Courses

Curriculum

The following courses form the foundation of the College of Education’s curriculum. To provide opportunities for individualized studies, the School also offers experimental courses, topical seminars on contemporary issues, and field experiences.

All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

501 Classroom Assessment
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an introduction to classroom assessment that includes a consideration of technical issues, as well as policy issues related to test use and misuse in American education.  The ultimate goal of this course is to provide the student with a balance of both theory and its practical applications in the area of assessment.  This class is not designed strictly for teachers; however, students who are education minors or who plan to become teachers will find this class useful.

510 The Teacher in the Middle and High School Classroom
Lecture, discussion, and field experience. Purpose, problems, issues, strategies and materials in the teaching of social studies, mathematics, science, or English at the middle and high school level.

511 Teaching Mathematics in the Middle and High School
Lecture, discussion, field experience. Purpose, problems, issues, strategies, and materials in teaching mathematics at the middle and high school level. Required for licensure.

512 Teaching Science in the Middle and High School
Lecture, discussion, field experience. Purpose, problems, issues, strategies, and materials in teaching science at the middle and high school level. Required for licensure.

514 Teaching History and Political Science in the Middle and High School
Lecture, discussion, field experience. Purpose, problems, issues, strategies, and materials in teaching history and political science at the middle and high school level. Required for licensure.

515 Teaching English in the Middle and High School
Lecture, discussion, and field experience. Purpose, problems, issues, strategies and materials in the teaching of English at the middle and high school level. Required for licensure.

522 Education for SJE Self-Awareness
Strategies for increasing social justice educators’ self-knowledge. Experiential approach leading toward self-observation and development of effective responses to social justice education classrooms and teacher training. Prerequisite: EDUC 691E.

524 The Work of Middle and High School Teachers
Introductory course in the Secondary Teacher Education concentration; required for licensure. Field-based, requiring observation in the schools.

533 Theories and Methods for Sheltered Instruction ELL
Prepares ELL and mainstream teachers to address the challenge of helping bilingual and emergent bilingual learners to succeed in regular academic content classes.

542 Contemporary Educational Philosophies
Assessment of currently influential educational philosophies, such as essentialism, romanticism, behaviorism, experimentation, and perennialism. Special attention given to their relevance to practice in such areas as teaching methods and curriculum planning.

555 Introduction to Statistics and Computer Analysis I
Develops skills in statistical reasoning; a conceptual understanding of basic statistical procedures used in educational and social science research and computational skills necessary to carry out procedures.

560 Issues in Instructional Methods for Special Education
Theory, research, and practical experiences related to the education and training of special needs students. Emphasis on curriculum development, methods and materials, assessment, vocational programming, and research.

561 Science Education in the Elementary Schools
For teachers or others who wish to update their knowledge of science-related methods, materials, and curriculum. Laboratory approach.

570 Professional Orientation to School Counseling
An orientation to the profession of school counseling. Information and experience on how counseling services help people understand themselves and others. Knowledge from education, psychology, philosophy, history, and sociology examined and applied to guidance and personnel programs.

601 College Student Development Theory
Introduces theories and research on college students’ development and their college experience. Theories describing patterns of growth and development and their application in higher education.

601A Foundations of Higher Education
This course provides an overview of the higher education system in the United States and introduces higher education as both an academic field of study and an applied professional field.

602 Curriculum Models in Early Childhood Education
Purposes, structure, and methods of current ECE models. Beliefs regarding nature of child development and learning, and importance of education assumed by each model.

603 Computer Mediated Communication
Characteristics of computer-mediated communication systems such as networked multimedia, discussion boards, blogs, wikis, chat, instant messenger, and 3-D virtual environments. Students participate in online communication systems.

604 Technology and Educational Change
Current theory and research on educational change, focusing on change efforts made with and because of information technology.

605 Theories and Procedures of Counseling Psychology I
Counseling psychology theory, methodology, philosophies, ethics, problems. Issues of school counseling, and community psychology.

606 Theories and Procedures of Counseling Psychology II
Issues in counseling psychology and human service delivery, counseling skills, techniques, and ethics.

607 Occupational Psychology and Placement
Psychological factors in career decision-making theory, job classification systems, vocational assessment, career information and placement.

608 Classroom Management for Elementary and Early Childhood Educators
This course is a survey of the research and practitioner literature in classroom management in inclusive early childhood and elementary level settings.  Open to any student with graduate standing.  It is specifically geared toward practicing educators.  Topics include a variety of classroom management strategies, a survey of the literature on classroom management effectiveness from an elementary and early childhood pedagogical perspective.  The course will emphasize practical skill-building in connecting management skills with effective pedagogy.  Students will learn how conducting focused student observation and behavioral assessments and designing instructional plans for students with possible behavioral problems can enhance teaching effectiveness.  

609 Multicultural Group Processes
Develops a theoretical and skill foundation for working with diverse groups in educational and work settings. Explores theories of intergroup relations, group development, and leadership that facilitate understanding of intergroup biases and conflict, multicultural dynamics in diverse groups, and conflict and cooperation in group life.

610 Investigating Science Classrooms
Fosters meaningful discussions about the nature and practice of elementary and middle school science education and enables teachers to identify elements of inquiry, conduct investigations, and implement scientific inquiry in their classrooms.

