The Curriculum

The UoPeople M.Ed. is entirely online and is structured around four curricular components: Core Courses, Specialization Courses, Electives, and the Capstone Project. Students will choose to specialize in either elementary and middle school education, or secondary education. Their required specialization core courses and electives will be dependent on which track they choose.

All M.Ed. students must choose their specialization track, and complete the 9 core courses, 2 specialization core courses, 1 specialization elective course, and the Capstone Project. Students may choose to complete both specializations, in which case they will be required to complete the minimum courses for both of the specializations.

The four components of each requirement are described below.

Core Courses for all M.Ed. Students

The core consists of nine courses focusing on the foundational skills of knowledge and comprehension, with a focus on learning theory. In collaboration with the IB, courses are taught from a global perspective and invites students to explore the historical, social and philosophical aspects of education from a comparative perspective.

• • • EDUC 5010 Education in Context: History, Philosophy and Sociology
    • EDUC 5210 Learning Theory and Implications for Instruction
    • EDUC 5220 Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making
    • EDUC 5240 Creating Positive Classroom Environments (Identity Verification Course)
    • EDUC 5710 Understanding Barriers to Learning
    • EDUC 5440 Assessment and Evaluation
    • EDUC 5711 Teaching for Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms
    • EDUC 5810 Living and Learning Globally
    • EDUC 5470 Research in Education

Capstone Project for all M.Ed. Students

The Capstone Project is completed through two courses EDUC Research in Education and EDUC 5910 Applied Professional Inquiry. EDUC 5470 is taken as the second to last course in the program and EDUC 5910 (Identity Verification Course)is taken as the final course. These courses offer students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and research skills attained in the program. No other courses can be taken concurrently with the EDUC 5910.

Special Internship Option

Successful students in UoPeople’s M.Ed. program residing in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, or China may wish to consider applying for an elective internship in an International Baccalaureate (IB) school located in one of those regions. Students who reside elsewhere who can demonstrate a serious commitment to a teaching career at the K-12 level in one of those regions are also eligible to apply.

The IB internship is not a degree requirement. It occurs only after all other course requirements for the degree have been met, including completion of the capstone project (EDUC 5910 Applied Professional Inquiry). Students who are approved to participate in this special elective internship option register for EDUC 5995 IB Internship and receive a grade in the course. The degree is awarded following successful completion of the internship experience.

The internship involves a full-time placement in an IB school. There are no scholarship monies available to support this option; the internship must be entirely self-funded by the student. The IB internship experience is a full-time, semester-long placement, and the UoPeople student is expected to be in residence at the IB school for the entire length of that school’s term. Decisions about whether a placement will be in the fall semester or in the winter/spring term are at the sole discretion of the IB school hosting the intern. Internships are not available during the summer months.

Specializations

Students must choose to specialize in either Elementary and Middle School Level teaching, or Secondary level teaching. Students in either specialization will be required to complete two (2) core specialization courses, and one (1) elective course as part of the 13 required courses.

Students may choose to specialize in both Elementary and Middle School Level Teaching and Secondary Level Teaching, and in this case will be required to take all required courses from each specialization track (two (2) specialization core courses and one (1) elective from each track), leading to a minimum of 16 required courses.

M.Ed. – Advanced Teaching at the Elementary and Middle School Level (grades K-8): Students wishing to focus on advanced teaching at the elementary and middle school level complete the following program of study.

Specialization Core Courses (2 courses required)

• • • EDUC 5410 Child Development
    • EDUC 5270 Instructional Techniques for the Elementary and Middle School Classroom (Identity Verification Course)

Electives (1 course required)

• • • EDUC 5271 Advanced Practices for Teaching Elementary and Middle School Literacy
    • EDUC 5272 Advanced Practices for Teaching the STEM Fields at the Elementary and Middle School Levels

M.Ed. – Advanced Teaching at the Secondary Level (grades 6-12): Students wishing to focus on advanced teaching at the secondary level complete the following program of study.

Specialization Core Courses (2 courses required)

• • • EDUC 5420 Adolescent Development
    • EDUC 5280 Instructional Techniques for the Secondary School Classroom (Identity Verification Course)

Electives (1 course required)

• • • EDUC 5281 Advanced Practices for Teaching Literature and Writing at the Secondary Level
    • EDUC 5282 Advanced Practices for Teaching the STEM Fields at the Secondary Level Levels

While our internship is not mandatory; those who take the internship must complete a total of 42 credits if enrolled in one specialization, or 51 credits if enrolled in both specializations. Students who do not take the internship will be required to take a total of 39 credits if enrolled in one specialization, or 48 credits if enrolled in both specializations.

Learning Pathway

The learning pathway for your program has been curated to create the best learning experience for each student. For the most effective way to learn, courses need to be taken in the right sequence; lower-level courses prepare students with the foundational knowledge they need for higher level courses.  This allows students to learn in order to better achieve the program and institutional learning outcomes.

 

Each student’s learning pathway is customized based on the courses the student has already taken and the degree requirements at the time of enrollment. For this reason, your path may differ from another student’s path. However, here is an example of a sequence a student with no previous classes or transfer credits may take through the Master of Education in Advanced Teaching program:

Elementary Specialization

1. EDUC 5010 Education in Context: History, Philosophy, and Sociology
2. EDUC 5210 Learning Theory and Implications for Instruction
3. EDUC 5220 Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making
4. EDUC 5240 Creating Positive Classroom Environments
5. EDUC 5440 Assessment and Evaluation
6. EDUC 5710 Understanding Barriers to Learning
7. EDUC 5711 Teaching for Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms
8. EDUC 5810 Living and Learning Globally
9. EDUC 5410 Child Development
10. EDUC 5270 Instructional Techniques for the Elementary and Middle School Classroom
11. Elective Course – Elementary Specialization
12. EDUC 5470 Research in Education
13. EDUC 5910 Capstone

Secondary Specialization

14. EDUC 5010 Education in Context: History, Philosophy, and Sociology
15. EDUC 5210 Learning Theory and Implications for Instruction
16. EDUC 5220 Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making
17. EDUC 5240 Creating Positive Classroom Environments
18. EDUC 5440 Assessment and Evaluation
19. EDUC 5710 Understanding Barriers to Learning
20. EDUC 5711 Teaching for Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms
21. EDUC 5810 Living and Learning Globally
22. EDUC 5420 Adolescent Development
23. EDUC 5280 Instructional Techniques for the Secondary School Classroom
24. Elective Course – Secondary Specialization
25. EDUC 5470 Research in Education
26. EDUC 5910 Capstone

Dual Elementary and Secondary Specialization

1. EDUC 5010 Education in Context: History, Philosophy, and Sociology
2. EDUC 5210 Learning Theory and Implications for Instruction
3. EDUC 5220 Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making
4. EDUC 5240 Creating Positive Classroom Environments
5. EDUC 5440 Assessment and Evaluation
6. EDUC 5710 Understanding Barriers to Learning
7. EDUC 5711 Teaching for Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms
8. EDUC 5810 Living and Learning Globally
9. EDUC 5410 Child Development
10. EDUC 5270 Instructional Techniques for the Elementary and Middle School Classroom
11. Elective Course – Elementary Specialization
12. EDUC 5420 Adolescent Development
13. EDUC 5280 Instructional Techniques for the Secondary School Classroom
14. Elective Course – Secondary Specialization
15. EDUC 5470 Research in Education
16. EDUC 5910 Capstone