Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed.

The Curriculum and Instruction master’s degree program is designed for teachers and other educational professionals interested in improving their instruction, preparing for positions of leadership, or enhancing their abilities to support learning in K-12 schools or other educational settings. The program offers graduate students two kinds of preparation: 1) knowledge related to content and 2) knowledge that helps them contribute to scholarship. The degree is constructed so that students choose a content specialization and either a research emphasis, or a teaching and learning emphasis. The objectives of the program are to:

• Provide a rigorous master’s degree program that prepares graduate students to work with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of educational settings.

• Provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their teaching and research abilities.

There are two options for earning the Curriculum and Instruction master’s degree:

• Traditional master’s degree (30 credit hours)

• Accelerated master’s degree (30 credit hours)

The traditional Master of Education (MEd) is a 30 credit hour program that provides a solid knowledge base and background in the theoretical and practical aspects of the selected specializations. These specializations include:

Curriculum Studies Specialization

Curriculum Studies as a field is interdisciplinary and draws upon multiple perspectives including psychology, social foundations, cultural studies, critical theory, and education to study curriculum, individuals, societies, and interdisciplinary themes, while critically examining educational issues and policies. The field values democratic community building and an ethic of social action that honors diversity. Students come to curriculum studies from formal and informal learning contexts as well as various disciplines. Graduates of the program pursue varied professional positions in schools, non-profit agencies, and other community organizations. While curriculum studies students’ backgrounds and goals are diverse, they share an interest in understanding the intersections of individuals and sociopolitical contexts. Curriculum studies arises from a 1970s reconceptualization of curriculum. Concerned with understanding curriculum more so than developing and evaluating curricula, Curriculum Studies addresses questions such as:

• What is knowledge and who decides? How does knowledge affect lives?

• What does it mean to educate and to be/come educated?

• What are the relationships between learning and teaching, curriculum theory and practice?

• How is curriculum culturally, politically, and economically situated?

• What are the roles of power and vulnerability in curriculum studies?

Language and Literacy Specialization

The Language and Literacy specialization focuses on research and pedagogy related to language and literacy, while preparing graduate students with an in-depth understanding of teaching reading and writing to children and adolescents. With this knowledge, students will be able to establish themselves as teacher-leaders in their respective schools and districts. Prerequisite: Certification to teach EC-6, or English Language Arts/Reading as respective grade levels. Note: This program does not meet the requirements for Reading, English Language Arts teacher certification.

Mathematics Education Specialization

By completing this specialization, students will enhance their mathematical knowledge for teaching and pedagogical content knowledge, understand the vertical alignment of the mathematics content areas in the pre-K through 12 curriculum, and link research and practice by understanding how to use and conduct research to enhance teacher practice. With this knowledge, students will be able to establish themselves as teacher-leaders in their respective schools and districts. Prerequisite: Certification to teach mathematics at respective grade level. If not certified, the applicant must demonstrate subject preparation for a highly qualified teacher as outlined by the Texas Education Association under the No Child Left Behind Act:

• 24 hours or more of mathematics coursework at the undergraduate level (for middle/secondary candidates) or

• Undergraduate mathematics coursework, professional development in mathematics and/or teaching experience (for elementary candidates).

Note: This program does not meet the requirements for mathematics teacher certification.

Science Education Specialization

Science Education draws upon science, psychology, and education as a foundation for the teaching about and learning of science. The science education reform documents require students to have knowledge of practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas of science and an in-depth understanding of teaching science to all children. In addition, students earning this degree will have an understanding of and experience in original research. There is a minimum requirement of 12 hours of course work in this area of specialization.

Required Courses for the Traditional Master’s Option

Students complete 12 hours of course work within a specialization selected from the courses below. 3 hours of elective are selected from outside of the specialization:

Curriculum Studies

course 6 hours may be repeated with new topic.

Language and Literacy

Mathematics Education

course: required for Accelerated Master’s Option

Science Education

Core Requirements (3 hours minimum required for all students)

In addition to the content specialization and core requirements, students select either a Research or Teaching and Learning Emphasis.

Research Emphasis (6 Thesis hours are required for Research Emphasis. An additional 6 hours of course work are required from the list of courses below, with advisor guidance)

course: 1-3 hours

course: 1-3 hours, may be repeated

course: 3 hours required

course: 3 hours required

Teaching and Learning Emphasis (All students choosing the Teaching and Learning emphasis select 12 hours from the list of courses below, with advisor guidance)

course: required for Traditional Master's Degree Option