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Elementary Education (4 to 6)
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Grade Levels:
4-6
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Credits:
30
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Degree:
Master of Education
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Program Approved:
PR Council of Education
Program Description
The master’s in elementary education prepares you for teacher recertification by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Graduates will be ready to teach grades 4-6 in public and private schools in Puerto Rico. As part of the curriculum, students will investigate best classroom practices and engage in an independent learning project. The program is approved by the Puerto Rico Council of Education.
What You Need to Start Your Elementary Education Degree
Prior valid Puerto Rico teacher certification in another area or discipline is required for admission to the Elementary Education (4-6) program. Talk to one of our graduate advisors to find out more and get started.
Cambridge College Elementary Education Master’s Degree Program Highlights
Prepare for elementary teaching careers in Puerto Rico. The degree in elementary education at Cambridge College offers a flexible, affordable graduate program option designed for adult learners.
- Career-focused learning. As part of your elementary education coursework, you’ll engage in independent projects that personalize your learning experience and prepare you for your career.
- Experienced faculty. At Cambridge College, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced education professionals, who are accomplished researchers and accessible teachers dedicated to helping you succeed.
- Flexible classes. Earn your master’s degree while balancing work and family time with the help of convenient evening, weekend, and online course options designed to fit your life.
- Exceptional value. As one of the most affordable four-year private nonprofit colleges in the United States, Cambridge College is committed to making higher education more accessible and providing a greater value for students.
Elementary Education Learning Outcomes
Students learn the principles and knowledge elementary educators need, including teaching strategies for students with diverse abilities and languages in different academic areas. This includes working in collaborative learning groups and co-teaching exercises that transfer to the classroom.
Elementary Education Careers
Example Elementary Education Courses
Choose Cambridge College for your master’s degree in elementary education and benefit from classes such as:
- Assistive Technology: Modifying the Curriculum for Diverse Learners
- Classroom Management With Models of Teaching
- Teaching Science and Technology 4-6
Download the Elementary Education program sheet.
Elementary Education Scholarships and Financial Aid
You may qualify for grants, scholarships, loans, and other types of financial assistance to help pay for your master’s degree. Learn more about applying for financial aid at Cambridge College.
Many companies also offer tuition assistance programs that can help to pay for education. Find information about getting your company to help.
Related Programs at Cambridge College
If you’re still exploring degree options, you might be interested in learning more about these master’s degree programs offered at Cambridge College Puerto Rico:
Curriculum
All courses are offered in Spanish.
Courses
27
Credits
Developmental Psychology
ELE 510 • 3 credit(s)
This course explores basic theories and concepts in cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development from childhood to adolescence; and the characteristics and instructional implications of moderately and severely disabling conditions. These theories are then applied to instruction, with emphasis on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Students explore multiple theories of intelligence and learning, and strategies for a curriculum reflecting the diverse intellectual needs of children as learners. The stages and characteristics of child development are introduced and students apply this knowledge to the classroom through the use of integrated curriculum. Participants investigate methods of systematic observations and recording of child behavior in light of child development theories, and utilize this information in their planning and implementation of instruction. Formulation of a developmentally appropriate Individual Educational Plan is required. Pre-practicum hours of directed field-based training required.
Teaching Reading and Writing Skills for Elementary Grades 4-6
ELE 522 • 3 credit(s)
This course will emphasize the development of children's reading and writing skills in upper elementary grades and the learning environment that supports the development of such skills. The course reviews and analyzes relationships between theories and current research on emergent literacy, oral language, vocabulary development, comprehension, the reading and writing process, and assessment. Participants review and discuss whole language, balanced literacy, effective teaching strategies, use of research-based literacy programs, literature-based instruction, use of different assessment tools to inform instruction, standards-based instruction, federal funding, culture, and democracy.
Assistive Technology: Modifying the Curriculum for Diverse Learners
ESP 615 • 3 credit(s)
How do we as educators implement the mandated requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that calls for assistive technology to be considered in each Individualized Education Program (IEP)? Candidates examine assistive technologies and the federal laws impacting the education of students with disabilities and investigate assistive technologies addressing seating and positioning, access to the technology, augmentative and alternative communication (low-tech and high-tech). Candidates examine curriculum modifications using technology, and software that addresses these modifications and individual learning styles. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of the various augmentative and alternative communications (AAC) methodologies, including the appropriate use of aids and devices. Course assignments connect assistive technologies to classroom practice.
