Graduate Programs in Education

EDU 515                 Theories and Practices of Teaching ESOL

                  This course is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of instructional delivery which caters for the linguistic and literacy needs of minority heritage communities. The focus of this course is located within the framework of diversity as an asset that needs to be explored and utilized in a more efficient manner, cultural capital, discursive practices and difference. Students will be required to engage with the political debates and resultant educational ramifications concerning bilingual education, dual language programs, ESOL education as well as other issues such as power and inequalities in language education. This socio cultural-critical theoretical framework will provide students with the basis to then negotiate issues of second language learning, critical pedagogy, language varieties, multicultural communities as well as critical literacy and reading development. Some emphasis will be placed on current issues- drop out rates (‘drop out factories’), diversity: a blessing or a curse? Case studies (either student generated or teacher provided), Self-Directed Learning (SDL) as a toll to promote education ownership.

 

EDU 608                 Advanced Foundations of Education

                  The study of the societal structure and problems affecting education; the effects on education from philosophical, psychological, cultural and societal differences and changes; and the effects of political and economical changes on education. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the teacher in the socialization process of American you. (Four Semester Hours)

 

EDU 616                 Educational Assessments, Evaluation, Technology

                  Students identify the benefits of using technology tools to maximize K-12 student learning and to facilitate the higher-order thinking skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century workplace. Students will plan, develop and assess project within a technology-enriched instructional unit. Survey research methods will be employed to learn data collection and aggregation methods culminating into a publishable research paper on the topic of technology integration in the K-12 educational setting. 

EDU 618                 Critical Issues and Research in Special Education

                  Four Hours. Examines the role of special education in the increased scrutiny of public schools by the general public and agents from all levels of government. Provides a straightforward analysis of conceptual and practical issues facing professionals involved in the deign, delivery and assessment of special education.

EDU 625                 Advanced Classroom Management/Legal Issues

                  The goal of this course is to acquaint the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyzes and operationalize the legal issues affecting the organization and management of public schools within the United States and the legal standards to apply in resolving disputes concerning public education. Public education is at the center of both states and national politics and is for ever increasing interest to policy makers as well as pubic at large. As the traditional education system in the country continues to “reinvent” itself, it is not surprising that state and federal courts at all levels are actively hearing school related issues. The increasing legislative and judicial activity in public education issues has resulted in a body of law that is rapidly evolving.

EDU 635                 Curriculum and Instruction: Theory and Design

                  This course provides an in-depth examination of the historical, philosophical and theoretical constructs of curriculum for the 21st century. It will provide the impetus for the development and evaluation of current curriculum design as well as the formulation of fluid paradigms for new demands on instruction from both micro and macro environments in educational institutions. The student will interview curriculum specialist. The research will provide an experiential foundation for generation of a school improvement plan with an emphasis on curriculum.

EDU 650                 Advanced Teaching Methods in Reading and Language Arts

                  The course focuses on three major components of Reading and Language Arts: The Reading and Writing Processes, Integrating Technology into the instruction of Reading/Language Arts and Managing Reading/ Language Art Programs. New fluid literacies are addressed: hypertext, graphic design, visual  literacy and film interpretation. There is also a major emphasis on cultural diversity as it affects both the teaching and learning of these processes.

EDU 658                 Advanced Teaching Methods in Math and Science

                  This course will provide graduate level work in math and science teaching techniques. Mathematics will involved problem solving using on-routine strategies, problems representing several branches of mathematics and related disciplines. Science will focus on advanced skills for science experimentation and additional teaching strategies.

EDU 661                 Internship (12 hours)

                  Twelve Hours. The senior internship is designed to be the culminating education experience for education majors regardless of age/ grade level specialty, subject matter, and/or major. The internship is 14 weeks long and involves teaching, modeling, observing and evaluating. The coordinator of Field Studies at Florida Southern College and a representative of the Human Resources Development Office of Polk County Schools assigns student to a Polk County Public School. The student will take over all responsibilities of a certified Florida classroom, teaching in her/his specialty area after receiving adequate preparation by the assigned teacher and supervisor.

EDU 664                 Student Teaching Seminar (2 hours)

                  Three hours. Prerequisites: Completion of major and permission of faculty. Weekly seminar for senior intern. Discussion and analysis of general methods of teaching in schools, with an emphasis on classroom management, experience, and presentation.

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