611 Testing, Assessment, and Evaluation in Bilingual and ESL Education
An introduction to the field of testing, assessment, and evaluation in second language education, including bilingual, ESL, foreign language settings.

612 Educational Web Design: Creation and Evaluation
Tools and procedures required to design a website for educational purposes. Prerequisite: experience surfing the Web, using email, and using word processing applications.

613 New Developments in Secondary School History and Political Science
Comparative study and evaluation of recent programs and practices in secondary school history and political science.

614 College Access and Equity
The purpose of this course is to explore the many aspects of college access, college choice, and equity in the college transition process.

616 Principles of Second Language Learning and Teaching
Introduction to the theories of second-language acquisition. Critical examination of language learning to develop the ability to analyze classroom “discourse” and to work collaboratively as an expert and leader in classroom second-language learning.

617 Law and Higher Education
Laws that apply to higher education; how courts resolve conflicts among students, faculty, and administrators. Develops skills in legal analysis, research, writing, and in practicing preventive law; cost and benefits of resolving controversies through the legal process and alternative approaches to conflict resolution.

618 Law for School Leaders
Prepares educational leaders to be informed law teachers. Focus on how courts resolve conflicts in areas such as due process, discipline, search and seizure, liability for student injury, student and teacher freedom of expression, religion and association, dress codes, restrictions on teachers’ personal lives, racial and sexual discrimination, affirmative action, academic freedom, and school rules.

619 Qualitative Research Methods in Education
Introduction to the assumptions, language, logic, and methods of qualitative inquiry in educational settings.

620 Supporting L2 Literacy Development
Provides beginning and experienced teachers with theory and practice required to support academic secondary language literacy development.

621 Managing Higher Education
Management issues in higher education. The general field of organization and management theory; situating management theory within higher education institutions; the distinct, overlapping, and sometimes conflicting roles and responsibilities of particular administrative positions within a college or university.

621A Higher Education Finance Policy
This is an overview of the finance of higher education, with an emphasis on finance policy and current issues at the national, state, and institutional levels.

621B Race, Class and Gender in Higher Education
The goal of this course is to explore the multiple socio-cultural factors that influence the success of students and ask the fundamental questions about the relationship between higher education and society.  Why do some students learn more and "get further ahead" than others? Why do some students get more involved in co-curricular activities than others?  What factors shape how institutions are run and organized, who attends four-year vs. two-year institutions, and what curricular materials are taught?

622 Theories of Educational Equity
Theory and history of the idea of educational equity, causes of inequity, and equity as a policy goal. Includes application to K-12 schooling, higher education, and international contexts.

623 Project Planning and Proposal Development for Nonformal Education
For those who are or plan to be program personnel or consultants in nonformal education and human service programs. Planning and proposal development and how to improve its contribution to program success.

624 Contemporary and Historical Constructions of Social Justice Education
Theoretical issues related to manifestations of oppression with focus on social constructions of race, gender and sexuality, and disability.

626 Social Theories in Education
Social theories and their contributions to education theory and practice. For doctoral students seeking a comprehensive introductory course in theoretical foundations in education.

627 Curriculum Design and Instruction for Social Justice Education
Theories and methods of instructional design, classroom teaching, and reflective practice in social justice education in K-16 settings.

628 Prevention and School Psychology: Foundations, Methods, and Applications
The multidisciplinary field of prevention science, its concepts, methods, research base, and applications, particularly as they apply to education, school psychology, and children’s development. Principles and core elements of evidence-based interventions used to prevent or address problems in children and adolescents.

629 Policy Issues in International Education
An introduction to critical issues in education in the Third World. Content includes systems, problems, and innovations in formal and nonformal education in selected countries; roles of education in development; and international aid.

631 Laboratory in Developmental Counseling/Therapy
Interviewing and counseling psychology skills using systemic training frameworks with video practice.

632 Principles of Educational and Psychological Testing
Provides students with a solid foundation in educational and psychological testing and measurement skills. 

632A Educational Policy, Research and Administration: Fundamentals of Test Construction
Enables students to construct educational assessments using a variety of item formats, such as muliple-choice and performance-based items. The entire development process, including writing and item review, are covered.

633 Education and Public Policy
Introduction to the roles of federal, state and local government in U.S. K-12 education policy, the diverse ways of studying education policy, and to specific current policy issues including educational accountability, school finance, the controversy over school-district regionalization in Massachusetts, challenges facing urban schools, and how research affects education policy debates.

634 Strategies for Institutional Change I
Basic theories of organizational behavior and change. Examines such strategies as action research, strategic planning, and negotiation, emphasizing the role of different kinds of leadership in the process of change.

635 Issues in Literacy Program Development
Analysis of basic concepts and issues related to adult literacy efforts in Third World and domestic settings. Identification of approaches and needs for planning, implementation, and research in field of adult literacy.

636 Professional Seminar in Education Administration
An orientation to the Graduate School and the Doctoral Program in Policy and Leadership Studies. Also prepares first-year doctoral cohort members in the development of skills in reading, writing, research, and presentation/discussion, contextualized in a set of seminal works in the field of educational administration and leadership.

