Spotlight: Walden University: Education

Specializations:

• Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
• Elementary Reading
• Literacy and Middle Level Education

“The best thing about the program is that I was able to fit my job, home and social life around it, so there was enough time for everything.”- Neeta Shah, MSEd Graduate

Teachers are among the most important members of our society. A good teacher is more than just an educator; he or she is a guide, a mediator, a life coach, a career counselor, a disciplinarian and a backup parent all rolled into one.

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University is committed to fostering excellence in teaching, and making it easier for teachers to do their jobs and advance in their careers. Designed for working educators, the online Master of Science in Education focuses on the strategies that lead to greater success for teachers and students alike. The M.S. in Education emphasizes the following four themes:

• Classroom diversity: the skills teachers need to adapt to cultural and linguistic differences
• Teacher professionalism: the values and behaviors that foster better teacher performance
• Supportive classroom environments: the secrets to creating an educational setting that engages and inspires students
• The teacher as a catalyst for learning: how to analyze data to improve your own instructional methods

Imagine Yourself at Walden (Video)

Our curriculum is developed by teachers, for teachers. Our faculty, with real-world experience under their belts, understand your daily pressures and professional needs. A variety of MSEd specializations are available that:

• Teach you how to put your new skills to work
• Meet national educational standards
• Combine contemporary pedagogy with realistic classroom strategies
• Provide access to renowned experts in your field

"The best thing about the program is that I was able to fit my job, home and social life around it, so there was enough time for everything," says Neeta Shah, an MSEd graduate. "My life was still balanced and I was able to achieve my goal of attaining a master's degree without setting foot outside my home. What's more, on this educational journey I was able to achieve much more: I rid myself of my initial computer phobia and developed a sense that I could do anything I set my mind to. I was proud to have discovered that the computer had now become my best friend."

Walden's Specializations

- Adolescent Literacy and Technology (6-12). Teachers will master the use of cutting-edge technology to boost their students' literacy and increase achievement. In this specialization, you will learn how to motivate your students with the use of technology and inspire them to apply their technological savvy to their academic lives.

- Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (K-12). Gain the knowledge and skills to respond to your students' diverse learning needs. Discover how to provide authentic, individualized learning experiences that positively impact student learning. Explore how to create opportunities for students to gain the skills they'll need to be competent citizens, workers, and leaders in the 21st century. Learn to develop effective, standards-based curricula; provide differentiated instruction; and measure student learning using a variety of assessment approaches. Course content is delivered using Walden's MobileLearn(SM) technology to complement your unique learning style and add even greater flexibility to your study schedule.

- Educational Leadership. Designed for classroom instructors who are ready for a leadership role, this specialization helps teachers develop what it takes to be a private or public K-12 educational administrator.

- Elementary Reading & Literacy (PreK-6). This recently redesigned program focuses on the tech-oriented literacy landscape of the new millennium. Teachers will study current theory and learn realistic methods for improving all students' performance. You will also learn to work closely with linguistically, socially, and academically diverse learners.

- Elementary Reading and Mathematics (K-6). The curriculum in this program has been updated to reflect technical advances in literacy. In this specialization, you'll delve into the latest research and learn practical strategies to increase literacy and mathematical achievement. The math courses help you foster basic comprehension, so that all students become keen mathematical thinkers and problem-solvers.

- Integrating Technology in the Classroom (K-12). As technological advances transform the classroom, the opportunities for education and discovery grow by leaps and bounds. Today's teachers work with increasingly tech-savvy students, and they must use 21st-century strategies and skills to create a successful and engaging learning environment.

- Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (6-12). Designed for teachers of science, history, mathematics, social studies, English, and more, this specialization helps you support struggling students as they take on more complex and abstract topics in content-area classes.

- Mathematics (K-5). This online program helps elementary teachers strengthen their own math skills and teaches them to motivate students as they move into more difficult mathematics topics.

- Mathematics (6-8). This concentration is intended to help junior high mathematics teachers build strong proficiency in this challenging content area.

- Middle Level Education (5-8). This specialization, based on approved NCATE standards, covers human development, curriculum, organizational structures, pedagogy, assessment, and content knowledge for young adolescents.

- Science (K-8). Intended for K-8 science teachers, this specialization fosters a more complete understanding of the scientific method by assigning inquiry-based science projects to teachers.

-Special Education (Non-Licensure) (K-12). Designed for experienced special educators, this specialization synthesizes the latest developments and the most current research in scientifically based interventions, assessment, and neuroscience to help you develop best practices for student learning.

- Teacher Leadership (K-12). Build upon your pedagogical expertise by developing leadership and communication skills that can help you deal with challenges like parental involvement and student performance.

Why Choose Walden University?

Walden University is an accredited institution that has provided rigorous, flexible degree programs to working adults for nearly 40 years. We are proud to host a community of highly motivated students and accomplished faculty, all sharing a common desire to succeed--and to make a constructive social impact.

Walden's experienced instructors and dedicated staff can help you schedule your classes around your professional and personal obligations. Our writing center, library, tutoring services, and other student support programs are all designed to make your education as convenient as possible. Books and materials are included in the tuition in most of our master's programs.

Our degree programs are created by industry-experienced researchers who frequently evaluate all coursework to ensure that it is current and relevant to your needs. We are committed to helping you become a scholar-practitioner, by teaching you to integrate academic research into your practical experience.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.