DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Course Descriptions
The graduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction are designed to accomplish the following basic purposes: to improve and extend the professional competence of early childhood, middle, and secondary teachers; to prepare teachers for special positions in the schools; and to prepare students for doctoral work in university graduate programs. Students seeking a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction will receive an individually designed plan that best suits their interest and needs. Individualized degree plans may also be designed for persons interested in a master’s degree but not holding nor seeking teacher certification.
Students seeking a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction will take thesis hours while completing the thesis at the end of the master’s degree. The thesis hours will replace hours within the degree electives. The remainder of the program will be individualized.
Students seeking original certification may also pursue a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. For students seeking teacher certification as part of the master's degree, the core will be the 24- hour certification requirement.
A comprehensive examination covering course work in the major and minor field must be passed prior to graduation in all graduate degrees in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take their comprehensive exam.
Admission Requirements
Student applications for admission to the graduate programs in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction are assessed holistically by a faculty committee on multiple criteria. To be considered, students should submit:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited academic institution
- An acceptable undergraduate grade point average
- An acceptable score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination
- Score on the GRE writing section
- A letter of recommendation referencing the applicant’s potential as a teacher leader
Students who have not yet completed their admission file (i.e. have not taken the GRE) may be approved for enrollment for one semester by the academic advisor. Students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission may be granted probationary admission for enrollment in coursework for one semester.
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
For students who have teacher certification, an advisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction will assist the student in developing an individual plan consistent with the student's interests and needs.
This plan offers the following options that can be tailored to fit the student's needs. The student will design a program with the 12 core hours and the remaining 24 hours taken from a combination of additional Curriculum and Instruction courses and/or courses selected from another area(s) of interest. The minor hours may be taken in education or any teaching or interest field. Individual plans would have the following possible options:
Core Hours |
1st Minor Hours |
2nd Minor Hours |
| (Non-Certification) | (C & I or teaching area) | (C & I or teaching area) |
| 12 hour core | 12 | 12 |
| 12 hour core | 18 | 6 |
| 12 hour core | 24 | 0 |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH | |
| CI 570 | Research in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 584 | Curriculum Trends for Classroom Teachers | 3 SCH |
| CI 583 | Integrating Current Technologies in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 585 | Issues in Education | |
| Teaching Field/C & I Electives | 12-24 SCH | |
| C&I Electives | ||
| Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH | |
| Methods of Instruction in Secondary Schools | 3 SCH | |
| Workshop in Education | 3 SCH | |
| Classroom Management | 3 SCH | |
| EED 591 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Science` | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 | Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| CI 597 | Human Growth and Development | 3 SCH |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH | |
* Course prefix change subject to action by the Board of Regents, the Texas State University System and/or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Students who are seeking initial certification as a part of a masters program will also be able to create an individualized plan. This plan has a required 24-hr core of certification courses. The 12 hour minor may be taken in education or any teaching or interest field. Individual plans would have the following possible options:
| CORE HOURS | 1st MINOR HOURS | 2nd MINOR HOURS |
| (Certification) | (Certification) | (C&I or teaching area) |
| 12 | 12 | 12 |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
| Core Coursework | 24 SCH | |
| EED 587 | Workshop in Education OR | |
| Methods of Instruction in Secondary Schools | 3 SCH | |
| Integrating Current Technologies in Teaching | 3 SCH | |
| Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH | |
| Classroom Management | 3 SCH | |
| Human Growth and Development | 3 SCH | |
| Workshop in Reading (EC-4, 4-8, 8-12) | 3 SCH | |
| Internship in Secondary Teaching | 3 SCH | |
| Internship in Secondary Teaching | 3 SCH | |
| Teaching Field/C&I Electives | 12 SCH | |
| C&I Electives | ||
| Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH | |
| Research in Teaching | 3 SCH | |
| Issues in Education | 3 SCH | |
| Workshop in Education | 3 SCH | |
| EED 584 | The Curriculum in the Elementary School | 3 SCH |
| Secondary School Curriculum | 3 SCH | |
| EED 591 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Science` | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 | Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH | |
* Course prefix change subject to action by the Board of Regents, the Texas State University System and/or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Master of Arts (Thesis Option) This degree plan is designed for individuals who wish to write a thesis as part of the requirements for the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. The thesis courses will replace any two elective courses selected by the student. A comprehensive examination is required during the final semester of course work. Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken.