Teaching Numeric and Geometric Structures 4-6
MAT 623R • 3 credit(s)
This course covers the teaching pedagogy of the basic foundation of the mathematics grades 406 curriculum in terms of its numerical and geometric structures. Major topics include: number sense, numeration, estimation, mental math modeling operations using concrete objects, geometry, spatial sense and measurement. Aligned with Puerto Rico Department of Education standards.
Teaching Science & Technology 4-6
ELE 654 • 3 credit(s)
Each student will learn a variety of methods for making elementary science a "hands-on" learning experience for their students. The primary objective of the course will be to provide each participant with the knowledge, tools and desire to make science an exciting learning experience. Special emphasis will be placed on alignment of curriculum with the Puerto Rico Frameworks in Science and Technology. Students will also learn how to develop lesson plans that address student experimentation and design techniques. A standards-based approach to science education will serve as the template for the students' lesson development. Examples of open-response questions used on the Puerto Rico state test at grade five will be examined.
Integration of Children's Literature for Elementary Grades 4-6
ELE 621 • 3 credit(s)
The goal of this course is to introduce participants to some of the best literature-children's, young adult, adult and contemporary, and as a result, help children become lifelong learners and readers. Participants acquire knowledge about Puerto Rico's Spanish language arts curriculum framework. They examine the standards and how they relate to reading instruction in the classroom. They look at many genres of literature including fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry, fairy tales, tall tales, multicultural selections, and current favorite authors. Participants will practice integrating literature into other disciplines, including math, science, social studies, and the fine arts. Participants apply the Puerto Rico required professional standards in planning, teaching, and assessing units of instruction in language arts.
Teaching Soc Sci, History & Multi Educ for Elem Curric 4-6
ELE 657 • 3 credit(s)
This course prepares educators to teach social studies that includes the multicultural contributions of the world. They gain skills and varied methods for teaching basic information in social studies, history and geography. they gain a basis for researching issues in social studies and history that give their students more universal perspectives. The materials chosen are appropriate to the Puerto Rico Department of Education Curriculum Frameworks/Common core Standards in history and social studies. Educators will gain the basic information and know the principles for teaching social sciences, history and geography in Puerto Rico for grades 4-6.
Using Educational Technology to Improve Teaching and Learning
EIT 712 • 3 credit(s)
Through discussion, use of the latest hardware and software, participants explore computer based multimedia and communications technologies that enhance classroom instruction. This course is geared for PreK-12 teachers to experiment with the tools of the classroom with emphasis on math, science and language arts. Software and Internet applications are explored, including best practice applications. Focus is on developing technology-based thematic units that integrate theory, practice and standards in the language arts, science, and math classroom. Recent developments in technology integration regarding math and language with the No Child Left Behind Act are discussed.
Alternative Assessment: Theory and Practice
ELE 600 • 3 credit(s)
This course explores alternative assessment. It answers the questions regarding what assessment is, what it does and what it measures. Assessment types and strategies are studied along with multiple assessment uses. Students gain a thorough understanding of portfolio techniques, open ended questions and the design, use, and evaluation of performance tasks. They explore assessment procedures such as exhibition, interview, journals, observation, peer assessment, and self-evaluation. Students are encouraged to use with confidence alternative assessment strategies in the classroom as an integral component of the curriculum-instruction-assessment link.
Electives
3-9
Credits
Students who do not wish to specialize further will choose only one elective from the list below, while those pursuing the subspecialization in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language will take ELE 601R, 602R, and 603R.
Foundations of Bilingual Education K-12
ELE 601R • 3 credit(s)
This course is based on the standards and principles of WIDA ("World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment") that guide the linguistic development related to the teaching of students with various linguistic and cultural resources. Through a diversity of literature review and language development-related research, emerging and effective instructional practices will be discussed and applied for bilingual students through various academic content. The ideological foundations, philosophic educational models, methodologies, strategies for bilingual teaching, the different approaches of bilingual education, and the impact of each of these will be presented for the student. In addition, the characteristics, design, development and measurement of bilingual education, as well as the behavioral, psycholinguistic, neurolinguistic and inclusion, identity and equity aspects will be presented. Emphasis is placed on the discussion of national and international laws, policies or other practices that may impact the present or future of bilingual education.
