M.S.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction

(May also satisfy requirements to extend certification by adding B-2)

There is an increased demand for quality teachers in private and Head Start, childcare services as well as preschools, and in the public school systems across the country. To ensure the experience provides a quality education for young children, it is imperative that those individuals enrolled in teaching programs receive a broad, solid foundation of knowledge in the field of early childhood education. These courses will enable the graduate student to extend their certification to include Early Childhood Education upon completion.

The courses in this program include:

• Emergent Literacy
• Creative and Sensory Experiences for Young Children
• Early Childhood Development and Learning
• Literature: Family /School/Community Collaboration

With rapid internationalization, there is an increase in intercultural schools, classrooms, events, communities, and businesses. Individuals with the ability to navigate and lead within these settings smoothly will be in increased demand. These courses will enable the graduate student to begin to develop a greater understanding of the normality of diversity in the lives of all humans.*

The courses in this program include:

• Diversity and Advocacy in Education
• Literacy and Language for Diverse Learners
• Teaching English Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom
• Family/School/Community Collaboration

The ability for teachers to gain a greater un-derstanding of how humans begin to recognize and understand language then use words and sentences in that language to communicate with others is a critical part the educational process. The Language Acquisition focus area will provide students with the most current theories and best practices on how to begin to understand and produce language.

The courses in this program include:

• Emergent Literacy
• Literacy and Language for Diverse Learners
• Teaching English Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom
• Teaching Writing B-6 or Teaching Writing 5-12

Leadership is in everyone. It is also needed in almost every interaction we have in our professional lives. Educators will likely find themselves in a position where they can influence change in the organization. This focus area is designed to provide educators with the knowledge to not only understand the dynamics of an organization and change, but to support personal growth and understanding of the leader within themselves and the role that plays in an educational setting.

The courses in this program include:

• Principles of Leadership
• Organizational Development
• Change Processes
• Leadership in a Community of Learners

There is increasing demand for classroom teachers to be expertly equipped with a high level of understanding for how students read, write, and communicate in today’s world, as well as how to evaluate literacy strengths and needs. Additionally, education reaches beyond the classroom walls and collaboration with families and communities is vital to student success. This focus area will provide candidates with the most current theories and practices in literacy assessment, reading, writing, and community-based approaches for PreK-12 classrooms.

The courses in this program include:

• Literacy Assessment and Evaluation
• Literacy: Family/School/Community Collaboration
• Literature Based Literacy Instruction
• Teaching Writing (B-6 or 5-12)

People, in any organization, are the essence of what outcomes are made of. Each contribution (positive or negative) that is made, whether indi-vidually, or part of a team, is pivotal to the daily operations of the entity in which they belong. Understanding human needs, both interpersonally, and in the context of an organization, is at the core of these courses. These will introduce concepts related to the interaction between one another, strategies related to the development of members of the organization, and ways to reduce conflict and improve outcomes within the organization.

The courses in this program include:

• Teambuilding
• Staff Development
• Human Resources
• Conflict Resolution

Education today involves complex learning envi-ronments that involve digital tools and materials. It is critical that teachers have the skills and ac-cess to resources needed to provide an effective 21st Century education for their students. The courses in this focus area provide a foundation from which teachers can build and facilitate high quality learning environments for their students.

The courses in this program include:

• Desktop Publishing
• Technology in Education
• Teaching and Learning with Simulations and Games
• Preparing and Delivering Professional Presentations

There is a critical shortage of Special Education teachers regionally, statewide, and nationally. The Special Education Concentration supports C&I candidates to gain knowledge and skills that will deepen their understanding of the needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities, as well as effective strategies to support all students in inclusive classroom settings. For candidates who are interested in pursuing an additional teaching certificate in Students with Disabilities (All Grades and/or B-2 Special Education) through the New York State Education Department’s individual pathways program, the courses in this Concentration may be useful for demonstrating knowledge and pedagogical competencies in some required areas. The Concentration, as part of the C&I program, does not lead to college recommendation related to the NYS Students with Disabilities (All Grades) teacher certification.

There are two options in this program.

The courses in the 'All Grades Special Education' concentration include:

• Characteristics of Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities (or equivalent; if needed)
• Diagnosis and Assessment of Educational Disabilities
• Behavior Management for the Special Educator
• Strategies for Teaching Elementary OR Secondary Students with Learning/Behavioral Disorders (depending on initial certification)

The courses in the 'B-2 Special Education' concentration include:

• Characteristics of Learners with Mild/Moderate Disabilities (or equivalent; if needed)
• Diagnosis and Assessment of Educational Disabilities
• Behavior Management for the Special Educator
• Strategies for Early Childhood Special Education