637 Nonparametric Statistical Analysis in Education and Psychology
Inferential procedures that do not assume normality. Introduction of procedures that allow analysis in designs involving more than two categorical variables or that involve two categorical variables or that involve repeated, unordered qualitative variables. Prerequisite: EDUC 555 or equivalent.

638 Collaboration for Student Achievement
How to capitalize on the power of interorganizational and interpersonal collaboration so as to increase student achievement, empowerment, and performance.

639 School Counseling Curriculum: Development and Implementation
Development and implementation of school counseling curriculum in the broadest sense, from classroom guidance materials to systemwide proactive interventions.

640 Materials Development for Formal and Nonformal Education
Introduction to the design and production of a wide range of nonformal education materials. Emphasis on low-cost, simple technology (e.g., basic graphics, posters, games, simulations, popular theater, puppetry, hectograph, silkscreen) for use in nonformal education field settings.

641 Student Life Research: Assessing Undergraduates' Experiences, Attitudes and Behaviors
The purpose of this course is two-fold: (1) to provide a general understanding of selected past and current research regarding undergraduate students, and (2) to provide knowledge of and practical experience in the assessment of various aspects of undergraduate student life. One major goal of the course is for students to learn to analyze survey data and write a research paper based on survey data. The following topics will be studied: research, assessment and evaluation; survey design; data collection and analysis; literature reviews; report writing; and writing for publication.

642 Principles and Practices of Student Affairs Administration
Overview of the history, philosophy, theory, and professional practice of student affairs administration in American higher education. Emphasizes roles and responsibilities of effective administrators, and application of theory to practice.

643 M.Ed. Seminar in Higher Education I
This is the first of a two semester course required of all entering students in the Master's program in Higher Education.  It provides an overview of higher education in America and investigates the ways higher education is constructed, defined, managed, studied, and thought about.

644 M.Ed. Seminar in Higher Education II
This course is part of a two semester introduction to the study of higher education for students in the Master's program.  Its content focuses on politics, economics, education and oppression.

645 Inquiry into American Schooling
Contemporary educational practices.  Emphasis on promising developments in curriculum staffing, and organization of public schools, and past and future innovations.

646 Leadership for Curriculum and Instruction
The philosophy, principles, and practical application of learning theory, differentiated instruction, and performance assessment.

647 Methods and Materials in Special Education
Special needs strategies, programs, and materials. Students analyze and develop materials for cognitive language, motor, self-help, socialization, and emotional development, including Individual Education Plan.

647A Assistive Technology for Learners with Disabilities
Focuses on benefits, affordances, problems, assessments, practices, and laws related to the use of technology to support academic, social, communication, and adaptive development of studies with special needs.

648 Oppression and Education: Social Justice Education Foundations I
Historical and sociocultural contexts of the specific manifestations of oppression and social liberation movements. Examines disciplinary underpinnings of social justice education: content roots in cognitive, developmental and social psychology; anthropology; and sociology; and pedagogical roots in experiential education; feminist pedagogy; group dynamics; and critical pedagogy. Develops social justice education teaching materials and/or interventions.

649 Training for Nonformal Education
Skills needed to design and implement training programs for personnel in nonformal education, human services, and community development. Provides some direct experience in designing and conducting training exercises and assessing their outcomes. Emphasis given to non-classroom settings with cross-cultural components.

650 Regression Analysis
The purpose of this course is to provide students some advanced training in both linear and non-linear regression analysis.

651 Teaching Mathematical Problem Solving
Alternative modes for teaching mathematical problem solving in schools. Review of relevant literature. Discussion of related issues.

652 Mixed Methods Research
Examines the history and philosophy as well as purposes and characteristics of mixed methods research, types of research problems addressed, major mixed methods designs, data collection, and analysis strategies. Prerequisite:  Doctoral standing or permission from instructor.  One graduate-level course in quantitative research methods or statistics required.

653 Collaborative and Integrative Teaching Strategies in Special Education
Data-based methods and materials for mainstreaming mild to moderately handicapped students into multiple learning environments and methods for developing cooperative professional relationships with regular classroom teachers.

654 Policy Studies in Educational Administration
Overview of K-12 education policy at the local, state, and national levels in the United States. Additional emphasis on the ethical dimensions of the choices administrators make in implementing policy.

655 Advanced Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Focuses on application of specialized instructional, curricular, and behavioral intervention strategies for students with autism. Includes planning and monitoring instruction in language, social, adaptive daily living, and academic domains.

656 Introduction to Statistics and Computer Analysis II
Basic statistical techniques for conducting research. Topics include analysis of variance and covariance, multiple comparison procedures, multiple regression analysis, analysis of categorical data. How to analyze data using computer programs such as SPSS. Prerequisite: EDUC 555 or consent of instructor.

657 Introduction to Urban Education
Discussion groups survey urban and suburban schools, process of learning in urban classrooms, effects of the present curriculum, and various innovative techniques applicable to urban schools.

658 Knowledge and Skill Application Lab
Students encounter well- and loosely-structured tasks requiring the application and integration of knowledge and skills gained from principal preparation program courses, and receive individualized, growth-oriented feedback.

