Degree Options

Within the master's of arts degree in education you can choose one of five concentrations:

• The Teaching of Reading
• Special Education
• Diverse Learners
• Curriculum and Instruction
• The Teaching of Writing across the Curriculum

Degree Requirements

Participants must successfully complete 32 semester hours of graduate credit. Four core courses totaling 11 hours are required of all masters’ candidates:

• EDU 541 Frameworks for Learning (3 hours
• EDU 542 The Teacher as Leader (3 hours)
• EDU 585 Research Methods in Education (3 hours)
• EDU 544 Action Research (2 hours)

In addition to the 11 hours of core courses required, a minimum of 21 additional hours must be completed in a major area of study and elective courses. Prospective applicants should also review the general information on graduate programs provided in the graduate section in this catalog.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Master of Arts degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction is structured to provide the classroom teacher with the knowledge and skills necessary to make good decisions in the current educational environment. This will include not only the elements of effective curriculum design and instructional processes, but also the contemporary context in which such decisions take place.
Required courses:

• EDU 528 Differentiated Instruction (3 hours)
• EDU 543 Contemporary Issues in Education (3 hours)
• EDU 547 Curriculum Implementation, Assessment, and Improvement (3 hours)
• CED 5xx Graduate technology course per interest and ability (3 hours)

Credit hours required for curriculum and instruction concentration . . . . . 12
Required core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Electives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Program total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Diverse Learners

Education of Diverse Learners tackles critical challenges of teaching in schools of the 21st century. This program of graduate study prepares teachers to identify and address the opportunities and challenges of a diverse population of students. The course of study supports teachers in their development of knowledge, dispositions, and practices to best serve the varied needs and talents of all students in inclusive classrooms. Diverse learners encompasses the study of all under-performing groups of diverse learners with a focus on ethnicity, culture, religion, economic disadvantage, learning challenges or disability, and second language readers.

Required courses:

• EDU528 Differentiated Instruction (3 hours)
• EDU529 Enhancing Student Achievement Through Positive Behavioral Supports (3 hours)
• EDU530 Understanding Diverse Learners (3 hours)
• EDU 551 Literature-Based Reading for Diverse Learners (3 hours)

Credit hours required for diverse learners concentration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Required core. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Electives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Program total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

The Teaching of Reading

The Master of Arts degree in Education: The Teaching of Reading is available on campus or is available as a full online offering. Courses are structured to assist participants in obtaining the reading specialist endorsement from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Fontbonne has a tradition of superior instruction in the area of reading, a process that is at the core of every instructional program.

Required courses:

• EDU 549 Foundations of Reading Instruction (3 hours)
• EDU 553 Assessment and Teaching of Disabled Readers (3 hours)
• EDU 583 Practicum in the Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties I (3 hours)
• EDU 584 Practicum in the Remediation of Reading Difficulties II (3 hours)

Required for reading concentration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Required core. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Electives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Program total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Special Education

Fontbonne University’s tradition of excellence in teacher education is represented in its master of arts degree in education: special education program. Career professionals who are committed to enhancing opportunities for students with special needs will find great opportunities to grow in knowledge, skills, and dispositions through the courses, applied practices, and research to be found on topics of particular interest in their own practice through action research projects and directed readings. Elective credit allows participants to pursue professional interests in related graduate programs such as communication disorders, computers in education, diverse learners, or reading.

Required courses:╨Minimum of 12 credit hours selected from the list below:

• EDU 500 Behavior Management Techniques (3 hours)
• EDU 503 Introduction to Cross-Categorical Disabilities (2 hours)
• EDU 504 Methods of Teaching Students with Cross- Categorical Disabilities (2 hours)
• EDU 520 Transition/Career Education for Students with Disabilities (2 hours)
• EDU530 Understanding Diverse Learners (3 hours)
• EDU 566 Language and Literacy for Students at Risk (3 hours)
• EDU 586 Studies in Disability and Exceptionality (3 hours)
• EDU 587 Directed Readings in Education and Disability (1-3 hours)
• EDU 592 Assessment of Ability and Achievement (3 hours)
• EDU 595 Counseling Techniques (3 hours)
• EDU 596 Counseling and Collaboration with Diverse Populations (3 hours)

Credit hours required for special education concentration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Required core. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Electives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Program total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

The Teaching of Writing across the Curriculum (Learn more about this program.)

(Currently restricted to those who have completed a validated writing institute, such as Abydos International or National Writing Project.)

The Master of Arts in Education: The Teaching of Writing across the Curriculum addresses a need to provide teachers an avenue for further professional growth. Evidence supports the teaching of writing as a major component in the development of higher order thinking skills and the overall growth of the student in a manner consistent with constructivist practice. The program builds upon the work begun in nationally recognized writing institutes, continuing to the completion of a full master’s degree through online coursework. Along with the courses required for the concentration listed below, the 11 hours of required core courses are also available online.

Required Courses:

• EDU 554 The Teaching of Writing I: Application (3 hours of institute credit)
• EDU 555 The Teaching of Writing II: Theory (3 hours of institute credit)
• EDU 556 Writing Assessment and Instruction-ONLINE (3 hours)
• EDU 557 Teaching Grammar within the Writing Process-ONLINE (3 hours)
• EDU 550 Reading and Writing across the Curriculum-ONLINE (3 hours)
• EDU 551 Literature-Based Reading for Diverse Learners-ONLINE (3 hours)

Credit hours required for the concentration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Required core. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Electives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Program total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32