Description of the Program A focus on how to best support the needs of students whose native language is not English, facilitate professional development and offer resources to teachers, students and families, and differentiate instruction and assessment for English language learners. Students in this program will be required to complete an internship which they may complete "on the job". Students will need to meet with the program's faculty advisor during their first semester to plan the internship. Admission Requirements Holds a minimum of a bachelor's degree; Hold a teaching certificate in any area; Pass the GRE/MAT requirements, OR have 3 years of successful teaching, OR 3.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA, OR other master's degree. How to Apply To be considered for admission to all subjects/concentrations of the Master’s of Education program, applicants must complete the following steps: Create your Charger Status account and submit the UAH graduate application for admission. Submit official college transcript to the UAH Graduate Admissions Office through an electronic delivery service. UAH Graduate Admissions accepts official transcripts from Parchment and Student Clearinghouse. Upload the following items directly to your application through Charger Status. Personal Statement Valid ALSDE Teaching Certificate (certificates from other states may be considered) Please note, a GRE or MAT score may be required upon the review of your application. Degree Requirements Core Courses = 4 courses (12 hours) ED 530 Applied Multiculturalism 3 hours Online Through an examination of constructs such as race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation, students will develop a theoretical understanding of the connections between identity, difference, power, and privilege and the role(s) schools (could/should) play in perpetuating or ending discriminatory practices. Furthermore and importantly, students will develop an understanding of the ways research in both the humanities and social sciences can be used to interpret, analyze, and critique multiculturalism. ED 535 Introduction to Applied Educational Research 3 hours Online Introduction to the nature of research and its relationship to educational thought and practice. Primary focus will be on planning and executing research activities(i.e. action research, thesis development) in the diverse classroom and analyzing the collected data to improve instruction, educational performance and adding to the body of knowledge on educational practices. ED 540 Advanced Cognitive Psychology 3 hours Online Designed to inform students about recent developments in Cognitive Psychology and their implications for teaching and learning. Students will leave ED 565 with a variety of “cognitive understandings” for use in differentiated classrooms. ED 565 Introduction to Differentiated Instruction 3 hours Online Provides an introduction to the philosophy and practice of differentiation. Examines the elements, content, process, product, affect and learning environment, by which instruction can be differentiated to address the complex challenges of meeting the diverse learning needs of all students. Concentration Courses = 6 courses (18 hours) ESL 500 Policy and Practice in Educational Linguistics In this course, we investigate the sociocultural and political contexts within which linguistically diverse students encounter language across the U.S. education system. We will interrogate assumptions about language learning and teaching. Key topics include promising practices in supporting language and identity, such as translanguaging, multimodality, and multilingualism in educational and community settings. 3 hours Online ESL 510 Language Use in Context In this course, we study language systems in context. Phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics are the units of analysis as we consider variables that impact development and usage at individual and group levels. Comprehension and production of meaning across content domains are key elements of course assignments. 3 hours Online ESL 520 Instructional and Academic Language Across Content Domains In this course, we investigate language usage through analysis of key structures, including the word, group, phrase, sentence and extended discourse. Following the systemic-functional framework, we will consider the design of instructional and academic language from a social semiotic perspective, highlighting the complex of options available for meaning making across multiple languages. 3 hours Online ED 635 Using Assessment to Guide Differentiated InstructionThe focus of this course would be to use a variety of norm-referenced, criterion-referenced and other assessment data to inform instruction for a diverse classroom within the RTi model. Students would learn to use formative and summative assessments to determine the type of strategies needed to teach content. 3 hours Online ESL 640 Instruction and Evaluation of Language Usage This course provides the foundation for effective instruction of linguistically diverse students. We critique the theoretical underpinnings of historical and contemporary ESOL education as well as the selection of instructional materials, course design and lesson plans. Assignments include the design of pedagogically sound classroom instruction and lesson plans, as well as application of responsive, evidence-based evaluation methods. 3 hours Online ED 692 ESOL Internship Requires demonstration of competence to teach ESOL in an internship of at least 300 clock hours which may be completedthroughout the program. 3 hours Online Action Research Project = 1 course (3 hours) ED 690 Master's Action Research Project 3 hours Online After the completion of the courses, advanced candidates will complete a summative action research project. Working with an individual faculty member, the action research will be planned, completed, and presented for the department.
