Elementary Education
Graduate College of Education
Dean: Dr. Cynthia Grutzik
Department of Elementary Education
Burk Hall, Room 179
Phone: (415) 338-1562
Chair: Dr. Daniel Meier and Dr. Stephanie Sisk-Hilton
Graduate Coordinators & Advisor:
Curriculum and Instruction: Dr. Stephanie Sisk-Hilton, Professor & Dr. Maria Zavala, Associate Professor
Early Childhood Education: Dr. Mina Kim, Professor; Dr. Daniel Meier, Professor
Advisors for Multiple Subject Credential and Bilingual Authorization: Program faculty in the Department of Elementary Education
Program Scope
The Department of Elementary Education supports the career and academic pathways of early childhood and elementary educators through preliminary credentialing through advanced graduate studty. All programs are designed to deepen theoretical knowledge, to promote professional growth, and to prepare educators to engage in culturally responsive teaching and leadership that meets the needs of diverse learners.
Program Aims
The Department of Elementary Education offers two prelimary teaching credential programs, the Multiple Subject Credential (MSC) for elementary educators and the PK-3 Education Specialist Credential for early childhood educators. In addition, we offer bilingual authorization in Spanish, Mandarin, and Contonese. All preliminary credential programs combine coursework with extensive, mentored teaching experience in linguistically and socioeconomically diverse classrooms.
The Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction equips teachers with knowledge of current research in education and culturally responsive pedagogical practices to support their work in diverse school settings. The program includes: A focus on integrating core content areas across the curriculum; engagement in action research and self study as tools to improve educational outcomes, opportunities to engage in analysis and receive feedback on your teaching as it develops; and elective areas of specialization including language and literacy, math education, integrated teaching credential + MA, and other areas of specialization under advisement. Students may choose to pursue the MA in Curriculum and Instruction concurrently with the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program or separately as a standalone graduate degree.
The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education provides early childhood educators with advanced preparation in child growth and development, cultural and linguistic diversity, early childhood curricula, equity, and social justice, in addition to research methodologies. The program places a special emphasis on teacher research as a primary methodology of inquiry for all early childhood practitioners. Coursework also focuses on understanding child development within varied social and cultural contexts, culturally responsive teaching and curriculum development for diverse populations, and providing family and community support. Students may apply 12 post-BA units from the PK-3 Education Specialist credential toward the MA in Early Childhood Education.
Professor
Homayoun Borjian (2003), Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. Stanford University.
Barbara Henderson (1998), Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. Stanford University.
Mina Kim (2007), Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. Indiana University, Bloomington.
Christy Lao (2001), Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. University of Southern California.
Daniel Reed Meier (1997), Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Stephanie L. Sisk-Hilton (2005), Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Associate Professor
Maria Del Rosario Zavala (2012), Associate Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. University of Washington, Seattle.
Assistant Professor
Isauro M. Escamilla Calan (2022), Assistant Professor in Elementary Education. Ed.D. San Francisco State University.
Bianca Licata (2024), Assistant Professor in Elementary Education. Ed.D. Teachers College, Columbia University.
E ED 250 Teaching and Learning Beyond the Classroom (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2 with a grade of C- or better.
E ED 306 Understanding and Supporting Families in ECE (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
E ED 333 Dynamic Educators for the 21st Century (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
E ED 450 Art and Learning (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 3UD: Arts or Humanities
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
E ED 600 Advanced Issues in Child Development and Learning (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
E ED 602 Innovative Early Childhood Education Curriculum (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 4UD: Social/Behavioral Science
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
E ED 603 Understanding and Supporting Children's Socio-Emotional Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 4UD: Social/Behavioral Science
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
E ED 604 Collaborating with Children, Families, and Communities in Early Childhood Education (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 4UD: Social/Behavioral Science
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
E ED 605 Supervised Field Experience in ECE (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area 1A/A2 or permission of the instructor.
E ED 607 Leadership and Administration in ECE (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.
E ED 608 Supervised Fieldwork Phase I, PK-3 (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential, Multiple Subject Credential, or Bilingual Authorization students; or approval of an Elementary Education Advisor.
E ED 610 Classroom Assessment and Evaluation for Young Children (Units: 3)
Observation and assessment of children's behavior and development in diverse early childhood settings and communities. Informal observational techniques and the role of assessment in curriculum planning. Thirty hours of classroom observation and participation per semester is required when a student is enrolled in one or more undergraduate ECE courses. (Plus-minus letter grade only)E ED 611 Transforming Infant-Toddler Education and Care (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
E ED 614 Science, Math, and Technology Curricular in ECE (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Course Attributes:
- Env. Sustain. & Climate Action
- Social Justice
E ED 616 Multilingualism and Multiliteracies in the Early Years (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 3UD: Arts or Humanities
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
E ED 619 Children's Play: Theory and Practice (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
E ED 628 Teaching Practicum Seminar Phase I: PK-3 (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Pre-K-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential, Multiple Subject Credential or Bilingual Authorization students; or approval of an Elementary Education Advisor.
E ED 639 Bilingual Education in the U.S.: A History of Struggle, Resistance, and Achievement (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 4UD: Social/Behavioral Science
- UD-D: Social Sciences
E ED 642 Content Knowledge and Teaching Practices: Elementary School (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
E ED 645 Directed Experiences with Children (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor. Registration by recommendation of adviser and permission of the instructor.
E ED 655 Hands-on Undergraduate Science Education Experience (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.
E ED 668 Multicultural Education and Social Justice for Young Children (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Course Attributes:
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
E ED 681 Teaching Language and Literature with Elementary and Middle School Students (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas 1A/A2*, 1B/A3*, 1C/A1*, and 2/B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 3UD: Arts or Humanities
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
E ED 687 Seminar: Field Experience (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Multiple Subject Credential students.
E ED 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.