Elementary Education, MS
The master’s degree in elementary education will:
- Provide graduate students with a diverse range of courses that best fit their individual learning needs in a flexible program.
- Expand professional connections with educators across our local and national context with diverse perspectives.
- Enhance the ability to design engaging, authentic instruction for today’s students.
- Emphasize diversity, critical thinking, and culturally responsive teaching.
- Encourage collaboration within the candidate’s local/regional community.
- Extend 21st century teaching skills and technology applications.
The master's degree in elementary education does not lead to initial teacher certification.
Program Related Information
Program Contact
unotedgraduateprograms@unomaha.edu
Program Website
Unclassified Students
Students who are not planning to pursue a program leading to a graduate certificate or a master’s degree can be admitted to the elementary education program as unclassified students. Candidates holding a previous master’s degree in education who are seeking additional teaching endorsements may wish to choose an unclassified status. Unclassified students are allowed to take courses for which they meet the prerequisite. Successful completion of graduate courses as an unclassified student does not obligate the department to accept those courses for credit toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. Formal advisement in an endorsement area is required.
Formal advisement in an endorsement area is required.
- Candidates should apply for endorsements as soon as they are eligible. If a candidate applies 10 years or more after completing all coursework, a review is required to determine if more coursework is needed.
- To add an endorsement 1/3 of the coursework must be completed at UNO in the endorsement area.
Fast Track Program
The Department of Teacher Education has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. With Fast Track, students may count up to nine (9) graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program.
Program Specifics:
- This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing BS in Education desiring to pursue a MS in Elementary Education.
- Students must have completed no less than 75 undergraduate hours and successful completion of a significant number of undergraduate education courses.
- Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5.
- Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course.
- Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduate coursework to remain in good standing.
- Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
- Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. The application fee will be waived, the applicant will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code.
- Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program.
- The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.
Admissions
General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
- Spring 2026: December 10
- Summer 2026: June 1
- Fall 2026: August 1
Other Requirements
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement to be considered for admission.
- Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
- Applicants working toward the master's degree must have a valid teaching certificate or application to a concentration that leads to certification (e.g. Accelerated Certification for Teachers concentration). Exceptions to this will be considered on an individual basis. If needed, please contact Chris Wilcoxen, the graduate program chair. Please note, a master’s degree does not lead to initial certification.
- International students who do not intend to teach in the United States may be eligible for admission. Please note, applicants to the Accelerated Certification for Teachers concentration must already be eligible to work in the US before applying. Sponsorship will not be provided. Please contact the graduate program chair if you have questions or a unique set of circumstances you feel may qualify you for this program.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Research/Data Driven Course | 3 | |
| The research/data driven course must be completed within the last nine hours of the program. Advisors will share the designated course associated with your concentration. | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH | ||
| DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER 1 | ||
| Foundational Pedagogy Course | 3 | |
| A foundational pedagogy course must be completed within the first 18 hours of the program | ||
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER | ||
| MULTILINGUAL STRATEGIES FOR PK-12 EDUCATORS | ||
| CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING | ||
| EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDUCATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN P-12 EDUCATION | ||
| TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION | ||
| MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| CRITICAL PEDAGOGY: TEACHING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | ||
| Concentration | 27 | |
| Capstone | 3 | |
| The capstone is intended to be the last course in your program. A grade of B or better is required. | ||
| ELEMENTARY EDUCATION CAPSTONE | ||
| PK-12 CAPSTONE | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
TED 8250 applies only to the accelerated certification for teachers concentration.
Exit Requirements
Capstone TED 8700 or TED 8730. The professional project completed in this course takes the place of the comprehensive exam. Registration for the course is by permission only. This course is intended to be the last course in your program. A grade of B or better must be received to show satisfactory completion of the course and for program completion.
