Graduate studies in education
Bluffton University is committed to making your success a priority through our cost-effective and convenient Master of Education program. We offer four concentrations to fit your interests. All classes are offered either online or through videoconference, which means you have access to all of Bluffton's resources no matter where you are. We have several start dates each year, which gives you the flexibility to determine when you can take on extra classes.
Our data-driven coursework is taught by faculty who have classroom experience. We understand how to combine the technical nature of your career while putting people first.
Earning your MAEd can truly pay off. According to the Digest of Education Statistics,
on average, teachers with a master's degree make an additional $10,000 each year compared
to teachers with a bachelor's degree alone.
Master of Education
(30-41 hours)
Core:
(18 hours)
EDU 615 Differentiated Curriculum and Instruction (3)
EDU 629 Data-Informed Educational Leadership (3)
EDU 634 Special Topics (3)
EDU 645 Educational Technology (3)
EDU 650 Research Methods (3)
EDU 695 Teachers as Action Researchers (3)
Choose one concentration:
Intervention Specialist (23 hours)
This concentration can be completed as part of the MAEd degree or by itself to earn the intervention specialist K-12 mild/moderate education needs license.
Prerequisites:
12 credits of reading coursework including a 3 credit course in Teaching Phonics.
(Bluffton University offers online courses to meet this requirement);
Teaching license
Required:
SED 600 Students with Disabilities in a Diverse Society
SED 601 Instructional Strategies: Young Children with Mild/Moderate Educational Needs
SED 602 Instructional Strategies: Young Adolescents with Mild/Moderate Educational
Needs
SED 603 Classroom Organization
SED 604 Advanced Diagnosis and Educational Planning (3)
SED 605 Language Development for Diverse Learners (3)
SED 606 Issues in Special Education (1)
SED 607 Collaboration (3)
SED 608 Practicum (3)
Additional requirements for Ohio Department of Education licensure: 12 credits of
teaching reading, including a 3 credit course in Teaching Phonics.
LEADERSHIP (12 HOURS)
Prerequisite:
Teaching license
Required:
MGT 660 Assessing and Developing Leadership Skills (3)
MGT 661 Leading Innovation and Change (3)
MGT 662 Managing People in Organizations (3)
Electives:
3 credits from the MBA or Graduate Programs in Education
Reading (12 hours)
Prerequisites:
12 credits of reading coursework, plus 3 credits of phonics (Bluffton University offers online courses to meet this requirement);
Teaching license
Required:
EDU 627 Curriculum and Instruction: Reading and Writing (3)
EDU 642 Teaching Students with Reading Difficulties (3)
EDU 655 Instructional Design: Literacy across the Curriculum (3)
EDU 665 Advanced Reading Assessment, Diagnosis & Evaluation (3)
This program includes 50 hours of field work.
For the Ohio Department of Education Reading Endorsement (P-12), passing scores are
required on the Ohio Assessments for Educators #038 Reading Subtest I and #039 Reading
Subtest II.
Reading Endorsement (12 HOURS)
Prerequisites:
ECE/Primary (P-5)/IS/MC License Holders:
12 credits of undergraduate reading core including 3 credits in Phonics
AYA/Multiage License Holders:
9 credits of undergraduate/graduate reading, including 3 credits in Phonics
Required:
EDU 627 Curriculum and Instruction: Reading and Writing (3)
EDU 642 Teaching Students with Reading Difficulties (3)
EDU 655 Instructional Design:Literacy across the Curriculum (3)
EDU 665 Advanced Reading Assessment, Diagnosis and Evaluation (3)
courses
EDU 615 DIFFERENTIATED CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION (3)
This course explores differentiated instruction for the mixed-ability/achievement
classroom. It includes the rationale for differentiated instruction, instructional
strategies and assessment for the differentiated classroom, and ways to work collaboratively
with colleagues, families and the community.
EDU 627 CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION: READING AND WRITING (3)
This course provides candidates knowledge of a wide range of instructional practices,
approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to support reading and writing instruction.
This course meets Standard Two: Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, and Materials
for the Literacy Specialist Endorsement and Standard Four: Creating a Literate Environment.
20 field hours embedded in the course.
EDU 628 EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION (3)
This course provides candidates knowledge in collaboration and consultation to provide
professional development to teachers for the purpose of high levels of student learning
in reading, writing, and mathematics. Prerequisite: EDU 627.
EDU 629 DATA-INFORMED EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (3) BUILDING
This course focuses on the data-driven educational environment. Topics include: gathering
and interpreting data, school-based data, district-based data, responses to data at
the student, classroom, school, and district levels, and establishing and supporting
cultures of inquiry.
EDU 634 SPECIAL TOPICS (3)
This is a topical umbrella course for students in educational settings. Topics will
be from a wide variety of disciplines. This course may be repeated by the student.
EDU 642 TEACHING STUDENTS WITH READING DIFFICULTIES(3)
This course focuses on the dyslexia standards required by the state. It addresses
multisensory strategies for reading, spelling and writing instruction. It provides
the scientific definition of dyslexia, its common characteristics standardized by
the International Dyslexia Association, and the most effective research-based methodologies
to address the instructional needs of individuals with dyslexia. Multisensory structured
language techniques based on the Orton-Gillingham approach for teaching the alphabetic
principle, reading, spelling and writing will be the primary focus of the course,
with a particular emphasis on phonological training/word-attack skills as well as
systematic, explicit multisensory instruction relative to the structure of the English
language. Mastery of sound/symbol correspondences is not an end in itself; the ultimate
goal of instruction is the effective application of these skills for proficient reading
and writing. 30 field hours embedded within the course.
