Curriculum & Instruction, MA
for the degree of Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
Through the Master of Education and the Certificate of Advanced Study, experienced teachers are prepared to become more competent and better informed practitioners who serve as leaders for educational reform in local schools and school districts.
Also offered are master's degree programs leading to teacher licensure for individuals who have a degree in a field other than education and wish to become teachers. The four majors leading to licensure are Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2), Elementary Education (Grades 1 - 6), Middle Grades Education (Grades 5-8), and Secondary Education (Grades 9 - 12). In addition to completing the courses required for an Ed.M. degree, students in these programs follow the same sequence of professional education courses as undergraduate students.
Only master’s students wishing to become licensed teachers in one of these areas should apply to the Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades, or Secondary Education majors. Master’s degree candidates who do not wish to become teachers, or who are already teachers, should apply to the major in Curriculum and Instruction. The EdM is attained through satisfactory completion of coursework while the MA and MS degrees require the completion and defense of a thesis.
Two doctoral degree programs are offered. The Ph.D. program prepares degree candidates for careers involving research and scholarship, including those in colleges and universities where research is generally combined with teacher education. The Ed.D. program prepares scholarly practitioners for leadership positions in teacher training institutions, state education agencies, and public school districts.
Length of time for a degree: an Ed.M. program can be completed by a student attending full-time in a calendar year, while the M.S. or M.A. often takes longer. The Ed.M. with licensure typically takes two years to complete. Doctoral programs usually require five years of full time study.
Admission
Interested applicants should start at the College of Education Graduate Programs website. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to submit the following information: a statement of purpose, updated resume, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and three letters of recommendation. A scholarly writing sample in English (e.g., a master's thesis, article, or academic paper) is required for application to a doctoral program. Note: The master's degree with teacher licensure program only admits students for the fall term.
International applicants must submit TOEFL scores. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction's TOEFL requirement for full status admission is greater than 102; the minimum score for limited status is 550 on the paper-based test, 79 on the internet-based test, and 213 on the computer-based test. International applicants also must submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances. Please note: TOEFL or IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid. In addition, individual academic programs may require a higher score, or evidence of spoken English language proficiency; contact your proposed program of study office for the minimum TOEFL, TSE, or IELTS requirement for admission. For additional details, refer to the Graduate College Handbook English Proficiency Requirements for Admission.
Faculty Research Interests
For information about specific faculty research interests, current grants, and publications, please visit the Faculty Finder.
Facilities and Resources
Departmental resources consist of cooperation with Children's Research Center, Center for Small Urban Communities, as well as other resources in the College. Students who are interested in second language acquisition can become a part of the SLATE program. The department is connected to the University of Illinois Writing Project and the following journals: International Journal of Education & the Arts, Journal of Curriculum Studies, and American Educational Research Journal. The department also has available resources and some workshops provided during the academic year. Program areas (including CREATE, DELTA, Language & Literacy, and MSE) offer discipline-specific resources.
The College of Education also has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding. The Council on Teacher Education entitles candidates seeking a Professional Educator License and provides accreditation of professional education programs. Each student completing a degree program is assigned a graduate adviser, who is available to assist the student with planning the program of study and determining degree requirements, courses and timelines for degree completion.
Information on University resources can be found at the GradMAP pages website.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please note: Graduate students employed as Staff by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Award or Scholarship.
for the degree of Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers many programs leading to the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.). A list of programs and additional requirements can be found on the program's website, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Students may select a concentration in Bilingual-Bicultural Education or Digital Learning.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Courses | 8 | |
| Select two of the following foundations courses, taken for four credit hours each. At least one of these two courses must be a course from outside the degree granting department. | ||
| Culture in the Classroom | ||
| Curriculum Development for the 21st Century | ||
| History of American Education | ||
| Asian American Education | ||
| Historical and Social Barriers | ||
| School and Society | ||
| Professional Ethics in Education | ||
| Critical Thinking in Education | ||
| Aesthetic Education | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Politics of Education | ||
| Economics of Education | ||
| Technology and Educational Reform | ||
| Foundation of Higher Education | ||
Any 400 level EPSY course | ||
| Global Issues in Learning | ||
| CI 599 | Thesis Research (min/max applied toward degree) | 2-8 |
| Elective Hours: | 16-22 | |
Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): 0-8 | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
| Human Subjects Approval | |
| 500-Level Hours Required in Education | 12 hours |
for the degree of Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
- Students will acquire deep knowledge of content in the field of education.
- Students will display a deep understanding of psychological foundations of learning.
- Students will demonstrate a deep understanding of philosophical foundations of education.
- Students will display a deep understanding of best pedagogical practices in K-12 classrooms, with attention to 21st century skills and practices.
- Students will display deep knowledge of conducting a research study, including reviewing literature, collecting and analyzing data, and writing a thesis.
for the degree of Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Interim Head of the Department: Michaelene Ostrosky
Director of Graduate Studies: Emma Mercier
Graduate admissions information: Mitzi Koeberlein
Curriculum & Instruction website
Curriculum & Instruction faculty
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3542
Graduate Student Services Office email
College of Education
College of Education website
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