Concentrations
Accelerated Certification for Teachers Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | ||
| TED 8300 | EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES | 3 |
| TED 8390 | CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| SPED 8030 | TEACHING STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES | 3 |
| TED 8310 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - CONTEMPORARY IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHING & LEARNING | 3 |
| TED 8410 | IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION: SPECIAL TOPICS | 3 |
| TED 8470 | TEACHING THE LANGUAGE ARTS | 3 |
| TED 8530 | INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR STEAM EDUCATORS | 3 |
| TED 9110 | PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR TEACHING READERS | 3 |
| TED 9120 | GRADUATE IN-SERVICE TEACHING | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Bilingual Education Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | ||
| TED 8140 | SPECIAL METHODS IN MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS EDUCATION: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING FOR MULTILINGUAL 1 | 3 |
| TED 8480 | FOUNDATIONS OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION 2 | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| TED 8020 | CONTENT, LANGUAGE, & BILITERACY: INTERDISCIPLINARY BILITERACY & TRANSLANGUAGING PEDAGOGY | 3 |
| TED 8490 | SPANISH LANGUAGE ARTS 2 | 3 |
| TED 8980 | PRACTICUM: VARIOUS CONTENT AREAS 2 | 3 |
| Select three hours from the following | 3 | |
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTICS FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| Select three hours from the following | 3 | |
| CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING | ||
| MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR TEACHING READERS | ||
| Select three hours from the following | 3 | |
| FOUNDATIONS OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS 3 | ||
| HISPANIC BILINGUALISM | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HISPANIC LINGUISTICS | ||
| HISPANIC SOCIOLINGUISTICS | ||
| SPANISH IN THE UNITED STATES | ||
| THE STRUCTURE OF SPANISH | ||
| SEMINAR: SECOND AND BILINGUAL LANGUAGE ACQUISITION THEORY | ||
| THEORY AND METHODS IN THE TEACHING OF HERITAGE LANGUAGES | ||
| Select three hours from the following | 3 | |
| SEMINAR:FL/TESOL RESEARCH | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER | ||
| DATA VISUALIZATION AND MODELING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING IN PK-12 EDUCATION | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
TED 8140 requires 25-hour field experience
- 2
Taught in Spanish
- 3
TED 8120 requires 20-hour field experience
- For an added endorsement in Bilingual Education, consult your advisor.
- The Nebraska Department of Education requires the ESL endorsement before you can apply for the Bilingual Education endorsement.
- Spanish proficiency required (evaluated during first 3 hours).
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | 6 | |
| EDUCATIVE MENTORING IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER | ||
| EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING IN PK-12 EDUCATION | ||
| Concentration Courses | 15 | |
| RESEARCH PROJECT | ||
| FOUNDATIONS OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS 1 | ||
| SPECIAL METHODS IN MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS EDUCATION: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING FOR MULTILINGUAL 2 | ||
| ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTICS FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| APPLIED COACHING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| DATA VISUALIZATION AND MODELING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION: SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| TRENDS AND TEACHING STRATEGIES IN SCIENCE EDUCATION | ||
| DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS | ||
| TEACHING AND LEARNING IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS | ||
| TEACHING OF WRITING THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM | ||
| CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND EDUCATION | ||
| OXBOW WRITING PROJECT | ||
| STEM CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH FOR ELEMENTARY AND EARLY LEARNERS | ||
| RESEARCH WITH CHILDREN | ||
| PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR TEACHING READERS | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Select six hours of TED or SPED graduate level courses as approved by your advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Early Childhood Education Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | 6 | |
| EDUCATIVE MENTORING IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER | ||
| EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING IN PK-12 EDUCATION | ||
| Concentration Courses | 15 | |
| ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES | ||
| SOCIAL WORLDS OF THE YOUNG CHILD | ||
| PLAY AS A LEARNING MEDIUM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | ||
| FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS | ||
| ADVANCED CURRICULUM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD | ||
| MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| STEM CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH FOR ELEMENTARY AND EARLY LEARNERS | ||
| RESEARCH WITH CHILDREN | ||
| LEADERSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Select six hours of TED graduate level courses as approved by your advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Multilingual Learner Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Foundational Pedagogy Courses | 6 | |
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER | ||
| CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING | ||
| EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDUCATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN P-12 EDUCATION | ||
| TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION | ||
| MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| CRITICAL PEDAGOGY: TEACHING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | ||
| Core Pedagogy | ||
| TED 8120 | FOUNDATIONS OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS 1 | 3 |
| TED 8140 | SPECIAL METHODS IN MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS EDUCATION: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING FOR MULTILINGUAL 2 | 3 |
| TED 8160 | MULTILINGUAL STRATEGIES FOR PK-12 EDUCATORS | 3 |
| Select three hours from the following | 3 | |
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER | ||
| ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTICS FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Select nine hours of TED graduate level courses as approved by your advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- For an added endorsement in ML, consult with your advisor. You must have a valid teaching certificate in either Elementary or Secondary Education to add this endorsement.
