PRIMARY EDUCATION

The department offers a master's degree with a Primary Education Specialization within the M.Ed. curriculum and instruction program.

The master's degree program in Primary Education is designed to prepare broadly educated teachers who have a depth of knowledge concerning primary education to assume varied instructional leadership roles in the profession.

Major emphasis is given to teaching children in grades K-3. Students completing this program will be eligible for Florida graduate certification in primary education. By carefully designing individual programs, students may also be eligible for certification in elementary education. This individualized degree program emphasizes the development of master teachers and/or instructional leaders for nursery school through third grade.

Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix in the back of this catalog.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to meeting the minimum University standards for admission to graduate studies, students should refer to the Teacher Education section located later in this section of the catalog for information on admission to professional education graduate programs. Students are selected for admission on the basis of the undergraduate GPA, graduate course GPA, and GRE scores.

A limited number of students not meeting the minimum requirements may be admitted and placed on probation.

When the student does not have an undergraduate major or the equivalent in primary or elementary education, prerequisite course work will be required and planned for the candidate by the student's academic advisor.

When evidence indicates weakness in academic or professional skills, the candidate may be recommended for non-credit personal improvement work in these areas.

Other Considerations
Transfer credit: Students may be permitted to transfer 6-10 semester hours of graduate credit with the approval of the academic advisor and chairperson.

Use of undergraduate credit: With prior approval of the student's academic advisor and the department chairperson, a maximum of 6 semester hours of 3000- or 4000-level course work may be applied toward the master's degree.

Use of workshop credit: No more than 6 semester hours of credit in workshop courses may be applied toward the master's degree.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
In addition to general University requirements, candidates for degrees must meet the following requirements:

1. Degree programs must include at least 36 semester hours of approved course work;
   
2. At least one-half of the credit hours included in the degree program must be taken in the specialization area,
   
3. At least one-half of the credit hours included in the degree program must be in graduate-level courses (numbered 6000 or above); and
   
4. Degree candidates must complete an approved degree project. The degree project will take one of three forms:
   1. A written comprehensive examination is required of all degree candidates who do not select the action research or the thesis option.
      
   2. The action research option requires the design, implementation, and scholarly report of an action research project.
      
   3. The thesis option requires the production of a scholarly report of an investigation resulting from a study based on a careful review of related literature.

Course work in each program is organized around three major components: specialization requirements, electives, and the degree project.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Degree Project (0 or 6 sh)
The degree project will take one of three forms:

1. A written comprehensive examination is required of degree candidates who do not select the action research or the thesis option.
   
2. The action research option requires the design, implementation, and scholarly report of an action research project.
   
3. The thesis option requires the production of a scholarly report of an investigation resulting from a study based on a careful review of related literature.

   Choose one:
   EEC 6911	Action Research: Early Childhood Education	6
   	Course offered as 1-6 sh per semester
   EEC 6971	Thesis	6
   	Course offered as 1-6 sh per semester
   Comprehensive exam		0

Substantive Area Courses (9 sh)
Selected from defined area of special interest.

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