socio-educational services to children and their families. The student will examine ways to exercise leadership to initiate, develop, and implement programs and policies to foster success for all students.

• EDU 547: Brain-Based Teaching and Learning
• 3

This course is designed to provide experienced teachers with the latest research in brain-based learning and instructional theory and its practical applications to the classroom. Topics will include the structures and functions of the brain, how the brain processes information, lateralization specialization, memory, retention and transfer theory, and the role of emotion in learning. The purpose of this course is to equip educators with an understanding of research-based body/brain/mind principles and how they are applied in teaching and learning.

• EDU 586: Educational Technology
• 3

This course equips teachers to be knowledgeable about educational technology and current tools available to further student engagement. Course activities are heavily influenced and directed by the standards of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

• EDU 595: Developing Character and Ethics
• 3

This course will provide students with the resources and skills necessary to help integrate ethical themes and character development into today’s schools. Students will be provided the opportunity to explore and develop their moral perspectives so that they will be empowered and equipped to integrate values education into their school setting. Students will be able to apply principles demonstrated by historical leaders and current research in character learning and generalize the information into situations from their personal and professional life.

• Capstone Experience

• EDU 580: Educational Research
• 3

This course will provide students with an introduction to educational research by exploring problems or issues in education, qualitative research methods, and analyzing research articles. Students will learn the essentials needed to carry out the research process and begin their capstone project, which will be completed in 605.

• EDU 605: Capstone Project
• 3

During this course, students work to finalize their capstone project. Students will triangulate data using critical self-reflections, credible literature, and observations as a method to respond to an educational problem. Upon completion of the written project, students will orally present their capstone in class. Graduation Application Fee: $185. Prerequisite: EDU 580 (concurrent enrollment allowed).