Master's of Education - Program Options

Professor teaching in classroom

The Rockhurst University School of Education prepares educators with a solid background in their chosen field of study who are knowledgeable and competent in the craft of teaching and who bring well-informed perspectives to bear on educational policies and practices. The School of Education is committed to the Rockhurst University tradition of preparing men and women for and with service to others.

Students earning a master's degree in education will analyze alternatives in curricula, evaluate teaching methodologies and assessment strategies and consider the implications of such alternatives for a multicultural society. Through rigorous coursework, varied field experiences, and service learning projects, students acquire a deep understanding of, and special sensitivity to, the challenges and rewards of leading in an educational setting.

Rockhurst accommodates busy schedules with classes offered face-to-face, blended, and online. All courses start at 5 p.m., allowing students to work part-time or full-time day jobs. Field experiences and service learning projects may require some scheduling flexibility, however.

Our program offers a Master of Education with Initial Teacher Certification in elementary, secondary, or special education.

 

Elementary Certification 

Our Master of Education in elementary certification is designed for those interested in teaching in the 1-6 grade levels. You will be well equipped to lead these young learners. Students can pursue certification in elementary education while earning a master’s degree.

Course Requirements

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6501 Curriculum Methods and Assessment I: Teaching Science, Mathematics, and Health in Grades One through Six, 4 credit hours
ED 6502 Curriculum Methods and Assessment II: Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies, and Children’s Literature in Grades One through Six, 4 credit hours
ED 6503 Elementary Math Methods, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7710 Integrating Arts Instruction into the Core Curriculum, 3 credit hours
ED 7760 Literacy Practicum, 3 credit hours
ED 7800 Graduate Student Teaching in the Elementary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours


Secondary Certification

Our Master of Education in secondary certification is designed for those interested in teaching at the 9-12 grade levels. Choose from the following certifications:

Biology

Course Requirements:

History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, 3 credit hours

Biology, 20 credit hours including:

  • Cell Biology
  • Plant Form and Function
  • Animal Form and Function
  • Genetics
  • Evolution
  • Biology Electives

Science, 12 additional credit hours including:

  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Earth Science
  • Environmental Science

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6260 Teaching Middle and Secondary School Science, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours

Business

Course Requirements

  • Implementing Business Education Programs, 3 credit hours
  • Coordination of Cooperative Education, 3 credit hours
  • Accounting, 6 credit hours
  • Economics, 6 credit hours
  • Business/Consumer Related Law, 3 credit hours
  • Business Communications, 3 credit hours
  • Management, 3 credit hours
  • Marketing, 3 credit hours
  • Computer/Emerging Technologies, 6 credit hours
  • Business Electives, 3 credit hours

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6660 Teaching Secondary Business, 3 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours

Chemistry

Course Requirements:

History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, 3 credit hours
Chemistry, 20 credit hours including:

  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry with lab
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry Electives

Science, 12 additional credit hours including:

  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Earth Science
  • Environmental Science

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6260 Teaching Middle and Secondary School Science, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours 

English

Course Requirements:

Composition and Rhetoric, 9 credit hours
English or World Literature, 6 credit hours
American Literature, one course including ethnic literature and one course including adolescent literature, 6 credit hours
History of the English Language, 3 credit hours
Grammar/Usage, 3 credit hours
Teaching of Writing, 3 credit hours
English Elective, 3 credit hours

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6460 Teaching Middle and Secondary School English, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours

French (K-12)

Course Requirements:

French courses, 30 credit hours

  • 15 hours must be upper division
  • 6 hours maximum in culture/history

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6560 Teaching Foreign Language, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours

Mathematics

Course Requirements:

Calculus and Analytical Geometry, 9 credit hours
Algebraic Structures, 3 credit hours
Geometry, 3 credit hours
Computer Science, 3 credit hours
Mathematics Electives from the above, 6 credit hours

Mathematics, 12 credit hours including at least three areas

  • History of Mathematics
  • Structure of the Real Number System
  • Number Theory
  • Completion of Calculus Sequence
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Computer Science
  • Linear Algebra
     

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6160 Teaching Middle and Secondary School Mathematics, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours 

Physics

Course Requirements:

History and Philosophy of Science, 3 credit hours
Physics, 20 credit hours including

  • Mechanics
  • Electricity and Magnetism
  • Heat, Sound, and Light
  • Atomic or Modern Physics
  • Physics Electives

Science, 12 credit hours including

  • Biology
  • Environmental Science
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6260 Teaching Middle and Secondary School Science, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours 

Social Science

Course Requirements:

Behavioral Science including anthropology, psychology, and/or sociology, 6 credit hours
Economics, 3 credit hours
Geography, 3 credit hours
Political Science; State and United States Government, 6 credit hours
United States History, 12 credit hours
World History, 9 credit hours

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6360 Teaching Middle and Secondary School Social Studies, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours

Spanish (K-12)

Course Requirements:

Spanish courses, 30 credit hours

  • 15 hours must be upper division
  • 6 hours maximum in culture/history

ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education:  Applications and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6500 Curriculum, Methods, and Assessment in Secondary Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6560 Teaching Foreign Language, 3 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Readers, 3 credit hours
ED 7850 Graduate Student Teaching in the Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours


Special Education Certification, Grades K-12

Designed for those interested in working with children in K-12 settings who have mild to moderate cross-categorical special needs. The program requires 60 graduate credit hours, with the option to be dually certified in both special education and elementary education by taking two additional courses.

Paired with our M.Ed. curriculum, our special education program will prepare you to:

  • Recognize the characteristics of students with disabilities
  • Develop a prescriptive plan for these students
  • Apply research-validated practices to classroom and individual behavior management
  • Diagnose and remediate a student's academic learning needs
  • Counsel parents, caregivers and families of students with special needs

Course Requirements

ED 6005 Evaluation of Abilities and Achievement, 3 credit hours
ED 6010 Foundations of Education, 2 credit hours
ED 6020 Fundamentals of Literacy Learning, 3 credit hours
ED 6030 Technology and Education: Application and Implications, 3 credit hours
ED 6055 Social and Affective Interventions, 3 credit hours
ED 6060 Counseling Techniques and Family Advocacy, 2 credit hours
ED 6070 Language Development of Students with Exceptionalities, 3 credit hours
ED 6080 Educational Methods in Mild/Moderate/Cross Categorical Disabilities, 4 credit hours
ED 6090 Specialized Instruction Strategies Across the Curriculum for Special Educators, 3 credit hours
ED 6150 Field Experiences and Action Research, 3 credit hours
ED 6400 Advanced Psychological Foundations, 3 credit hours
ED 6450 Foundations of Special Education, 3 credit hours
ED 6501 Curriculum Methods and Assessment I: Teaching Science, Mathematics, and Health in Grades One through Six, 4 credit hours
ED 6502 Curriculum Methods and Assessment II: Integrating Language Arts, Social Studies, and Children’s Literature in Grades One through Six, 4 credit hours
ED 6620 Foundations of Classroom Management, 2 credit hours
ED 6700 Methods of Assessment and Instruction for Remedial Reading, 3 credit hours
ED 7800 or ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching in the Elementary or Secondary School, 9 credit hours
ED 7900 Graduate Student Teaching Seminar, 3 credit hours