Learn how to: 

• Demonstrate ability to use leadership approaches that promote, build, and maintain partnerships and relationships
• Apply research, theory, and best practices to challenges around partnerships, family engagement, and specific school needs
• Build and maintain relationships that connect school communities through effective communication and leadership skills
• Design partnership interventions to address singular aspects of school improvement

Community-Building Starts in Schools

This Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)-approved program works to realize the vision of MSDE’s Office of Leadership Development and School Improvement to provide “leadership, support, and technical assistance to local school systems to improve school performance and foster the development, growth, and retention of effective leaders.” Our curriculum prepares students to be those effective educational leaders, and realize change at the school and community level.

Coursework examines theory, research, and best practices along with challenges and opportunities that support building a variety of school, family, and community partnerships. You’ll develop leadership skills, as well as create communication and community organizational skills that promote healthy organizational relationships. You’ll also apply theory to practice, using learned program knowledge to design partnership interventions to address a singular school improvement opportunity. 

Program Requirements

The program assigns each candidate an advisor to help plan the course schedule throughout your program journey. To graduate with an M.Ed. in Contemporary Educational Leadership, you must complete at least 36 credits:

• Core courses (18 credits)
• Leadership courses (15 credits)
• Research methods course (3 credits)
• Statistics course*

*It's possible to waive this course if you've recently taken a statistics course and earned a grade of B or better.

Core Courses (18 credits)

**This internship must be completed under the supervision of a school principal.

Leadership Courses (15 credits)

What is the Administrator I Certification?

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has specific requirements to become a school principal or administrator in the State of Maryland. The certification makes sure eligible professionals have a solid grounding in: Curriculum and instruction Supervision and personnel management Program administration Laws and regulations Practical experience Please note, that in addition to program completion, you must also submit other MSDE-required documentation to be fully eligible to become an assistant principal.

Eligibility

This program is designed for education professionals who want to grow their skills outside of the classroom, and transition to a school leadership role. Specifically, prospective students must have a:

• Current teaching credential (i.e., license or certification) and
• Master’s degree in education or a related field

Core Courses (18 credits)

Learn how to: 

• Apply adult learning and development theory to instruction, counseling, and training
• Assess diverse adult learner needs. Use numerous instructional strategies, tools, and practices to meet learner needs
• Apply theory to practices through models and tools for adult education
• Plan, implement, and evaluate adult education instruction, courses, and programs
• Develop inclusive adult education curricula, courses, and programs
• Prepare scholarly research and activities
• Problem solve ethical challenges

Encourage Lifelong Learning

This program focuses on training professionals for both general and specialized careers within adult education, counseling, and training programs. Coursework helps you understand adult learners, along with their motivations and needs. You can also choose to enhance understanding through a specialty:

• Administration and Supervision
• Gerontology
• Family Counseling

Program Requirements

All students admitted to the M.A.T. program become teacher candidates. The department assigns each candidate an advisor to help plan your course schedule throughout your program journey.

Credit hours in this program split between:

• Core requirements
• Specialization courses

Core Courses (18 credits)

Specializations

Choose to specialize in a focused area. 

Administration and Supervision 

This specialty focuses on leadership development for leaders and administrators of adult education, counseling, and training programs. Our students prepare to become administrators, counselors, and educators.

Specialization Courses

Gerontology

In this specialty, you learn about the clinical and theoretical aspects as well as the effects of aging. You’ll also learn more about roles that support persons throughout the aging process, like home health providers, and family caregivers. Upon graduation, students will be able to analyze and design government responses to aging.

Specialization Courses

Family Counseling 

This is the only specialty that requires a 6-credit practicum experience. Students learn theory and application of family intervention strategies. Additional focus areas include dynamics of family systems theory and marriage counseling, as well as related counseling techniques.

Accreditation

The M.A.T. in Elementary Education is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), recognized by the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Qualified Teacher Education

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, we adhere to the high academic standards of our field, committing to prepare well-qualified elementary education professionals, who are ready to champion student success in diverse and urban environments. Our program equips graduates with capabilities to apply knowledge and theory to practice, using research-based practices to support individual needs of students in first through sixth grade classrooms.

What You'll Learn

Learn how to: 

• Plan and engage children in exploration, experimentation, and discovery activities
• Reflect appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors
• Effectively teach and meet academic needs of all students in special programs
• Deconstruct curricula, be familiar with curricula organization, objectives, and procedures; as well as the instructional resources of the school and community to effectively implement curricula
• Apply theory to practice in order to effectively analyze teaching practices and experiences while engaging in the selection, planning, presentation, and evaluation of content knowledge
• Motivate and support learners through applied theory and practice Collaborate with the broader community of education professionals and practice continuous professional growth
• Apply knowledge and skills in the use of technology to support instruction, access and manipulate data, enhance professional growth and productivity; communicate; and conduct research

Program Requirements

The department assigns each candidate an advisor to help plan your course schedule throughout your program journey.

Credit hours in this program are split between:

• Core requirements
• Professional course requirements

Core Courses

**This course is required for students who do not have an approved undergraduate statistics course.

Professional Courses (All Concentrations)

Professional Courses (Elementary Requirements)

Accreditation

The Special Education Program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Program Standards

The Special Education program and related courses align with standards set by the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC), the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC), and Maryland Teacher Technology Standards (MTTS).

