Core Courses

EDU 6304. Interpreting Educational Research
This course teach educators how to understand and critically evaluate educational research. Topics include a review of basic statistics, introduction to experimental design and procedure, and ethics in research. The emphasis throughout the course is on application through the study of current research articles in education.

EDU 6315. Diverse Learners
This course introduces students to different teaching approaches that help create equal educational opportunities for students from diverse racial, ethnic, social-class, and cultural groups. The course will provide strategies to make teaching more effective in increasingly diverse schools. Some sections of this course require Spanish proficiency.

EDU 6322. Educational and Behavioral Psychology 
This course is an advanced survey of areas in psychology with direct application in schools and the educational process, including developmental psychology, learning and the brain, motivation and motivational change, and the theory and practice of testing. The emphasis is on application to real-world problems.

General Requirement Courses EC-6 Level


EDU 5121 / 5122 / 5123. Field Experience I/II/III
This course gives students opportunities to work in appropriate school settings. Field Experience I allows students to observe a functioning classroom. Field Experience II concerns special populations. Field Experience III allows students to shadow a teacher in preparation for student teaching.

EDU 5363 / 5364. Elementary Student Teaching
This course requirement is a 15-week assignment in an elementary school that has a diverse student population. The course includes a seminar on campus every two weeks. Students are assigned an SMU Supervisor who observes in the classroom at least four times a semester. A portfolio is required.

EDU 5385 / 5386. Internship I/II:  EC - 6
This course requires a full-year assignment as the teacher of record in a public or accredited private school. Supervision by SMU faculty is required.

EDU 6129. Practicum for Teaching Early Reading and Writing
Students will be in a school environment tutoring students on a weekly basis.  Students will use skills learned in Methods of Teaching Early Reading and Writing to provide reading and writing strategies in a one-to-one setting with struggling readers for hands-on practice.

EDU 6229. Methods for Teaching Early Reading and Writing
This course will introduce methods of reading and writing instruction with best practices.  Strategies will be emphasized for beginning readers and writers to help develop necessary skills in the foundation of reading and writing.

EDU 6302. Design and Assessment of Learning
This course is a review of research and practice in learning theory, instructional design, and assessment strategies. Students will be required to investigate studies supporting "best practices" in the classroom.

EDU 6303. Learning Environment and Professionalism
This course is an investigation of student needs that teachers must meet as well as different aspects of professionalism expected of classroom teachers. Students will be required to analyze studies supporting "best practice" in classroom management and professional development.

EDU 6326. Content Area Studies
Exploration of science, social studies, art, music, drama and physical education content for Pre-K-4 students and effective teaching strategies for each content area. Readings from research journals in the content areas will be required, along with the development of research-based instructional strategies. Prerequisite: 2.0 GPA or better in EDU 6327. Reserved for students in the MED: With Certification Program.

EDU 6327. Learning to Read and Write
This course is designed for the elementary cohort members of the M.Ed. with Certification program. This course introduces research, practices, and materials for teaching reading/writing in grades PK-1. All literacy classes require field experiences in local schools.

EDU 6329. EC-6 Math
This course is an evaluation of learning materials and teaching methods in mathematics focusing on the knowledge and skills required for pre-kindergarten through 6th grade students.  Study of the research in math concept development will be required.

EDU 6336. Reading and Writing to Learn
This course is designed for the elementary cohort members of the M.Ed. with Certification program. This course introduces research, practices, and materials for teaching reading/writing in grades 2-6. All literacy classes require field experiences in local schools.
Prerequisites: EDU 6327 Learning to Read and Write 

General Requirement Courses Secondary Level


EDU 5124 / 5125 / 5126. Field Experience I/II/III
This course gives students opportunities to work in appropriate school settings. Field Experience I allows students to observe a functioning classroom. Field Experience II concerns special populations. Field Experience III allows students to shadow a teacher in preparation for student teaching.

EDU 5373 / 5374. Secondary Student Teaching
This course requirement is a 15-week assignment in an middle/high school that has a diverse student population. The course includes a seminar on campus every two weeks. Students are assigned an SMU Supervisor who observes in the classroom at least four times a semester. A portfolio is required.

EDU 5375 / 5376. Internship I/II: High School / Middle School
This course requires a full-year assignment as the teacher of record in a public or accredited private school. Supervision by SMU faculty is required.

EDU 6302. Design and Assessment of Learning
This course is a review of research and practice in learning theory, instructional design, and assessment strategies. Students will be required to investigate studies supporting "best practices" in the classroom.

EDU 6303. Learning Environment and Professionalism
This course is an investigation of student needs that teachers must meet as well as different aspects of professionalism expected of classroom teachers. Students will be required to analyze studies supporting "best practice" in classroom management and professional development.

EDU 6324. Content Methods
Study of teaching strategies specific to content areas and levels of certification. Includes the examination of research promoting content instruction. In depth reading assignments unique to content areas of specialty will be required.
Prerequisite: 2.0 GPA or better in EDU 6328. Reserved for students in the MED: With Certification Program.

EDU 6328. Strategic Teaching
This course examines a variety of instructional strategies proven to engage learners in the middle and high school learning environment and gives students an opportunity to practice developing skills in communication and facilitating learning.

EDU 6348. Foundations of ESL for Secondary Teachers  
This course examines a variety of instruction strategies proven to be effective in the teaching of English as a Second Language to middle school and high school students.  The various development levels of secondary students will be researched to determine abilities and functional literacy skills.

EDU 6366. Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
This course studies various strategies for instruction of reading and writing in the content areas.  Includes the examination of research promoting content instruction with in depth reading assignments and analyzing best practices.