EdM, CAGS in Educational Media & Technology

The program in Educational Media & Technology prepares students to design, produce, implement, manage, and evaluate technology-based resources that support teaching, learning, and training in a variety of environments including K–12 schools, higher education, and adult learning and training in corporate and health-related fields. This program also includes a licensure program for Instructional Technologist. Courses open to undergraduates include: EM 523 Children’s Literature and EM 570 Introduction to Interactive Software Development.

Courses Open to Undergraduates

• SED EM 523 Children’s Literature
• SED EM 570 Introduction to Interactive Software Development
• SED EM 590 Software for Curriculum

The program in Educational Media & Technology prepares graduates for professional careers through a carefully blended curriculum of core courses, electives, and field experiences. Graduates develop competencies in analyzing needs, designing and developing technology-based resources that support diverse learning experiences, and evaluating the effectiveness of technology-supported teaching and learning.

We embrace new technologies while simultaneously building on historical evidence that makes clear the need for teachers, trainers, and professors to use technology in support of human interactive processes of learning. Through thinking holistically about learning experiences that include technology-based resources, we leverage technology to support, enhance, and improve education consistent with what history and research tell us about effectiveness.

Our faculty prepare graduates to lead technology programs in diverse environments worldwide, and our alumni in leadership and teaching positions locally and globally testify to our success in preparing our students for careers that reflect our commitment to high-quality educational leadership. Our graduates specialize in designing teaching and learning experiences that use technology to enhance and improve education and training and not for its own sake. Through thoughtful pedagogy and expert content knowledge, and through taking guidance from research on effectiveness, we excel in preparing graduates who understand the complexities of supporting and improving education and training with technology.

In core courses, students learn research and history of the field, relevant theories, instructional design, evaluation of learning experiences that include technology-based resources, and advanced technology skills they can apply to the goals and objectives of educators and learning organizations. In the elective courses, students have the option of specializing in the use of technology in one of three general areas:

• Pre-K–12 schools—where graduates find careers as instructional technology specialists, technology directors, and as teachers who want to improve their ability to teach with technology;
• Higher education—where graduates find careers as professors or work with professors and others designing, developing, and evaluating technology-based resources, and in administrative positions;
• Adult learning and training—where graduates find careers as instructional designers, training directors, workplace performance analysts, researchers, and educational technology specialists in medicine, public health, publishing, government, or across business and industry.

In all of the areas of specialization, graduates share professional roles as teachers, professors, designers, and developers of educational software, managers of the human and technology-based resources necessary to support education and training with technology, and as policy makers, advisors, and consultants to education, government, business and industry, and entrepreneurs.

Graduate students in the Educational Media & Technology program come to Boston University from a variety of different backgrounds and with a wide range of professional goals. Because virtually every field must employ the educational use of technology, we encourage students to apply what they are learning to their area of interest both in the program and in independent study, practica, and/or internships.

Opportunities for field-based experiences in internships and independent study in some of the most respected and diverse settings in the world round out our comprehensive program. Our extensive alumni network and the diverse opportunities for internships available at Boston University and in the Boston area provide world-class field experiences. Whether you want to work in schools, in small entrepreneurial companies, or in large institutions in education, medicine, public health, publishing, or the full range of business and industry, field experiences will help you gain knowledge and experience through affiliating with a professional community of practice.

The Master’s Program Twenty-six credits of required courses comprise the core program and ten credits of elected courses allow for specialization. Six Educational Media & Technology courses and one research course make up the program’s core requirement. Master’s degree candidates focus on becoming multimedia designers, educational technologists or expert teachers using technology in schools, and instructional designers for the online environment.

Public School Licensure in Instructional Technology

Graduates may earn Massachusetts licensure as an Instructional Technology Teacher through any of the EdM, CAGS, or doctoral programs. Licensure typically includes earning a master’s degree of 36 credits and 16 additional credits including 6 credits in Foundations of Education (ED 100 or ED 500), 8 credits of student teaching, and 2 credits in database development for education (EM 705). Teachers with another public school license may earn their instructional technology license by completing a limited set of specific subject matter courses. For licensing information, visit www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs.

Required Courses (for Public School Licensure)

• SED ED 500 (6 cr) (Required prior to student-teaching)
• SED EM 705 Advanced Internet for Educators (2 cr)

Student Teaching (Select two of three, 150-hour Half Practica totaling 300 hours):

• SED EM 760 Pre-K–6, five-week, min. 150-hour practicum (4 cr)
• SED EM 770 5–8, five-week, min. 150-hour practicum (4 cr)
• SED EM 780 8–12, five week, min. 150-hour practicum (4 cr)

Degrees and Certificates Offered

• EdM in Educational Media & Technology (36 credits)
• CAGS in Educational Media & Technology (32 credits beyond master’s degree)
• Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology (16 credits online and/or on-campus)
• EdD in Curriculum & Teaching, specializing in Educational Media & Technology (60 credits beyond master’s degree)

EdM Required Courses (4 cr unless otherwise specified)

• SED EM 550 Introduction to Educational Media & Technology
• SED EM 570 Introduction to Interactive Software Development (2 cr)
• SED EM 601 Instructional Design
• SED EM 610 Internet and WWW for Educators or
• SED EM 680 Distance Education Research and Design
• SED EM 713 Digital Video Production for Education and Training
• SED RS 600 Perspectives on Inquiry
• SED EM 690 Designing Educational Multimedia (Prereqs: SED EM 570, 701, and 713; best taken in conjunction with EM 670) or
• SED EM 731 Developing E-Learning Courseware

EdM Electives

(Electives may also be drawn from Curriculum & Teaching, computer-assisted language learning, and other courses.)

• SED EM 523 Children’s Literature (4 cr)
• SED EM 560 Technology and Curriculum Integration (summers only) (4 cr)
• SED EM 565 Technology Operations and Management (4 cr)
• SED EM 585 Using Web 2.0 in Teaching and Learning (4 cr)
• SED EM 590 Software for Curriculum (4 cr)
• SED EM 670 Advanced Interactive Software Development (2 cr)
• SED EM 680 Distance Education Research and Design (4 cr)
• SED EM 705 Advanced Internet for Educators (2 cr)
• SED EM 750 Research on Computer-Based Instruction (4 cr)

Internships and Independent Study (credits vary)

• SED CT 900 G1 Independent Study
• SED EM 810 Practicum in Instructional Technology
• SED EM 812 Internship in Educational Media

Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) requires 32 credit hours of coursework beyond the master’s degree. Programs of study may be customized depending on the student’s prior coursework.