Master of Arts in Teaching with Concentration in Elementary Education

at Shorelight Group - Towson University USA

• Students are expected to achieve oral proficiency at the Advanced Low level according to ACTFL standards.
• Students are expected to achieve listening comprehension at the Advanced Low level according to ACTFL standards.
• Students are expected to achieve reading comprehension at the Advanced Low level according to ACTFL standards.
• Students are expected to demonstrate written proficiency at the Advanced Low level according to ACTFL standards.

Students may elect to become certified in both Elementary and Special Education by selecting the major. This program, specially designed to integrate both elementary and special education, prepares students as elementary classroom teachers and as elementary/middle special education teachers.

The Elementary Education & Special Education major is provided at Towson University, Towson University in Northeastern Maryland (TUNE) and The Universities at Shady Grove. The program is a screened major. The total program equals 127 units.

Women’s and Gender Studies majors are required to complete 39 units with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher from among the following courses. In addition, all Women's and Gender Studies majors must complete a minimum of 18 units toward the major at Towson University, with at least 12 units at the upper (300-400) level.

The program provides advanced study in the theory of writing, writing techniques and style, principles/techniques of editing, and the functions of written communication within the professional/occupational setting. Courses aim to develop the communication skills of people seeking to enter or to advance in occupations requiring extensive writing and/or the analysis and reporting of data. Students choose from tracks in writing for the public and private sectors, technical writing and information design, teaching writing, journalistic writing, scientific writing and creative writing.

The program provides advanced study in the theory of writing, writing techniques and style, principles/techniques of editing, and the functions of written communication within the professional/occupational setting. Courses aim to develop the communication skills of people seeking to enter or to advance in occupations requiring extensive writing and/or the analysis and reporting of data. Students choose from tracks in writing for the public and private sectors, technical writing and information design, teaching writing, journalistic writing, scientific writing and creative writing.

The Health Care Management curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehension of U.S. health care organizations, a public health orientation including epidemiological concepts and tools, and the math, language and computer competencies for research development, organizational management and/or program evaluation. Depending on a student’s interest, graduate training in health administration is recommended after completing this course of study and after the student has worked in the field for 1–2 years. Students interested in long-term care have the option of completing a track.

Students who major and minor in Health Care Management will adhere to the American College of Healthcare Executives Code of Conduct.

The Mass Communication major consists of three tracks: Advertising, Journalism, and Strategic Public Relations. Students must complete one of the three tracks. Many students complete two of the three tracks and some complete all three.

Students who complete the Mass Communication major will have many career options, especially in the broadly defined fields of print, broadcast and online journalism, advertising, and strategic public relations. Majors are expected to learn how the various fields in mass communication are structured and function.

The program is designed to prepare the degree candidate to:

• Provide specialized literacy instruction and assessment, in cooperation with other professionals, to students at all levels.
• Provide literacy services individually or in groups.
• Communicate with colleagues, parents and the community about literacy issues, including conducting professional development workshops on literacy topics.
• Coach and/or mentor colleagues.
• Advocate for literacy development among all populations.
• Read and interpret literacy research.
• Continue to grow professionally by reading professional journals and by participating in reading conferences and workshops.
• Master essential dispositions of educators (caring for all students, collaboration with stakeholders, and commitment to professional practice).

The Master of Science degree in Music Education provides a flexible curriculum that allows students to earn up to 15 elective units in a field of specialization. In consultation with the graduate adviser, students may select a group of courses in which they are interested, such as music education, applied music, music theory, music history, music composition or other graduate areas. More than 50 percent of the course work is with graduate students only. Graduates of this program are usually employed as music teachers in public or private schools in the areas of vocal-general and/or instrumental music. 

Majors must complete 54 units. The program is divided into four parts, and writing skills are emphasized throughout.

• First, students must complete two introductory courses, one each in political science and economics, which acquaint students with the nature of law and its role in American society.
• Second, students will take four required courses: one at the lower-division, two at the upper-division level and an advanced writing course. These courses further situate students in American culture, politics, judicial policymaking and logical thinking.
• Third, students will have several options in choosing electives, which will be offered by several departments: Accounting, Mass Communication and Communication Studies, English, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Political Science.
• Fourth and finally, students will undertake a 6-unit capstone experience of their choice and, if possible, design. Advanced students may wish to undertake a project in the workplace and then write an evaluative essay on that experience as it fits into the overall program. Other students will participate in a senior seminar, in which they will write a research paper on some aspect of the law or develop a thesis supervised by the program director.