EDU 645 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (3)
The intent of this course is to provide the candidate with skills necessary for using
educational technology creatively in the classroom. Candidates work in small groups
with defined responsibilities and create and use the class as a lab for practice teaching.
Simple non-traditional tools are explored and used. The course focuses on hands-on
teaching, exploring the literature on technology and education, and current technology
tools used in the classroom.
EDU 650 RESEARCH METHODS(3)
Introduces research terminology, methods, purposes, and procedures. Specific attention
is devoted to appropriate measurement concepts, quantitative and qualitative data
collection techniques, and statistical and qualitative data analysis methods. Formal
methods for writing research reports in APA style and the critical 221 evaluation
of research are discussed. By the conclusion of the course, each student proposes
a plan of research for investigating a problem meaningful to classroom teachers. The
proposal becomes a permanent part of the student s file.
EDU 655 INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN: LITERACY ACROSS THE CURRICULUM (3)
This course, part of the Instructional Leadership concentration, provides students
with theoretical concepts and practical applications for designing strategies and
skills in the development of effective classroom teaching techniques, focusing on
discipline specific content. Curriculum mapping, alignment of content to ODE Academic
Content Standards and the inclusion of specialty professional association thematic
strands will also be covered. The course focuses on developing a research based series
of units and lessons for the classroom. 20 field hours embedded in the course.
EDU 665 ADVANCED READING ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSIS AND EVALUATION (3)
This course focuses on the concepts and techniques of reading assessment with an emphasis
on 1) Comparing/contrasting/using/interpreting/recommending a wide range of literacy
assessment tools and practices including informal and standardized measures; 2) developing
skills to support and train classroom teachers in using and interpreting appropriate
assessments for individual pupils; 3) Using in-depth assessment information to plan
individual instruction for struggling readers; 4) Collaborating with professionals
to implement appropriate reading instruction; and 5) Communicating assessment information
to various audiences for accountability and instructional purposes. This course meets
the International Reading Association Standard Three: Assessment, Diagnosis and Evaluation
outcomes at the Reading Specialist Level. 30 field hours embedded in the course.
EDU 695 TEACHERS AS ACTION RESEARCHERS(3)
A continuation of research methods where students complete the approved research project
developed in EDU 650. Final projects are presented to the Bluffton University community in an Action Research
Symposium. The final project becomes a permanent part of the student's file.
Special education courses
SED 600 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY (3)
This course is designed to enable educators to place students with exceptional learning
needs (ELN) in the context of a diverse society. Prerequisites: Undergraduate or graduate
level course in Introduction to Students with Disabilities (determined by transcript
review).
SED 601 INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES: YOUNG CHILDREN WITH MILD/MODERATE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (2)
This course is designed to develop educator competency, to analyze the young learner
(ages 3-8) with exceptional learning needs (ELN) and to plan the least restrictive
environment for the young child with ELN. Skills focus on designing, implementing
and evaluating appropriate educational interventions in the areas of language, math,
reading, social studies, science, the arts and movement. Fifteen field hours in an
inclusive early childhood setting are required. Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 602 INSTRUCT, STRATEGIES: YOUNG ADOLESCENTS WITH MILD/MODERATE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (2)
This course is designed to develop educator competency to analyze the young adolescent
and AYA learner with exceptional learning needs (ELN), and to plan the least restrictive
environment for the learner with ELN. Skills focus on designing, implementing, and
evaluating appropriate educational interventions in the areas of language, math, reading,
social studies, science, the arts and movement that are age and ability appropriate.
Field experiences in a middle school and high school setting are required (21 hours
total). Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 603 ADVANCED CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION: INTERVENTION SPECIALIST (3)
This course is designed as an advanced course to assist prospective intervention specialists
in understanding student and teacher behaviors as they apply to good classroom organization.
Students explore techniques for maximizing learning in a variety of classroom settings,
building students self concepts, and understanding the use and abuse of power. The
focus is on building communities of respect that nurture and support high levels of
student learning. Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 604 ADVANCED DIAGNOSIS AND EDUCATIONAL PLANNING (3)
This course is designed as an advanced course and focuses on information and practical
experiences relating to assessment and the development of academic and social planning
for the learning of individuals with ELN. Fifteen hours of field experience required.
Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 605 LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS (3)
This course focuses on speech and language acquisition of the typically and atypically
developing child. It also presents an overview of various disorders and their effects
on receptive and expressive language functions and learning. Ten hours of field experience
required. Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 606 ISSUES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION (3)
This course is designed to present current issues affecting the education of individuals
with ELN. Students examine contemporary research, current federal and state regulations,
and special education service delivery models. Students also reflect upon their role
as a professional educator and life-long learner and how to access on-going professional
development. Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 607 COLLABORATION (3)
This course prepares the prospective special educator to work effectively with individuals
with ELN, families, school and community personnel, and general educators to develop
and implement individualized programs. Communication skills, methods to access support
services, and team processes are covered with special emphasis on respect when working
with individuals from differing cultural, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds.
Prerequisite: SED 600.
SED 608 PRACTICUM: INTERVENTION SPECIALIST ( 3)
This practicum provides supervised experiences in applying the principles techniques
learned in the professional courses to actual classroom situations under the guidance
and direction of a cooperating teacher. Practicum students spend full days in their
assigned classroom for 10 weeks. Prerequisite: All courses in the intervention specialist
program.
admission process
- Complete our free application at www.bluffton.edu/apply, including a personal statement an resume.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions.
- Submit copy of teaching license.
- Upon acceptance, submit $200 deposit to secure spot in the cohort.
For admissions questions, please contact admissions@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3257.
May 2023