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Graduate Studies
Graduate Studies

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elementary education graduate programs.

Elementary Education candidates may earn the Master of Arts degree or the Master of Science degree. Professional rank for Nebraska certification and/or additional endorsements may be earned as part of both degree programs. For further information contact the department at (402) 554-2212.

All applicant should submit:

Master of Arts with Major in Elementary Education

Required Courses 9 hours
  • TED 8010 Introduction to Research
  • Thesis hours (6 hours)
Related Professional/Academic Courses 21 hours
TOTAL 30 hours to complete degree

Master of Science with Major in Elementary Education

Required Courses 9 hours

It is recommended that these classes be taken early in the program.

  • TED 8010 Introduction to Research
  • TED 8060 Current Issues and Trends in Education, or TED 9180 Contemporary Issues in Urban Education

This course should be taken at the end of the program:

  • TED 8700 Elementary Education Capstone (TED 8700 will be offered every fall and spring beginning in the fall of 2011. It will replace TED 8430 School Curriculum Planning as a required course. It should be taken in the final semester of course work as it will replace the comprehensive examination.)
Related Courses - 9 hours

Candidates are to take one course in three of the five strands. They may choose from the courses listed or other courses approved by their advisor.

Assessment and Instruction Strand

  • TED 8070 Teaching Multiple Intelligences
  • TED 8210 Human Relations for Bias Free Education
  • TED 8250 Assessment for the Classroom Teacher
  • TED 8330 Analysis of Teacher Behavior
  • TED 8930 Individualization of Instruction
  • TED 9200 Critical Pedagogy: Teaching for Social Justice
  • SPED 8236 Language Development & Disorders for Teachers
  • SPED 8400 Learning Disabilities
  • SPED 8910 Theories of Assessment and Diagnosis of Learning Deficits
  • or any assessment and instruction course or workshop pending advisor's approval

Child Development Strand

  • TED 8246 Parent Involvement in Early Childhood Education
  • TED 8276 Current Trends in Early Childhood Education
  • SPED8016 Child Abuse/Neglect
  • SPED8806 Emotional Development of Children and Youth
  • or any early childhood course or workshop pending advisor's approval

Literacy Strand

  • TED 8130 Language, Culture, and Power
  • TED 8410 Oxbow Writing Project (5 credit hours)
  • TED 8470 Teaching in Language Arts
  • TED 8616 Teaching Writing Throughout the Curriculum
  • TED 8650 Children's Literature and Education
  • TED 8660 Young Adult Literature and Education
  • TED 8800 Multicultural Literature for Children and Youth
  • TED 9100 Theories and Processes of Reading
  • TED 9110 Principles and Practices in Teaching Reading
  • TED 9200 Critical Pedagogy: Teaching for Social Justice
  • or any literacy course or workshop pending advisor's approval

Science and Mathematics Strand

  • TED 8410 Special Topics in Mathematics/Science
  • TED 8420 Trends and Teaching Strategies in Science Education
  • TED 8510 Aerospace Education Workshop
  • MATH 8505 Selected Topics in Mathematics/Education
  • MATH 8980 Graduate Seminar in Mathematics/Elementary Education
  • PHYS 8055 The Philosophy of Space Exploration
  • PHYS 8165 Current Topics in Science
  • CHEM 8936 Special Topics in Chemistry/Education
  • BIOL 8010 Seminar in Biology
  • BIOL 8060 Inquiry in the Biological Sciences
  • GEOG 8040 Seminar in Educational Geography
  • GEOG/GEOL 8236 Great Plains and Nebraska
  • GEOG 8500 Earth Science for Educators
  • GEOG/GEOL 8536 Historical Geography of the United States
  • or any science/math course or workshop pending advisor's approval

Technology Strand

  • TED 8540 Introduction to Technology Tools for Learning
  • TED 8550 Digital Multi-media in Learning
  • TED 8560 Supporting Instructional Technology Environments
  • TED 8570 Internet in the Learning Process
  • TED 8580 Authoring Internet Based Educational Materials
  • TED 8600 Advanced Seminar in Educational Technology
  • TED 8620 Advanced Support of Instructional Technology Environments
  • TED 8766 Managing Collections in Libraries and Information Agencies
  • TED 8770 Integrating Technology into Instructional Design
  • EDAD 8250 Technology for School Leaders
  • or any technology course or workshop pending advisor's approval
Concentration - 12 hours

Each candidate will include in his/her Plan of Study, an area of concentration in a special field which will provide depth in an area of his/her interest. Courses within the concentrations will be decided upon in conference with the student's advisor. Possible concentrations include: Behavior Disorders, Bilingual Education, Early Childhood Education, ESL/ELL, Improvement of Instruction, Learning Disabilities, Library Media, Literacy, Math and Science, Technology, and Urban Schools.

Electives - 6 hours
TOTAL 36 hours to complete degree

Selective Retention for Master's Program

Candidates to a master's program are admitted provisionally until completion and successful evaluation of the selective retention materials. Submitted materials are reviewed to determine if the candidate's status will be changed to unconditional. Unconditional status means the candidate is fully admitted to the program leading to a master's degree. Selective retention replaces the admission exam.

To move from provisional to unconditional status, the following is a criteria guide for the application process:

  • During the term in which you will complete 12 hours of TED courses
    • complete the Diversity Dispositions Index
    • complete a graduate course summary form
    • submit a formal letter of application
    • complete a degree plan of study with an assigned advisor

Exit Requirements

The exit requirement for a Master of Arts candidate is an oral defense of his/her thesis.

Beginning in the fall of 2011 the comprehensive exam will be replaced by TED 8700 Elementary Education Capstone. The professional project completed in this class will take the place of the comprehensive exam. Registration for the course will be by permission only (for students near the end of their program).

last updated : 11/9/2011 at 1:03pm