The Master of Arts in Teaching with an Emphasis in Professional Learning Communities (Not Eligible for Institutional Recommendation) Program is offered by Grand Canyon University in the online format. The program is especially designed for certified elementary and secondary teachers seeking advanced studies in education as well as the theories and practice of professional learning communities. Individuals intending to seek National Board Certification can be assisted by the offered coursework of the program, although certification is not guaranteed.
Consisting of a total of thirty-two (32) credits, the program requires students to complete the following courses: The Engaged Mind, Classroom Engagement and Management, Current Classroom Methods and Strategies, Educational Action Research, Legal Issues in Education, Data-Informed Decision-Making for School Improvement, Introduction to PLC, and Teaching/Learning and Collaborative Structures in a Professional Learning Community. In the course Introduction to PLC, students will get to examine the issues related to the movement toward professional learning communities in schools including its history, the research on which they are based, and their differentiating characteristics from other collaborative models as well as their relationship to different school reform initiatives.
The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Applicants should be US citizens and have a Bachelor’s degree with certification and experience. Students must have access to a K-12 classroom to complete the required assignments. The program curriculum facilitates participant’s understanding of the teacher’s role as designers and facilitators on professional learning communities. Graduates will come out prepared as informed educators who are able to meet the specific needs of schools and students populations.