659 School Management
A core course required for students seeking a principal license. Integrates leadership with management skills: managing operation, resources, and governance structures; establishing successful, orderly, safe, and fiscally responsible educational environments; and working collaboratively and productively with all stakeholders.

660 Language and Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
Identifies the theories of language acquisition, normal language development, and language disorders. Examines language assessment strategies, select assessment and intervention strategies appropriate for integrated settings, and conducts two language samples.

661 Educational Research Methods I
Essential skills for conducting empirical research studies in the field of education.

662 Integrated Methods
A constructivist approach used to explore critical topics and methods in education that are directly linked to a practicum experience. Topics include focused classroom and student observations, classroom management, Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, lesson planning and implementation, assessment practices, special education, and instructional technology.

663 Single-Subject Research Design in School Psychology
Advanced knowledge in methods and procedures for evaluating treatment outcomes using single-subject research designs. Topics include assessment, experimental design, and data evaluation.

664 Research in School Psychology and Group Design
Single-subject group research design. Sampling, interview and questionnaire construction, statistical methods, and development of research proposal. Credit, 1-3.

665 Organization for Curriculum Development: Basic Principles in Curriculum and Instruction
Procedures and criteria for curriculum development. Determining goals, creating and organizing learning opportunities, and evaluating effectiveness of curricula.

667 Theories of Discovery and Learning in Science and Education
Discovery processes in science and in science students; nature of reasoning, learning, and understanding through mental models. Research studies of factors affecting learning processes. Conceptual change and cooperative learning methods.

668 Learning Disabilities in Children and Youth
Introduction to causes and characteristics of learning disabilities and educational programs and strategies for learning disabled children and youth. Includes overview of assessment techniques and current research.

669 Policy and Legal Perspectives in Special Education
Historical and legal landmarks in special education from a national and international perspective. Sociological, philosophical, and cultural perspectives addressed. A field component, introduction of the IEP, and the community special education approach.

670 Language and Language Learning
Theories of grammar, and using these theories to design, implement, and reflect on the academic language development of linguistically and culturally diverse students.

671 Survey Research Methods
This advanced research methods course will help students develop important knowledge and skills needed to conduct scientific survey research, and to understand and critically evaluate survey-based research.

672 Teaching Math to Students with Disabilities
An in-depth look at the causes and correlates of math difficulty, methods of math assessment, and evidence-based instructional approaches and interventions for students with math learning disabilities.

673 Advanced Child Development
Theories and findings of modern developmental psychology and their implications for educational practice. Child development examined from biological-evolutionary, cognitive, social-emotional, cultural, and ecological perspectives. Empirical data for children’s development through childhood and adolescence into adulthood analyzed and critiqued from theoretical, methodological, and cultural frames of reference. Implications for educational practice explored.

674 Leading Higher Education
Analysis of major issues central to an understanding of the possibilities and problems of leadership in higher education.

674A International Higher Education Policy
This seminar explores the increasingly global nature of higher education with a focus on contemporary trends, issues, and dynamics in higher education, and the policies that attempt to address them.

675 Master's Integrative Seminar in Higher Education
This course is the capstone course of the Master's program in Higher Education. The purpose is to demonstrate a command of the program's competencies through a culminating project.

677 Foundations of Bilingual/ESL/ Multicultural (BEM) Education
Introduction to multicultural education including historical and cultural dimensions of racial and cultural minorities, biases in schooling, philosophies of cultural pluralism, and implementation strategies.

678 Cultural Studies and International Development
Examination of the central issues in cultural studies in the context of international development education, with primary stress on the relationship between knowledge and power to confront and critique notions of intellect and institution.

679 Assessment of Special Needs Children and Youth
Identifies the issues in early childhood assessment and the types of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessment developmental scales, formal and informal observation techniques, and team process issues.

680 Doctoral Seminar in Higher Education I
This is the first of a two semester course required of all entering students in the doctoral program in Higher Education. It provides an overview of higher education in America and investigates the ways higher education is constructed, defined, managed, studied, and thought about.

681 Teaching Reading and Writing for Content and Language Development
Principles, methods, and materials for teaching reading and writing to adolescents. For students preparing to teach in middle and high schools.

682 Doctoral Seminar in Higher Education II
This is the second of a two semester course required of all entering students in the doctoral program in Higher Education.  It provides an overview of higher education in America and investigates the ways higher education is constructed, defined, managed, studied, and thought about.

683 Women in Higher Education
Women now comprise a majority of all American undergraduate students, but only a minority of senior professors, senior administrators, or presidents.  This course is an introduction to the issues affecting women in the academy as students, educators, leaders, and scholars.  Some of the topics include: barriers to women's full participation in higher education, including sexual harassment and racism; the question of coeducation versus single-sex education, conditions for women undergraduates including the so-called "chilly climate."  In addition, the course will explore issues germane to female faculty members, barriers to institutional leadership, and the goals and contributions of women's studies as well as the current attack on feminist scholarship.  This is a seminar style course where students are expected to participate fully.

684 Reading, Writing, Language, and Thinking
Supports participants in exploring a sociocultural perspective of literacy development and in conducting a case study of a second-language writer.

