Education M.Ed. - Teaching
Program Description
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching, with a concentration in Elementary or Secondary Education, is designed for individuals seeking to earn their teaching certification in the State of Arizona while completing a graduate degree in education.
Rooted in evidence-based pedagogy and learner-centered instructional design, the program is designed to provide candidates with theoretical knowledge, practical strategies, and classroom-based experience to utilize in their school communities. Coursework is aligned with Arizona Department of Education certification requirements and integrates content on curriculum planning, instructional methods, classroom management, assessment, and the integration of technology to support student learning. Candidates will engage in structured support from university faculty and field supervisors throughout their internship, to ensure mentorship, feedback, and alignment with professional teaching standards.
The Arizona State Board of Education has approved this program as an Educator Preparation Program leading to educator certification. Upon program completion, AIU will submit its Institutional Recommendation to the Board; it is the candidate’s responsibility to complete the certification process with the state.
AIU's Master of Education (M.Ed.) is programmatically accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills required for effective practice as a professional educator or education leader.
- Develop instructional strategies and educational programming informed by educational theory to meet appropriate individual and group learning needs.
- Critically assess the growth and development of all learners.
- Facilitate language development, language acquisition, literacy development, and communication as appropriate for the learner population.
- Design appropriate, evidence-based learning support and interventions for learners with exceptionalities, in alignment with federal and state legal requirements.
- Integrate current educational technology tools and systems in educational design and programming.
- Support the cognitive, social, and emotional development of learners.
- Collaborate with families, communities, and other stakeholders to enhance the educational experience and support student learning.
Program Specific Admission Requirements
This program supports aspiring educators who are currently employed in an Arizona PreK-12 school on a temporary Arizona certification and are eligible to serve as a teacher of record for a full academic year, allowing them to complete the required one-year internship within a classroom setting.
In addition to the existing general graduate admissions requirements, prospective candidates must meet the following requirements in order to be officially admitted to this program.
- Hold a valid emergency teaching certificate, alternative teaching certificate, or standard teaching certificate for the State of Arizona
- Hold current employment contracted for at least one academic year as a teacher of record with an Arizona PreK-12 educational institution that
- is an AIU educational alliance member, and
- has signed (or will agree to sign) an internship partnership agreement with the University, and
- Have identified a supervising teacher mentor with an Arizona Teacher Certification and a current classification of highly effective or effective pursuant to ARS §§ 15-537.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to have their location and supervising practitioner identified and approved before starting the program.
Candidates must maintain employment and serve as the teacher of record in a classroom at an institution with an active agreement (items 2a and 2b above) and have an approved supervising teacher mentor (item 3 above) for the duration of the program. Teaching assignment within the school must align with the appropriate grade level and content area of intended certification. Candidates must complete a one year internship and required evaluations and observations in an approved Arizona school under the supervision of an approved teacher mentor.
Candidates are conditionally admitted pending receipt of all documentation related to the program admissions requirements listed above. Required documentation must be received in order for the candidate to begin classes. Upon receipt and review of these documents, candidates may be officially admitted to the University as a regular student.
Licensure Disclosure
AIU has made a determination that this curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following state: AZ.
AIU has made a determination that this curriculum does not meet the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.
Requirements
Program Core
| MED 502 | Foundations of Education: Professional Knowledge, Ethics, and Dispositions | 4.5 |
| MED 504 | Education Law: US and AZ Constitutions | 4.5 |
| MED 506 | Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners | 4.5 |
| MED 507 | Human Development, Language Acquisition, and Literacy | 4.5 |
| MED 508 | Assessment, Evaluation, and Data Literacy | 4.5 |
| MED 510 | Teacher Education Capstone | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Concentration Options
Elementary Education
| ELEM 512 | Effective Learning Environments and Technology Integration for Elementary Classrooms | 4.5 |
| ELEM 514 | Research-Based Literacy Instruction | 4.5 |
| ELEM 516 | Integrated Standards-Based Learning Design for the Elementary Classroom | 4.5 |
| SEI 501 | Structured English Immersion and Learning Exceptionality in Elementary Education | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Secondary Education
| SEC 512 | Effective Learning Environments and Technology Integration for Secondary Classrooms | 4.5 |
| SEC 514 | Reading and Literacy in the Content Area | 4.5 |
| SEI 502 | Structured English Immersion and Learning Exceptionality in Secondary Education | 4.5 |
| SEC 520 | Integrated Standards-Based Learning Design for the Secondary English Language Arts Classroom | 4.5 |
| SEC 521 | Integrated Standards-Based Learning Design for the Secondary Social Studies Classroom | 4.5 |
| SEC 522 | Integrated Standards-Based Learning Design for the Secondary Mathematics Classroom | 4.5 |
| SEC 523 | Integrated Standards-Based Learning Design for the Secondary Science Classroom | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Total Credit Hours: 45