Qualified Teacher Education

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, we adhere to the high academic standards of our field, committing to prepare well-qualified special education professionals, who are ready to champion student success in diverse and urban environments. Our program equips graduates with capabilities to apply knowledge and theory to practice, using research-based practices to support individual student needs. 

We also expose teacher candidates to real-world classroom environments through our Professional Development School (PDS) sites. These classroom experiences help our students:

• Analyze teaching situations and challenges
• Select organize, and present subject matter
• Use evaluation techniques on teaching and learning results
• Apply theories and principles of learning

What You'll Learn

Learn how to: 

• Plan and engage children in exploration, experimentation, and discovery activities 
• Effectively teach and meet academic needs of all students in special programs 
• Create and use meaningful and challenging experiences to teach students with exceptional abilities 
• Establish safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning to effectively teach students with exceptional abilities 
• Engage students with exceptional abilities in a manner consistent with ethical principles and practices  
• Deconstruct curricula, be familiar with curricula organization, objectives, and procedures; as well as the instructional resources of the school and community to effectively implement curricula 
• Apply knowledge and skills acquired during practical experiences to effectively analyze teaching practices and experiences while engaging in the selection, planning, presentation, and evaluation of content knowledge 
• Motivate and support learners through applied theory and practice 
• Collaborate with the broader community of education professionals and practice continuous professional growth 
• Engage with current research to plan and apply tenets of practitioner research that demonstrate effective assessment of student learning and use those data to support learners and improve practices 
• Apply knowledge and skills in the use of technology to support instruction, access and manipulate data, enhance professional growth and productivity; communicate; and conduct research 

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, students must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours are split among:

• General Education Requirements, or GERs (45 credits)
• Program requirements (21 credits)
• Core requirements (30 credits)
• Methods and student teaching (27 credits)

Review the course descriptions to learn more about different types of major requirements.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

All special education majors must take (or transfer in) 45 credits.

Program Requirements (21 credits)

Core Courses (30 credits)

Methods and Student Teaching (27 credits)

Accreditation

The Elementary Education Program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), recognized by the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Qualified Teacher Education

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, we adhere to the high academic standards of our field. We commit to prepare well-qualified elementary education professionals, who are ready to champion student success in diverse and urban environments. Our program equips graduates with capabilities to apply knowledge and theory to practice, using research-based practices to support individual student needs.

We also expose students to real-world classroom environments through our Professional Development School (PDS) sites. These classroom experiences help our students:

• Analyze teaching situations and challenges
• Select organize, and present subject matter
• Use evaluation techniques on teaching and learning results
• Apply theories and principles of learning

What You'll Learn

Learn how to:

• Plan and engage children in exploration, experimentation, and discovery activities
• Reflect appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors Deconstruct curricula, be familiar with curricula organization, objectives, and procedures; as well as the instructional resources of the school and community to effectively implement curricula
• Apply theory to practice in order to effectively analyze teaching practices and experiences while engaging in the selection, planning, presentation, and evaluation of content knowledge
• Apply and reflect on the practical application of theories and principles of learning to support and motivate learners
• Collaborate with the broader community of education professionals and practice continuous professional growth
• Engage with current research to plan and apply tenets of practitioner research that demonstrates an effective assessment of student learning and use those data to support learners and improve practices
• Apply knowledge and skills in the use of technology to support instruction, access and manipulate data, enhance professional growth and productivity; communicate; and conduct research

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, students must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours are split among:

• General Education Requirements, or GERs (45 credits)
• Program requirements (22 credits)
• Core requirements (24 credits)
• Methods and student teaching (27 credits)

Review the course descriptions to learn more about different types of major requirements.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

All elementary education majors must take (or transfer in) 45 credits. Choose from the following courses:

Program Requirements (22 credits)

Core Courses (24 credits)

Methods and Student Teaching (27 credits)

Qualified Teacher Education

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, our goal is to prepare well-qualified early learning professionals, such as early learning center teachers and directors, as well as pre-school program and Head Start teachers, to champion support for the early learners’ broad range of needs. Our students graduate with the skills to manage daily operations, plan foundational academic lessons, as well as collect and analyze data to make informed decisions.

We also expose students to real-world classroom environments through on-site field experiences with our local childcare center and school partners. These classroom experiences help our students:

• Analyze teaching situations and challenges

• Select, organize, and present subject matter

• Use evaluation techniques on teaching and learning results

• Apply theories and principles of learning 

What You'll Learn

You'll learn how to encourage healthy childhood development through:

• Planning and engaging children in exploration, experimentation, and discovery activities 

• Nurturing self-awareness and identity of feelings and how to manage them

• Teaching situational awareness and adaptability in practical and real-world contexts

• Encouraging self-awareness and independence within the larger community

• Building and maintaining positive relationships with peers, teachers, and within the community

• Planning and implementing learning activities to develop effective communication skills

• Planning and implementing culturally appropriate literacy lessons on topics including, the alphabet, new words, and story composition 

• Planning and implementing culturally appropriate numeracy lessons on topics including, numbers, shapes, and problem-solving  

• Fostering fine and gross motor skills 

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood —Human Development, majors must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among: 

• General Education Requirements, or GERs (45 credits)
• Program requirements (75 credits)

Review the course descriptions to learn more about different types of major requirements.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

All early childhood human development majors must take (or transfer in) 45 credits.

Program Requirements (30 credits)

Core Courses (45 credits)