Elementary Education
Graduate College of Education
Dean: Dr. Cynthia Grutzik
Department of Elementary Education
Burk Hall, Room 179
Phone: (415) 338-1562
Chair: Dr. Homayoun Borjian
Graduate Coordinators & Advisor:
Curriculum and Instruction: Dr. Sisk-Hilton, Professor & Dr. Zavala, Associate Professor
Early Childhood Education: Dr. Kim, Professor; Dr. Meier, Professor
Advisors for Multiple Subject Credential, Bilingual Authorization: Program faculty in the Department of Elementary Education
Program Scope
The programs are designed to deepen theoretical knowledge, to promote professional growth, and to enhance the competencies of elementary, middle and secondary school, and early childhood educators.
Program Aims
The Master of Arts in Education: Concentration in Early Childhood Education provides early childhood educators with advanced knowledge and training in research, theory, and practice for working with children and families in multicultural and multilingual early childhood settings. This degree provides infant, toddler, preschool, primary grade, community college educators, and early childhood administrators with the skills and knowledge for teaching and leadership positions in the field of early childhood education. Courses taken for the program can qualify for Teacher and Administrator levels of the California Child Development Matrix. Twelve units of the Multiple Subject Credential, ECE TK-5th Focus can be transferred to this MA program.
The Master of Arts in Elementary Education provides elementary school teachers with advanced knowledge of research, theory, and practice in the field of elementary education in general as well as in particular subject matter disciplines. This concentration is a continuation of the SF State Multiple Subjects Credential Program and is only open to students who have completed their credential within two years of applying to the M.A. Twelve units of the Multiple Subject Credential Program can be transferred to this MA program.
The Master of Arts in Education: Concentration in Mathematics Education provides elementary, middle school, high school teachers with advanced knowledge of research, theory, and practice in the teaching and learning of school mathematics and expands their knowledge of mathematics content. This program is run jointly with the secondary education department. Those holding a single subject mathematics credential should apply through the secondary department. Teachers holding Multiple Subject credentials will be eligible to apply for a supplementary authorization in mathematics for middle school teaching. This degree also prepares teachers to assume leadership roles in their schools and districts.
The Reading & Literacy Added Authorization Certificate: Admission to the Reading Certificate program requires that the candidate hold a valid elementary or secondary teaching credential, either (1) a teaching credential that requires a bachelor’s degree and a professional preparation program that includes student teaching, or (2) a clear, full-time designated subjects teaching credential, provided the holder also possesses a bachelor’s degree and has passed the CBEST. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester units.
The applicant must verify three years of successful, full-time teaching experience in any grades or subjects, pre-school through adult at the time of program completion. Applicant must hold a California teaching credential. Out-of-state credentials must meet the requirements of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Reading Certificate (15 units).
General Requirements for Admissions
Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One
Applicants to all concentrations in elementary education will have their statement of purpose essays (submitted during the admission process) evaluated for writing proficiency. Details about this evaluation appear in each concentration description below.
Level Two
Level Two is satisfied by demonstration of English competency with satisfactory completion of E ED 895 or E ED 898.
Continuous Enrollment Requirement
Students admitted fall 2008 and beyond have the semester they enroll in the culminating experience and the following semester to complete their degree requirements. Those who need additional time must enroll in a zero-unit designated CEL course every subsequent semester until the culminating experience is completed.
For more information, please contact your department or the Graduate College of Education Credential and Graduate Services Center Office (Burk Hall 244).
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.
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
Christy Lao (2001), Associate Professor in Elementary Education. Ph.D. University of Southern California.
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.
E ED 250 Teaching and Learning Beyond the Classroom (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2 with a grade of C- or better.
Course Attributes:
- E: Lifelong Learning Develop
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 A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- 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 A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 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 A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
E ED 604 Advanced Issues in Collaboration with Families and Communities in Early Childhood Education (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
E ED 605 Supervised Student Teaching in Observation and Evaluation in ECE (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area 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:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- Environmental Sustainability
- Social Justice
E ED 616 Multilingualism and Multiliteracies in the Early Years (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 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 A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 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 A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- 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.