Online Master's in Secondary Education

This course is designed to provide an orientation to the primary components of the teacher education program. Students will be introduced to the program's progression and degree completion requirements. Professional dispositions, clinical experience, clinical practice, My Time Log, teacher performance assessment, and technology resources will be discussed.

This course provides learners in the College of Education programs with strategies for academic success within the University of Phoenix adult learning model. Learners will apply written and oral communication principles to their roles as educators, examine research methods for finding and evaluating resources, and develop effective skills in collaboration and critical thinking in preparation for their program and workplace.

This course introduces teaching as both an art and a science. Teacher candidates will examine the historical foundations of education as well as current issues and trends. Candidates will reflect on their dispositions and motivations to teach and explore basic philosophies, professionalism, and legal and ethical ramifications in education.

This course explores the range of issues that affect human development from birth through age 18. The focus of the course is on defining the various stages of child/adolescent growth and development and how they impact instructional practice and decisions in a K-12 environment. The influence of emotional, intellectual, psychological, social, and cultural factors on student learning are discussed. Peer and family influences, along with issues related to media themes and gender bias, are examined.

This course focuses on the theoretical models that underlie teaching and learning in middle and high school settings. Teacher candidates examine methods for teaching all students, explore lesson plan designs, analyze the most effective instructional and questioning strategies to promote student learning, and develop a lesson plan. Candidates also explore assessment and its relationship to lesson planning, apply the backward design process to unit and lesson planning, and analyze methods of collaborating with colleagues and communicating with parents and families.

This course examines the strategies used in managing a positive and respectful classroom environment within the framework of today's diverse student population. Topics include models of discipline, establishing expectations and procedures, motivating and engaging students, parent and community engagement, and effective communication strategies. This course provides direction to teacher candidates on how and where to seek support , and guides them in developing an individual classroom management plan appropriate for their targeted grade levels and needs.

This course addresses legal and historical foundations of structured English immersion (SEI) foundations, the identification and assessment process for English learner eligibility, and culturally relevant instruction. The Arizona Language Development Approach and SEI models are introduced, including language development and acquisition learning theories. Students examine the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards and their application in lesson planning. Additionally, students explore appropriate intervention practices and differentiation strategies to support English learners in secondary settings. This course is designed to meet the standards set by the Arizona Department of Education.

This course provides an overview of the categories of exceptionality for school-aged learners with special needs. The teacher candidate will focus on expressive and receptive communication skills and the recognition of individual learning patterns to utilize for the planning, instruction, and assessment strategies of diverse populations. Historical perspectives and information related to special education law and current policies and practices are examined.

This course focuses on utilizing effective assessment practices to guide instruction. The fundamentals of assessment, including standardized, formative, summative, and performance assessments and their uses will be discussed. Teacher candidates will effectively analyze and evaluate test and performance data to communicate data results ethically and determine learner needs. Additionally, the purpose, methods, and reporting of evaluations are explored.

This course focuses on the most current research on the design, delivery, and assessment of content-based literacy strategies in single-subject classrooms at the middle and high school levels. Foundations and trends in content area literacy, academic language strategies, disciplinary reading and writing strategies, and inquiry-based strategies are addressed in this course. The integration of new literacies and technology into content area instruction, strategies for effectively studying texts, approaches to lesson and unit planning, and benefits of collaborative learning are explored. Candidates use this knowledge to prepare a comprehensive content area literacy unit at the end of the course.

This course is designed to prepare educators to use technology to inform teaching and learning in middle and high school settings. Teacher candidates create and design effective, relevant, and engaging student learning outcomes across the content areas. Candidates incorporate technology-based instructional strategies into student-centered learning, applying industry standards and fair use guidelines. Educational technology integration and classroom use of digital tools and resources, software applications, and assessments are also examined.

This course is a study of the creation, application, and viability of the United States Constitution. Participants examine the Constitution's historical and philosophical origins to better understand its original intent, evolution, and current usage, specifically through its interpretation in changing social and political climates. Emphasis is on the Constitution's influence on education in the United States.