CORE HOURS |
MAJOR HOURS |
MINOR HOURS |
| (Non-Certification) | (C & I or teaching area) | (C & I or teaching area) |
| 12 hour core | 12 | 12 |
| 12 hour core | 18 | 6 |
| 12 hour core | 24 | 0 |
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH | |
| Research in Teaching | 3 SCH | |
| EED 584 | The Curriculum in the Elementary School OR | |
| Secondary Curriculum | 3 SCH | |
| Integrating Current Technologies in Teaching | 3 SCH | |
| Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH | |
| Teaching Field/ C & I Electives | 12-24 SCH | |
| C&I Electives | ||
| Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH | |
| Methods of Instruction in Secondary Schools | 3 SCH | |
| Issues in Education | 3 SCH | |
| Workshop in Education | 3 SCH | |
| Classroom Management | 3 SCH | |
| EED 591 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Science` | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 | Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 | Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| Human Growth and Development | 3 SCH | |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH | |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Students who are seeking initial certification as a part of a masters program will also be able to create an individualized plan. This plan has a required 24-hr core of certification courses. The 12 hour minor may be taken in education or any teaching or interest field. Individual plans would have the following possible options:
| Core Hours | 1st Minor Hours |
| 24 | 12 |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
| Core Coursework | 24 SCH |
| SED 533 Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH |
| SED 560 Methods of Instruction in Secondary Schools | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| CI 590 Classroom Management | 3 SCH |
| CI 597 Human Growth and Development | 3 SCH |
| RDG 534, 535, or 536 Workshop in Reading (EC-4, 4-8, 8-12) | 3 SCH |
| EED/SED 598 Internship in Secondary Teaching | 3 SCH |
| EED/SED 599 Internship in Secondary Teaching | 3 SCH |
| Teaching Field/C&I Electives | 12 SCH |
| C&I Electives | |
| CI 570 Research in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 583 Integrating Current Technologies In Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 585 Issues in Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 587 Workshop in Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 584 Curricular Trends for Classroom Teachers | 3 SCH |
| EED 591 Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 Problems in Teaching Elementary Science | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH |
Master of Arts (Thesis Option)
This degree plan is designed for individuals who wish to write a thesis as part of the requirements for a masters in Curriculum and Instruction. The thesis courses will be taken in lieu of two elective courses in the M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction degree plan. A comprehensive examination is required during the final semester of coursework. Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken.
| Core Hours | 1st Minor Hours | 2nd Minor Hours |
| (Non-Certification) | (C & I or teaching area) | (C & I or teaching area) |
| 12 hour core | 12 | 12 |
| 12 hour core | 18 | 6 |
| 12 hour core | 24 | 0 |
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH |
| CI 570 Research in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 584 Curricular Trends for Classroom Teachers | 3 SCH |
| CI 585 Issues In Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| Teaching Field/ C & I Electives | 12-24 SCH |
| C&I Electives | |
| SED 533 Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH |
| SED 560 Methods of Instruction in Secondary Schools | 3 SCH |
| CI 587 Workshop in Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 590 Classroom Management | 3 SCH |
| EED 591 Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 Problems in Teaching Elementary Science | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| CI 597 Human Growth and Development | 3 SCH |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH |
Master of Education in Instructional Technology
For students who have a bachelor's degree, an advisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction will assist the student in developing an individual plan consistent with the student's interests and needs.
The Program, consisting of 36 semester credit hours, includes courses from two colleges and three different departments. The program consists of four courses from Curriculum and Instruction, four courses from Computer Science, and four courses from Educational Leadership.
| Core Hours | 1st Minor Hours | 2nd Minor Hours |
| (Curriculum & Instruction) | (Computer Science) | (Educational Leadership) |
| 12-hour Core | 12 hours | 12 hours |
Master of Education in Instructional Technology
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH |
| CI 563 The Role of the Technology Liaison | 3 SCH |
| CI 567 Readings and Trends in Instructional Technology | 3 SCH |
| CI 569 Practicum for Technology Facilitation | 3 SCH |
| CI 587 Workshop in Education | 3 SCH |
| Computer Science | |
| CS 583 Educational Multimedia | 3 SCH |
| CS 585 Critical Analysis of Instructional Software | 3 SCH |
| CS 587 Designing Instructional Materials for the Web | 3 SCH |
| CS 589 Development of Technology Infrastructure in School | 3 SCH |
| Educational Leadership | |
| ASE 532 Administration and Organization of Public Schools | 3 SCH |
| ASE 578 Curriculum Planning | 3 SCH |
| ASE 668 Instructional Leadership I | 3 SCH |
| ASE 586 Special Populations and Special Programs | 3 SCH |
- Curriculum and Instruction (CI) Course Descriptions
- Elementary Education(EED) Course Descriptions
- Secondary Education (SED) Course Descriptions