685 Developmental Psychopathology
Introductory overview of major dysfunctional behavior syndromes commonly encountered in educational and mental health settings. Topics include early detection, classification, referral, and remediation of behavioral problems.

686 Making Sense of School Data
This course helps students develop a framework for the collection, analysis, and use of school data for educative decision-making.  It investigates data-driven decision-making and as a normative professional standard.

687 Language Development and Literacy
Current theory and research on children’s development of oral and written language and its implications for reading, writing, and language instruction. EDUC 670 or 684 recommended.

688 Multicultural Counseling in Schools
Theories of social identity development in a family systems frame. Focus on skills and critical consciousness needed for multicultural counseling in schools, including analysis of one’s own ethnic and racial heritage.

689 The Academic Profession
The most current research and literature on faculty issues in higher education. Prerequisite: EDUC 692D or 844.

691C Adult Learning Theory and Practice
The purpose of this course is to enable participants to develop and deepen their understanding of adult learning theories and how they are practiced in social contexts.

691E Social Justice Issues in Education
An introduction to the dynamics of oppression at the individual, institutional, and sociocultural levels. Examines closely two specific forms of oppression in relationship to students’ identities; privilege and disadvantage related to social identity and social group membership. Core concepts include social power, privilege, dominance and subordination, prejudice, discrimination, and liberation.

701 Practicum in School Guidance
Individualized instruction and supervision in individual counseling. All students counsel clients at an off-campus agency or school. Credit, 3-9.

702 School-Based Consultation
Focus on the application of current theories and research related to the practice of the school psychologist as a consultant in the school setting.

703 Administration of Guidance and Psychological Services in Schools and Communities
Administration of counseling psychology and pupil, personnel, and community programs in terms of personnel, functions, facilities, institutional integration, and data processing.

704 Issues of Gender in Science and Science Education
Issues of gender relative to the participation of all individuals in science activity; historical and ongoing structures, policies, and practices that influence legitimacy and participation; and the intersection and relationships between social groups.

705 School Psychology Educational Assessment
Review of personality, visual-motor, achievement and interest tests—and their interpretation, selection, and administration. Standardization, reliability, and validity; case-study procedures; ethical considerations; and problems in human assessment. Knowledge of elementary statistics helpful.

706 Workshop in Science Education
Selected problems in curriculum and instruction in science. Credit, 3-6.

707 Generalizability Theory: Principles and Applications
The purpose of this course is to give graduate students a foundational understanding of the theory behind Generalizability Theory, and to gain practical experience using this statistical theory to analyze data.

708 School Psychology Cognitive Assessment
Instruction and personal supervision in administration, scoring, and interpretation of most used psychological tests such as the WISC-R, WAIS-R, WPPSI-R, and Stanford Binet. Prerequisite: EDUC 705.

709 Seminar on Reading
Content varies each semester. For doctoral students to explore current issues and research on reading in depth.

710 Seminar in Mathematics Education
Survey of recent developments in elementary mathematics education and their implications for exploring mathematics in elementary and middle schools. Emphasis placed on NCTM Standards and the impact of technology on the learning and teaching of mathematics.

711 Recent Developments in Secondary Mathematics
Critical evaluation of current literature, research, and studies in curriculum and teaching of secondary school mathematics.

712 Advanced Methods in English
Critical evaluation of current literature, research yearbooks, and experiments in curriculum and teaching of English. Prerequisites: EDUC 515 and teaching experience.

713 Developmental Foundations of Social Justice Education
Factors that contribute to identity development as distinctive from cognitive or psychosocial identity, as derived from social identity groupings and played out in unequal social statuses.

717 Research in Higher Education
The purpose of this course is to allow graduate students to apply research skills and knowledge to a research project in the area of higher education.

718 Action Research in Schools
Introduction to the theory and practice of action research in schools and other informal and formal educational settings. Involves qualitative action research study.

719 Theory and Practice of Nonformal Education
Nonformal and popular education approaches to human development programs, particularly in international settings. An introduction to the basic philosophical and conceptual works in the field, including the theories of Freire, Illich, and others. Assumptions and theories of nonformal and popular education to practice in adult basic education, community, and health education; critical issues in the planning and implementation of nonformal education.

720 Theories of International Development for Educators
Examines capitalist, socialist, and humanist theories of social and economic development. Identifies the assumptions, underlying values, and operational principles characteristic of specific theories and explores their implications as international educators. A theoretical perspective for analyzing the role played by education in different development perspectives.

721 Research Methods in International Education
Introduction to research methods; students enabled to design and carry out field studies in international education. Techniques used in various social sciences; examples of their application to problems in international education. Survey methods, attitude and value analysis, interviewing and participant-observation techniques and research design. Models of design and techniques presented for critique. Each student sets up a research design and method outline for a specific project.

722 Research on Teacher Education
Research and overviews of initial and in-service education of novice and veteran teachers. Typical topics include induction programs, peer coaching, mentoring programs for new teachers, programs for experienced teachers, and evaluation of pre- and in-service programs. Prerequisite: EDUC 791A.

723 Organizing Higher Education
This course focuses on organizations in higher education, including the conceptual foundations and practical applications of major theories of organization from a variety of social science perspectives.