Teaching Spanish as a Second Language K-12
ELE 602R • 3 credit(s)
This course introduces an overview of language acquisition theories and their application to different communicative and interactive methodologies and approaches in functional, notional and grammatical content in teaching Spanish as a second language. The WIDA Spanish Development Standards, Kindergarten-Grade 12 (2013 Edition) are integrated, as well as what they are and how we use them. Techniques and strategies to develop students' four language skills according to language and learning theories, learning objectives, and roles of teachers and students are included in the course. The components of effective teaching tools, such as lesson planning, assessment practices, evaluation tools, and materials development are also incorporated. Classroom activities focus on developing oral, listening, reading, and writing skills in a variety of formal and informal contexts. Emphasis is on conversation, vocabulary, correct usage of the language, correct pronunciation and oral proficiency. The classroom experience will provide an appreciation and development of cultural awareness through various readings, media resources and authentic materials.
Sociolinguistics Fundamentals
ELE 603R • 3 credit(s)
Due to the dynamic demographics in classrooms, a systematic study of sociolinguistic theories, issues, procedures, methods and approaches of effective ways to engage, support and provide other learning opportunities for diverse student population is essential for educators whose instruction of core subjects is in Spanish. This course will provide an implementation of WIDA's Spanish language developments standards Kindergarten through Grade 12 for emergent bilinguals and multi-linguals who are learning academic content in Spanish. The instructional needs of diverse language learners are developed, as is an awareness of the appropriate effective learning environments to facilitate the adaptation of multifaceted assessments of learner competencies and promote differentiation of the core curriculum. The course is intended to engage teachers, whose instruction is in Spanish, in exploring society and culture, the relationship between the two, and the language variation within for non-native Spanish speakers in other learning environments. Participants who implement language instruction for emergent bilinguals will have an opportunity for practical experience in the implementation of instructional strategies to address the needs of the learner whose primary language is not Spanish
Classroom Management with Models of Teaching
ELE 630 • 3 credit(s)
In this course students learn the basic components of an effective inclusionary program. Participants learn strategies and techniques to fully include all students into the regular classroom. Students observe, analyze, and discuss a variety of teaching models including information processing, group investigation, social inquiry, inductive models, non-directive teaching models and problem-solving. Emphasis is on interpersonal relations, arrangement of space, management of time, working with individual students, small group and large group structures and working with content and process. The Massachusetts Frameworks and teacher licensure competencies are taught to fully support teacher/student learning and instruction techniques. Course assignments including lesson plans connect theories to classroom practice. Pre-practicum hours of directed field-based training required.
Admissions
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Admission Test:
No standardized graduate school tests required for admission into non-licensure programs.
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Admissions Office:
1-800-829-4723
- Application Form:
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Application Fee:
$50 ($100 for international students; $100 for EdD)
Program Requirements
Prior valid Puerto Rico teacher certification in another area or discipline required.
Health Requirements for Massachusetts Students
The Massachusetts Health Department and Cambridge College require the following of students in Massachusetts:
Immunizations – All students in Massachusetts are required to get certain immunizations before you can register for your first term. See form
Health Insurance – In Massachusetts, undergraduate students taking nine or more credits/term and graduate students taking six or more credits/term must enroll in the College’s health insurance plan. Students who have insurance with comparable coverage may request a waiver. See information and enroll or waive.
School Requirements
See Admissions Requirements for School of Education
International Students
International students need to provide supplemental documentation:
- Official demonstration of English language proficiency
- Supplemental documentation for issuance of I-20
- International transcripts, evaluated by an accepted evaluation service
Transfer Credit
Graduate program applicants, please complete the transfer credit request form if you wish to have prior course work evaluated for transfer. Learn more.
Undergraduate program applicants, once you are accepted, your official transcripts are evaluated for transfer credit.
Tuition
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Credits:
30
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Cost per credit hour:
$609
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Application Fee:
$50 ($100 for international students; $100 for EdD)
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Health Insurance Fee:
$3,962 - Required for Massachusetts students only. See waiver details on Tuition & Fees page.
Note: Rates are as of July 2022, and are subject to change without notice. Rates apply to all students, unless otherwise noted.
Financial Aid
Cambridge College offers financial aid to students in our degree programs who are enrolled at least half time. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits each term. Graduate and doctoral students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits each term. Learn more
Grants, Scholarships and Loans
Cambridge College welcomes the opportunity to support your efforts to pay for college. Federal, state and local resources in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study, including Cambridge College Scholarships, are available to help defray the cost of tuition. Learn more
Getting Your Company to Help
Many companies have tuition assistance programs, designed to help their employees with their professional development. Learn more
Take the Next Step Toward Your Master's Degree in Elementary Education
Take the Next Step Toward Your Master's Degree in Elementary Education
