Refine Your Teaching Skills for First Through Eighth Grade Classrooms
Enhance and refresh your knowledge in leading in the elementary and middle school classroom with the regionally accredited Master of Education in Elementary Education. This elementary education program, offered by Grand Canyon University's College of Education, is designed for licensed teaching professionals to help them refine instructional methods and expand their understanding of advanced content. The rigorous curriculum works to develop you into an informed educator ready to meet the diverse demands of both traditional and nontraditional school settings.
In the MEd in elementary education program, you review prescribed lesson strategies and assess classroom and individual plans to improve student outcomes. Through advanced research, you propose solutions to current issues in education, such as student literacy and teaching English language learners. Observational practicums integrated into your program enhance your ability to teach, lead and succeed in culturally and intellectually diverse first through eighth grade schoolrooms.
Degree Outcomes
Learn the Foundation of Elementary Education
The MEd in elementary education degree intertwines evidence-based theory with advanced teaching methods to improve learning. Evaluate instructional strategies for multiple content areas, including English as a second language (ESL), health, social studies, math and science, and complete observational and practice-based experiences to develop a heightened understanding of a comprehensive education.
What You Will Learn
Learn to Use Collaboration to Increase Student Learning
Throughout this elementary education degree program, you review the following topics:
- The construction, analysis and interpretation of psychological tests to measure learning outcome
- Using collaboration to increase instructional effectiveness and student learning
- The nature, origins and history of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy
- Human learning and cognition
- Humanistic, transpersonal and existential psychology in relation to motivation, needs, love and existence
- Theories of inquiry and appropriate tests and measures
Career Outcomes
Forge a New Career Path in Education
As a graduate of this MEd in elementary education degree program, you have the skills to pursue teaching positions within public, private and alternative educational settings. Potential career titles include elementary education teacher, child development specialist or child advocate.
Program Core Courses
Course Description
Teacher candidates prepare for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University by developing and strengthening the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Education. Teacher candidates survey the philosophical, historical, and sociological influences upon which educational theories and practices are constructed and explore a variety of the common issues, trends, and opportunities that professional educators face in the field. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
Teacher candidates survey how children and early adolescents grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas while understanding the implications for designing and implementing developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences. This survey of the seminal concepts, principles, theories, and research related to development of children and young adolescents will allow teacher candidates to build foundational knowledge for constructing learning opportunities that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge, and motivation. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
Teacher candidates are introduced to the educational needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities and their families, including the definitions, characteristics, prevalence, causes and educational approaches to these disabilities and disorders. Teacher candidates will identify cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional patterns of learning and development for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Teacher candidates also survey the special education process involving the application of various laws and regulations. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine how to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self- motivation. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge regarding the importance of establishing and maintaining positive collaborative relationships with families, school colleagues, and agencies in the larger community to promote the intellectual, social, emotional, physical growth, and well-being of children. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine how instructional planning supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of students and the community context. Teacher candidates analyze and integrate multiple methods of assessment that support student engagement, monitoring student progress, and guiding decision making. Assessment and instruction will support foundational knowledge regarding the importance of planning instruction based on knowledge of students, learning theory, connection across the curriculum, curricular goals, and community, with focused attention on formative and summative assessments. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ELM-500.
Course Description
Teacher candidates develop strategies to foster and support student autonomy in the classroom. Teacher candidates build knowledge and skills to promote self-directed learning and empower students to take control and set goals for their own learning outcomes. Teacher candidates design and plan a learning environment that allows active participation from students in their own learning, collaborative goal setting with students and other stakeholders, self-assessment of progress, reflective thinking, questioning with intention, and purposeful feedback. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
Candidates examine the United States Constitution, and the constitution of the State of Arizona. From this foundational review, candidates will explore application of the United States Constitution and the constitution of the State of Arizona in educational contexts. Practicum/field experience hours: 3. Fingerprint clearance not required.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine how to teach foundational skills to develop proficient readers with the capacity to comprehend texts across a range of texts and disciplines. Teacher candidates build additional knowledge regarding print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, and fluency to promote early literacy and independent readers. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ELM-530 or ECS-501 or ELM-555.
Course Description
In this course, teacher candidates continue to examine the fundamentals of the legal, historical, and educational foundations of Structured English Immersion and other instructional programs for English language learners. Theoretical principles of language acquisition and the role of culture in learning are examined. Methods of assessment are identified and analyzed. Teacher candidates identify strategies to promote English language development and improve student achievement. They plan, deliver, and evaluate instruction for English language learners. Practicum/field experience hours: 15. Fingerprint clearance required.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine fundamental concepts of physical, life, earth/space sciences and health education. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on a variety of age-appropriate inquiry-based instructional strategies to teach science, to build student understanding of personal and social applications, to convey the nature of science, and student development for the practice of skills that contribute to good health. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ELM-530 or ELM-555.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of the major concepts and modes of inquiry from the integrated study of history, geography, the social sciences and other related areas. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on promoting elementary students’ abilities to make informed decisions as citizens of a culturally diverse democratic society and interdependent world. Teacher candidates integrate the content, functions and achievements of the performing and visual arts as primary media for communication, inquiry and engagement among elementary students. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ELM-530 or ELM-570.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of the major concepts and procedures that define number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on engaging problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections and representations to help students successfully apply their developing skills to many different situations, materials, and ideas. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ELM-530 or ELM-570.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of reading, writing, and oral language and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on how to use the concepts from reading, language, and child development to teach reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and thinking skills, and to help students successfully apply their developing skills to many different situations, materials, and ideas. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: ELM-530 or ELM-570.
Online
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere. GCU offers the most experienced leadership in delivering online degree programs. Full-time faculty members and fully trained adjunct instructors, equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields, support you every step of the way. Designed with the career-oriented professional in mind, our online classes provide an intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions. Choose from programs across our distinct colleges, in high-demand employment areas. Classes begin frequently.
Evening
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom. Night classes are designed for a specific number of students, providing a warm and nurturing environment that supports an engaging experience. In an evening cohort, you will progress through your degree program with the same career-minded classmates, providing an opportunity to network and forge relationships that go beyond the classroom. Classes begin frequently at various locations, including our main campus.
* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability of the program.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.