725 Recent Developments in Secondary Science
Critical evaluation of current literature, research and studies in teaching and learning secondary school science.

726 Introduction to School Leadership
An introduction to basic concepts, skills, strategies, and research related to leading and managing schools. Topics include organizational culture and models of decision-making, leadership, learning, and instruction.

727 Scale and Instrument Development
An introduction to the major steps necessary for the construction of new measures.  This course will provide a framework based on modern measurement theory (item response theory with a focus on the Rasch models) for construction and evaluation of new measures and scales.

728 Intervention with Infants and Toddlers and their Families
This course examines the theoretical foundation and assessment and intervention strategies necessary for working with diverse groups of children and their families from birth to age three.

729 Public School Finance
Economics of public education, sources of school revenue, taxation, and federal, state and local plans of school fiscal support. Prerequisite: EDUC 726.

730 Research on Teaching
Examination of the ecology of the classroom. Typical topics include a historical perspective on research on teaching, research on effects of teaching, teachers’ knowledge, research on teaching specific subjects and grade levels, and responding to students’ alternative conceptions of subject matter.

731 Structural Equations Modeling
For advanced doctoral students in education, psychology, and sociology. Techniques for specifying statistical models that conform to theory, fitting the models to data, testing the fit of the models and, based on the analysis, either rejecting or modifying the theory. Prerequisite: EDUC 771 or consent of instructor. 

732 Behavior Analysis in Applied Settings: Theory, Research and Practice
An introduction to the field of applied behavior analysis applied to education, including conceptual foundations, methodology, applications.

733 Seminar in International Education
An integrating core experience for doctoral students focusing on international education. Current issues and areas of competency needed in the field.

734 Understanding Research in Language, Literacy and Culture
An introduction to the ways in which researchers interested in the intersection between the fields of language, literacy, and culture approach the activity of conducting, reading, and writing research.

735 Advanced Theory and Practice of Testing I
Theory of mental tests beginning with the classical test theory model and including such topics as reliability, validity, item analysis and test development.

736 Advanced Theory and Practice of Testing II
Introduction to modern test theory, often called item response theory. Topics include shortcomings of classical models and methods, basic concepts and item response theory models, parameter estimation, goodness of fit procedures, and specific applications including test development, detection of biased test items, test score equating, large-scale assessment, score reporting, and computer-adaptive testing. Prerequisite: EDUC 555.

737 Educational Media Theory
Research and theoretical aspects of media in education systems; special reference to philosophies, learning systems, and communication models which relate to the teaching-learning situation.

738 Survey of Mathematics and Science Education Research
Nature of understanding and sense making in science and mathematics, various theories of learning, process versus content goals, social versus cognitive views of learning, and inquiry versus directed teaching methods.

739 Introduction to Inquiry
This seminar serves the base of the research offerings for the Ed.D. in Policy & Leadership Studies.  In the course, we will explicate knowledge production through systematic inquiry in education, including processes, questions, and strategies used to conduct meaningful research in educational systems including U.S. K-12 public schools, U.S. higher education and international education.  We explore the intersection of theory and practice with emphasis on the epistemological assumptions and design of thoughtful, ethical inquiry about education.  We also emphasize sound academic writing principles and provide structure guidance in developing those skills.

740 Monitoring & Evaluation in International Contexts
This seminar will address the principles and practices of mixing methods in monitoring and evaluation and other forms of applied educational and social research in international contexts.  The overall frameworks for the course are the requirements of international development agencies for systematically conducted and thoughtful monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects.  The course will provide an overview of international agencies and the structure of their goals and strategic objectives.  The course will examine how monitoring and evaluation is conducted within these agencies.

741 Principles and Practices School Psychology
This course addresses the theory, roles, and functions of professional school psychology in relation to student learning in school settings.

742 Leadership Skills for Educators
Examines theories - e.g., how humans develop and why individuals and organizations resist change - and methods associated with proficient collaborative assumptions regarding human nature and development, school reform, and problem solving. Builds collaborative problem-solving: visioning, planning, conflict resolution, communication, teamwork, and implementation.

743 History, Culture, and the Social Studies
Exploration of student-centered and democratic teaching methods in the social studies.

744 NGOs in International Development
This course explores the theory and practice of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with case studies from different countries.  The course evaluates the impact of NGOs on institutional building, NGO management processes including accountability, transparency, and NGO-government-donor relationships.

746 Social Justice Education (SJE) in Schools
The integration of SJE as a pedagogical approach to teaching, as content, and teacher competencies most appropriate for the SJE learning environment. Students integrate their knowledge of social justice education with classroom pedagogy, curriculum content, and teacher style/competence. Prerequisite: EDUC 691E.

747 Programming for Psychometric and Statistical Modeling
This course will provide advanced students in the areas of educational research psychometrics, and statistics with techniques for computer programming, data analysis, parameter estimation and conducting research using Monte Carlo simulations.

748 Community Colleges in America
Study of the evolution of variant forms of two-year degree-granting institutions, with attention to related philosophical and social issues.

749 Multilingualism and Society
Drawing on sociolinguistic, narrative and historical studies, we explore how sociocultural dimensions of bilingualism and biculturalism are researched.  Also sociopolitical theories are examined that account for historical responses to education bilinguals.

