Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration in Elementary Education
Mason undergraduates are eligible to apply to this bachelor's / accelerated master's program, which allows them to obtain both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree within an accelerated time frame. The program also offers the advantage of paying undergraduate tuition rates for graduate classes taken while finishing the bachelor’s degree, with some graduate classes able to count toward both degrees.
This master's degree program provides a robust, well-rounded curriculum that includes general and content-specific teaching methods courses and leads to initial licensure in elementary education. Strong partnerships with local elementary schools ensure that teacher candidates are immersed in classroom settings with elementary students throughout the program. Graduates will be able to recognize and adapt to students’ needs, interests, and readiness levels through innovative, research-based pedagogical practices.
- ELED 542: Foundations of Elementary Education (3 credits)*
- ELED 543: Children, Family, Culture, and Schools, ages 4-12 Years (3 credits)*
- ELED 544: Introduction to Elementary Methods and Management (3 credits)**
- ELED 555: Literacy Teaching and Learning in Diverse Elementary Classrooms I (3 credits)**
- ELED 545: Differentiating Elementary Methods and Management (3 credits)
- ELED 553: Science Methods for the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
- ELED 552: Mathematics Methods for the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
- ELED 554: Methods of Teaching Social Studies and Integrating Fine Arts in the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
- ELED 556: Literacy Teaching and Learning in Diverse Elementary Classrooms II (3 credits)
- ELED 559: Research and Assessment in Elementary Education (3 credits)
- ELED 790: Internship in Elementary Education (6-9 credits) (SL interns complete 6 credits; YL interns complete 9 credits.)
- Elective (SL interns only; 3 credits)
*Course counts for both the Bachelor’s Degree (any)/Curriculum and Instruction and MEd degree.
**Course is taken for Reserve Graduate Credit and will only apply to the MEd degree.
Content Area Requirements for Virginia Licensure
There may be additional coursework that is required for this licensure pathway. In addition to the required courses listed above, this degree pathway leading to licensure, requires coursework in the following areas:
- English composition
- Literature (preferably children’s lit)
- Survey of US history
- Survey of world history
- One geography, US government, or economics course
- VDOE’s Civics Module: https://www.civiceducationva.org/
- Two science courses each with a lab (from different disciplines)
- Two math courses
*Many of these requirements may be satisfied by Mason Core classes, undergraduate coursework, or any coursework you may have previously completed. Please visit the Content Area Review website. All endorsement requirements are listed on Content Area Review (CAR) Forms also found on this site. A CAR review must be completed upon applying and/or enrolling in this licensure program. Please use the Content Area Review website link above to initiate this process.
Elementary Education
School of Education
4400 University Drive, MS 4B3
Thompson Hall, 1800
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Phone: (703) 993-3696
Fax: (703) 993-2013