Elementary Education (PK & Spec Ed) BS / Teaching, Learning & Curriculum MS

Major: Elementary Education, PK-4 and Special Education; Teaching, Learning and Curriculum
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 230.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
 

About the Program 

The BS/MS in Elementary Education (PK-4 and Special Education) and Teaching, Learning and Curriculum offers a flexible, innovative curriculum with a unique emphasis on creative problem-solving and the application of the latest technologies to learning. This accelerated degree program allows candidates to pursue a BS in Education (Elementary/PK-4) with Pennsylvania initial state teacher certification and continue for a fifth graduate year to complete the MS in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum (Advanced Track).

The BS/MS in Elementary Teacher Education and Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Advanced track prepares students academically and practically for careers in PK–12 teaching or other educational settings, including capabilities to:

• Demonstrate professional ethics and independent and creative academic best practices that exhibit outstanding leadership, organizational, cross cultural, inter-personal and advocacy skills including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external groups.
• Understand the changing role of teachers in increasingly diverse societies
• Demonstrate a strong academic background in all subject areas that meet PDE requirements including literacy, language and STEM areas
• Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain a positive and democratic classroom climate for students
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of child development in their ability to develop and implement learning opportunities that are unique to every child
• Develop creative academic leadership skills with a global perspective on current educational issues, knowledge of best pedagogical practices, tools to effectively integrate technology in curriculum, assessment and instruction, and a strong academic background in all subject areas that meet PDE content requirements.
• Develop competencies to become reflective practitioners who are lifelong learners, who base their practice on theory, research, and developmentally appropriate pedagogy by analyzing, implementing, and evaluating existing and new instructional strategies and practices in a variety of educational institutions/organizations.
• Demonstrate advanced teaching knowledge and skills well beyond that required for initial Pennsylvania certification
• Develop advanced skills to function in a variety of roles as instructors, instructional leaders or researchers in local, state, national and international organizations, foundations, associations, corporations and private educational institutions.
• Have in-depth knowledge of both public and private (non-profit and for-profit) institutions as well as small and large institutions.

The BS program requires that candidates have a B average (3.0 GPA) in content courses needed for teacher certification in addition to the grade of B or better in each EDEX, EDLT, EDPO, EDUC, and MTED courses throughout their time in the program. These requirements must be satisfied for Drexel to recommend the candidates for teacher certification upon graduation and/or be considered to have completed the program. Clearances and field placement applications must be submitted before participating in coursework with classroom-based field components. 

Additional Information

More information is available at the School of Education's website.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are the same as the BS in Elementary Education. The BS/MS application must be submitted during sophomore year before 120.0 credits have been completed with a cumulative 3.0 GPA to gain acceptance into the BS/MS program. Continuation as a BS/MS student in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum (Advanced Track) requires maintaining a minimum term and cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Degree Requirements

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COOP 101, CIVC 101 and UNIV T101 are not required for Education transfer students. Instead, these 3.0 credits are replaced with a 3.0 credit elective choice of ESTM 342 or EDEX 375.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

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Candidates may opt for a formal concentration or a Customized Concentration which may include course work from other Drexel academic departments in consultation with an academic advisors. Sample customized concentrations might include:

• Educational Administration
• Evaluation & Assessment
• Instructional Design
• Leadership in Educational Settings
• Special Education Law and Process
• Special Education Leadership
• Urban Education

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Complete 3.0 graduate elective credits (500-799) in EDUC, EDEX, EDGI, EDAM, EHRD, EDHE, CRTV, MTED, EDLT, EDLS, ELL, ABA, EDPO, ENTP or ESTM.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4+1, 1 co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)*

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

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Students must receive Department permission to pursue the NCOP option. Students will work directly with their advisor to establish a unique plan of study.

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.