751 Scaling Methods for Behavioral Science
The purpose of this course is to introduce and explore scaling methods essential for research in the social sciences. This course covers techniques of unidimensional scaling, multidimensional scaling, and classification. Prerequisite: Students should have basic understanding of univariate and multivariate statistics.

752 Gender Issues in International Education
Examines gender discourse in the field of Third World development, its historical trajectories, various phases and trends, and its effects on gender relations.

753 Professional Seminar in Educational Research and Evaluations Methods
This course gives students experience in significant practices in educational testing/evaluation.  Topics covered include computer-based testing, assessment policy, new directions in evaluation and validation, and how to write research reports.

755 Curriculum, Methods and Programs in Urban Education
A survey of curriculum techniques, methods, materials, and programs related to teaching urban children. Students develop innovative methods and curricula for urban schools.

756 Advanced Measurement Seminar
A seminar course for advanced students in psychometric methods. Possible topics include performance-based assessment, standard-setting, computer-based testing, automated test construction, large-scale assessment issues, and test translations methodology.

758 School Personnel Administration
Staff development and reflection. Adult development, personnel selection, orienting new teachers, mentoring, supervising and evaluating teaching, collective bargaining, arbitration, coping with incompetent staff, and building a learning community. Prerequisite: EDUC 726.

760 Special Education Organization and Management
Organization and management dimensions of special education administration internal to the school system. Concepts and theories for analyzing and understanding the principles and criteria.

762 School Psychology Social and Behavioral Assessment
Analysis of behavioral observation and assessment used to develop recommendations for school and community personnel. Overview of research-evaluating techniques.

765 Pre-Professional Internship in School Psychology
How to deliver psychological services: 300 hours of field work in a school setting. Wide range of professional experiences. Credit, 6.

766 Multicultural Organizational Development (MCOD)
Introduction and integration of the core elements of MCOD, organization development, and databased systems change, social justice and social diversity in schools and/or school systems. Prerequisite: EDUC 691E.

767 Researching New Literatures: Multimodal Media Production and Social Justice
This seminar is for students interested in how to use multimodal media production to engage youth in literacy practices they will need for participating in future academic, civil, and social contexts.

771 Applied Multivariate Statistics I
Matrix algebra, nature of multivariate distributions, tests of hypothesis on mean vectors, regression analysis including multivariate regression models, correlation techniques, applications to issues in educational research. Computers used extensively to analyze data taken from existing research studies. Prerequisites: EDUC 555 and 656.

772 Applied Multivariate Statistics II
Matrix algebra, linear models, profile analysis, analysis of multivariate experimental designs, discriminant, canonical, and components analysis. Prerequisite: EDUC 771. Credit, 3-6.

773 Planning for Policy Success
Participants examine views regarding what constitutes policy success and failure, build competencies to make policies more viable, and use course concepts and skills to modify policies of their own choosing.

775 Historical Foundations of Psychology and Education
The historical development of psychology as a field of study and its relationship to educational practice in the school setting. From the ancient Greeks to Wilhelm Wundt, to the work of John Dewey and William James in relation to educational practice.

776 Theory of Communication for Bilingual Education
Linguistic, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of communication; analysis and exploration of fundamental aspects of theory of communicative competence; emphasis on implications for bilingual schooling.

777 Advanced Principles and Methods of Teaching Science in the Middle and High School
Tying current research on science teaching/learning to a classroom practice, this course examines advanced teaching strategies, discusses equity issues, and makes connections between formal and informal learning.

781 Politics in Education
Current political issues in education, such as the relationship between politics and school administration, public expectations of schools, social and cultural capital, and conflict between public and private education.

782 Teacher Education in Developing Countries
The unique challenge of designing teacher education systems, conceived broadly as teacher development and support, in low-resource contexts, with emphasis on Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

783 Diagnosis of Reading and Writing Difficulties
Diagnosis and treatment of reading and writing difficulties. Theory and interpretation of diagnostic procedures. Prerequisites: EDUC 670, 681, 684, or consent of instructor.

784 Issues in Children’s Literature
Advanced seminar. Participants investigate references and children’s books dealing with issues of social significance, including death, old age, sexism, racism, divorce and war.

789 In-Depth Interviewing and Issues in Qualitative Research in Education
Theoretical and practical questions in phenomenological in-depth interviewing. For those interested in gaining experience with qualitative research in education using interviewing methodology. Project-centered course.

793D Globalization and Education Policy
An introduction to scholarship on globalization, neoliberalism and its implications for the education sector. It provides a comparative framework to understand changes in the education sector in a globalized context.

802 Professional Development: Supervision of School Psychologists
The primary purpose of this course is to provide advanced knowledge and practice in several areas of supervision as it relates to psychological service delivery.  Content of the course is oriented toward context, philosophy, relationship and pragmatics of supervision. Major topics include the fundamentals of supervision, clinical supervision, and administrative supervision including supervision of professional practice and evaluation. Issues of ethnicity, class, gender, school change, and technology will also be addressed.

804 Cultural Perspectives on Educational Management
Explores definitions of culture and how cultural beliefs, values, and practices shape managerial work in education. Theories of culture and education management frame discussions of cross-cultural management practice.