Instructional Technology Leadership Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Foundational Pedagogy Course | 3 | |
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER | ||
| MULTILINGUAL STRATEGIES FOR PK-12 EDUCATORS | ||
| CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING | ||
| EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDUCATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN P-12 EDUCATION | ||
| TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION | ||
| MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| CRITICAL PEDAGOGY: TEACHING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | ||
| Core Pedagogy | ||
| TED 8540 | DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | 3 |
| TED 8590 | TEACHING AND LEARNING IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| TED 8370 | DATA VISUALIZATION AND MODELING FOR EDUCATORS | 3 |
| TED 8530 | INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR STEAM EDUCATORS | 3 |
| TED 8550 | TECHNOLOGY FOR CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING | 3 |
| TED 8560 | TECHNOLOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS | 3 |
| TED 8580 | ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Select three hours of TED graduate level courses as approved by your advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Language and Learning Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | 6 | |
| EDUCATIVE MENTORING IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER | ||
| EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING IN PK-12 EDUCATION | ||
| Concentration Courses | 18 | |
| FOUNDATIONS OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS 1 | ||
| SPECIAL METHODS IN MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS EDUCATION: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING FOR MULTILINGUAL 2 | ||
| ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTICS FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| APPLIED COACHING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| TEACHING THE LANGUAGE ARTS | ||
| CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND EDUCATION | ||
| YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE | ||
| FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS OF EARLY LITERACY | ||
| PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR TEACHING READERS | ||
| Electives | 3 | |
| Select three hours of TED graduate level courses as approved by your advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
School Library Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | ||
| TED 8520 | SCHOOL LIBRARY PRACTICUM | 3 |
| TED 8830 | LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES | 3 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| TED 8540 | DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | 3 |
| TED 8650 | CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND EDUCATION | 3 |
| TED 8660 | YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE | 3 |
| TED 8710 | RESEARCH AND INQUIRY | 3 |
| TED 8740 | ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION | 3 |
| TED 8760 | MANAGING COLLECTIONS IN LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION AGENCIES | 3 |
| Additional Concentration Course | 3 | |
| INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR STEAM EDUCATORS | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS | ||
| TEACHING AND LEARNING IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Pedagogy | 6 | |
| EDUCATIVE MENTORING IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER | ||
| EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING IN PK-12 EDUCATION | ||
| Concentration Courses | 15 | |
| APPLIED COACHING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| DATA VISUALIZATION AND MODELING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION: SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| TRENDS AND TEACHING STRATEGIES IN SCIENCE EDUCATION | ||
| INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR STEAM EDUCATORS | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING | ||
| TECHNOLOGY FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS | ||
| ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING | ||
| TEACHING AND LEARNING IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS | ||
| OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR P-12 TEACHERS | ||
| STEM CURRICULUM AND RESEARCH FOR ELEMENTARY AND EARLY LEARNERS | ||
| ENGINEERING EDUCATION EXTERNSHIP | ||
| INVENTION & INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Select six hours of TED graduate level courses as approved by your advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Equity and Social Justice in Education Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Foundational Pedagogy Courses | 6 | |
| Complete an additional six hours of foundational pedagogy coursework | ||
| LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND POWER | ||
| MULTILINGUAL STRATEGIES FOR PK-12 EDUCATORS | ||
| CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING | ||
| EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDUCATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN P-12 EDUCATION | ||
| TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION | ||
| MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| CRITICAL PEDAGOGY: TEACHING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | ||
| Core Pedagogy | 6 | |
| EDUCATIVE MENTORING IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS | ||
| ASSESSMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER | ||
| EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING IN PK-12 EDUCATION | ||
| Concentration Courses | 9 | |
| FOUNDATIONS OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS 1 | ||
| SPECIAL METHODS IN MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS EDUCATION: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING FOR MULTILINGUAL 2 | ||
| ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTICS FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| APPLIED COACHING FOR EDUCATORS | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |