Master of Education in Curriculum Studies
The Department of Curriculum Studies offers a 30 credit program leading to the degree of Master of Education in Curriculum Studies. It is designed to serve licensed teachers who wish to learn about and inquire into the areas of preschool/primary, elementary, middle level or secondary education. The program equips teachers to fill a variety of teaching and resource roles at an advanced level. Students may attend part-time but the program must be completed within seven years of the date of admission.
The MEd program in curriculum studies helps teachers become better informed about the developmental and educational needs of children and adolescents from various types of communities; skillful in diagnostic and evaluation procedures and in developing educational programs to meet individual and group needs; versatile in their employment of teaching strategies; capable of providing leadership in a classroom, school, or school system; knowledgeable about issues, trends, and research in their fields; systematic in their reflective assessment of trends and innovations, and well-informed about new technology and its applications.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the requirements of the Graduate Division, applicants for the MEd in the curriculum studies program must provide the following:
- Evidence of successful academic performance in curriculum, psychological and societal foundations, and appropriate methods courses;
- Evidence of successful academic performance in an academic minor (applicants pursing elementary education specializations) or in an academic major (applicants secondary education specializations);
- Evidence of full-time teaching experience or its equivalent, and
- Three (3) professional references from people who are able to comment on the quality of the applicant’s experience, ability to pursue graduate study, and character.
Program Requirements
Students are advanced to candidacy only after the development of their program plan and the successful completion of 12 credit hours of approved courses. Additional details about the program are available in the Information Bulletin available from the Department Curriculum Studies.
Plan A (Thesis) Requirements
The Plan A program is designed primarily for students interested in research and in writing a thesis. It requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work with at least 12 credit hours in curriculum studies. Of the 30 credit hours, 24 credit hours (excluding 699s and 700) must be approved course work. Required courses are the appropriate sections of EDCS 622 and EDCS 667, and two research methods courses. A minimum of 18 credit hours is to be taken in a related field. Usually this field will be the same as the student’s undergraduate major (or minor), but it may be in some other area of specialization within the Department of Curriculum Studies, in other departments in the College of Education, or in a discipline in one or more of the other colleges at the University. Of the approved courses, 12 credit hours (exclusive of research methods courses) must be at the 600 to 700 level. Six credit hours are required for the thesis.
Plan B (Non-thesis) Requirements
The Plan B program is designed primarily for students who wish to strengthen their teaching field major or minor or to pursue course work in selected areas of teacher education and curriculum studies. It requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of approved course work, with a minimum of 12 credit hours in curriculum studies (excluding EDCS 699). Required courses are an appropriate section of EDCS 622 and EDCS 667, and two research methods courses. A minimum of 18 credit hours is to be taken in a related field. The related field is usually the same as the student’s undergraduate academic major (or minor), or it may be in some other area of specialization within the Department of Curriculum Studies, in other departments in the College of Education, or in a discipline in one or more of the other colleges at the University. Of the approved courses, 18 credit hours must be at the 600 to 700 level. A maximum of 6 credit hours of 699 may be applied to the degree program.
The Plan B program also requires a culminating paper.
For further information and application forms contact the secretary of the Department of Curriculum Studies, WA2-224, telephone 956-4401.