808 Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation in Special Education
Program philosophies, goals, objectives, strategies, activities, and evaluation, as well as personnel administration, staff management, and budget planning.

815 Researching Language, Literacy and Culture in Education: Ethnographic Perspectives
Ethnographic theory, methods, and techniques of researching language, literacy, and culture in educational settings. Students conceptualize and conduct a full ethnographic study and learn how to use reflection on the fieldwork experiences to construct (or deconstruct) and articulate the theoretical basis, methods, and findings of their research.

818 Alternative Approaches to Education
Various conceptions of rural development and the processes that affect it. Agrarian reform movements and traditional approaches to rural development provide examples and case studies used to analyze the different approaches to development problems in rural areas. Develops strategies to address specific problems and gender issues in rural development.

821 Advanced Validity Theory and Test Validation
The major theories regarding the concept of “test validity” and major practices involved in validation.

822 Seminar in Special Education Research
The purposes and processes used for synthesizing research findings and completing literature reviews for the purpose of evaluating knowledge claims in the field of special education.

830 Internship in School Psychology, Pre-doctoral
Supervised on-the-job counseling experience. Includes direct counseling, individual supervisory conferences, writing case reports, and analysis of taped counseling sessions. Consent of instructor required. Credit, 1-9.

837 The Influence of the Social Context of Schools and the Politics of Reform on Teaching and Learning
The social context of U.S. schools and the myriad issues that underlie the call to “leave no child behind.”

838 Seminar in Science Education
Current literature and research in science education; researchable problems and research strategies which may be applicable.

844 History of Higher Education in America
Role of the college and university in American society, past and present. Meaning of a college education at various periods in American life.

845 Current Issues in Higher Education
Current issues confronting institutions of higher education and their policy implications. Prevailing viewpoints, problems, and opportunities associated with these issues.

851 Principles of Supervision
Principles and problems of supervision and the exercise of educational leadership to improve instruction in elementary curriculum and secondary school content fields.

862 Educational Planning and Evaluation
An introduction to the field of education evaluation. Prepares for practical experiences in evaluation research projects. Key issues in the theory, methods, and practice of effective evaluations. Concentrates heavily on participatory evaluation.

863 Administration Field Experience
Part of a structured sequence of courses and field experiences leading to licensure. Supervised field experience in administrative activities. Credit, 1-12.

865 Theory and Research in Educational Leadership
Historical development of administrative theory. Emphasis on its contribution to research and development in educational administration.

870 Special Problems in International Education
For intermediate and advanced graduate students undertaking a study or project in international education. For those interested in examining a specific problem or subfield not covered in an existing course, or those wishing to combine a field project with analytical study relating experience to literature. Activities designed and contracted with individuals or small groups according to need. Credit, 1-6.

871 Design and Evaluation of Education Programs
Theories for program design, rationale, and evaluation. Takes a problem-based approach in which instruction is structured around the design and evaluation of model programs.

880 Current Issues Facing Special Education Administrators
Contemporary issues facing administrators. Topics include special education finance, law, and policy.

881 Comparative Education
Processes and problems of educational development in selected areas throughout the world. Interrelationship between education and culture, in a multicultural context. Historical antecedents recognized, with major emphasis on cultural forces responsible for contemporary educational practices.

884 Social Policy and Disability
Explores relationships between social policy and disability in a democracy, with particular reference to the ever-changing landscape of societal values associated with the evolving paradigms that frame disability research and policies.

886 Group Counseling in Schools
Theory and practice in group counseling, with special emphasis on individual needs, group processes, and societal/community context. Focuses on the facilitation of positive interaction for educational and therapeutic groups. Knowledge and practical skills for working with students, teachers, administrators, and families at the elementary and secondary levels.

888 Participatory Action Research Methods
An approach to research and evaluation; theories and ethical issues; practice using specific methods; learning to choose an appropriate method for particular contexts and goals.

899 Doctoral Dissertation
Credit, 18.

 

Human Development

570 Child Development
Current concepts, themes, and theories in child development. Theories include psychodynamic, cognitive, biological, ethological, and moral development. Traces natural course of development from the beginning of human life to adolescence, by focusing on major developmental agenda for each stage. Prerequisite: SOCIOL 101, PSYCH 101, or consent of instructor.

600 Infancy: The First Stage of Development­
Examines development in the first three years of life. Research from biological, developmental, cultural, and ecological perspectives with implications for research and practice.

610 Language and Cognitive Development
Language and cognition from the development point of view. Emphasis on relationship between language and thought and changes in that relationship in the course of cognitive growth. Prerequisite: HUMANDEV 570 or equivalent.

660 Theories of Human Development
Major theories of human development. Emphasis on psychological theories and concepts. Relevance and relationship of biological, social, and anthropological concepts. Prerequisite: HUMANDEV 570 or equivalent.

670 Human Development in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Human development during second decade of life. Emphasis on biological, psychological, and sociological aspects. Theories of adolescent development. Prerequisite: HUMANDEV 570 or consent of instructor.

773 Research and Theory in Early Childhood and Family Studies
Methods and techniques for studying developmental processes from birth to early childhood.