Program Overview
The online Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to facilitate the highest level of teacher performance. The core courses focus on the mastery of teaching effectiveness for teachers in grades PreK through 12. The teacher as agent of change is the conceptual framework for the M.Ed. and is a unifying theme for all courses. Considerable dialogue has taken place in recent years about the need for positive change in American education. The Gannon Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction enables the graduate learner to seize the opportunity to engage in a professional process of renewal. Graduate learners are empowered to translate their knowledge and skills into the classroom.
Curriculum
The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is a 30-credit master’s degree. Graduate learners take 8 core classes and six credits of electives. Graduate learners can complete the electives at Gannon University or have the possibility of transferring credits from another accredited institution. There is no thesis required. A Program Reflection is completed at the end of the program.
Schedule/Format
- Graduate learners can begin in any semester – Fall, Spring or Summer.
- Core courses are offered two-per-semester in 7-week-long sessions. This unique format allows the graduate learner to focus on one class at a time.
- Electives can be taken when it is most convenient for graduate learners.
- The program can be completed in as few as 4 semesters, including summers.
- Sample Schedule:
- Spring: Spring 1-GEDU 612; Spring 2-GEDU 623
- Summer: Summer 1-GEDU 637; GEDU 505
- Fall: Fall 1-GEDU 601; Fall 2-GEDU 609
- Spring: Spring 1-GEDU 604; Spring 2-GEDU 621; GEDU 602, Program Reflection Submission
- Summer: Electives (if needed)
You will Experience
- 100% Online Program. Adults who are tasked with many responsibilities can complete their coursework with much more flexibility than a traditional face-to-face program.
- Tuition
is currently $550/credit for the 2020-2021 academic year with no additional
fees.
- The program is 30 credits.
- No thesis required. A Program Reflection is completed at the end of the core coursework.
- Adjunct faculty members are also educational practitioners. This provides a pragmatic link between theoretical applications and present-day instructional practices and regulations. Gannon’s adjunct faculty is comprised of superintendents, principals, school psychologists, classroom teachers, and advanced certification directors. They present a realistic and firsthand view of theoretical models that are valid and applicable in today’s classrooms.
You Will Achieve
The mission of the Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) program is to provide candidates exceptional professional education through integration of theory and pedagogy to prepare them to be agents of change within the disciplines of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Upon successful completion of this online degree program, graduates will be awarded the Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University. Gannon has a commencement ceremony that all online graduates are welcome to participate in at our campus in Erie, PA, in May and December of each year.
You Will Study
Core Courses
GEDU 505 Classroom Management
This course is a study of major educational disciplines, theory, and practical application for teachers as they use their knowledge and skills for effective classroom management. Graduate learners discover how to deal with disrespect, defiance, disruption, bullying, violence, and many other problems they must handle.
GEDU 601 Action Research
This course provides graduate learners with an opportunity to gain an understanding of the action research process and to enhance their professional growth as research-practitioners. Participants engage in critical analysis of published professional literature and professional reflection while developing an action research proposal that can lead to improvements in curricular and/or instructional design.
GEDU 602 Program Reflection
The Program Reflection is the final requirement
in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. This four-six-page submission
answers a series of targeted questions that require graduate learners to
reflect upon their entire experience in the program.
GEDU 604 Educational Tests and Measurements
This course is aligned with national standards for teacher competence in assessment and is designed to prepare teachers to effectively use multiple measures of assessment to inform teaching practices. Specific skills include developing and utilizing assessments and interpreting assessment results.
GEDU 609 Inclusive Classroom Practices
This course explores elements needed to develop a productive learning environment for diverse learners and examines methods used to provide effective instruction to diverse students through the lens of collaboration and co-teaching and research-based strategies.
GEDU 612 Leadership, Current Issues, and the Teacher as Agent of Change
A major theme in the master's program is Teacher as Agent of Change. The graduate learner has the dual opportunity of examining leadership concepts and of applying those concepts to successfully address current issues as they affect the school setting. In addition, graduate learners examine and build on their own leadership capacity.
GEDU 621 School Curriculum
Curriculum is a multi-faceted field of study directly linked to instruction and assessment. Through this course, graduate learners view curriculum as a body of knowledge and a process by exploring the theory, history, purposes, and evolution in curriculum. Factors which shape curriculum are thoroughly reviewed, and current trends are examined. A strong effort is made to provide practical information with specific relevancy to each participant.
GEDU 623 Technology Literacy and Integration
Educators need to be well-versed in current technologies. Effective teachers model and apply technology integration as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning using technology. Through the use of online web resources and collaborative tools, graduate learners study, evaluate, and find applications for technology in their classrooms.
GEDU 637 Learning Theory
This course examines human learning processes, factors that influence learning, and major learning theories. Graduate learners relate learning theory to effective teaching practices and conduct research.