Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Sarah J. McCarthey
311 Education Building
1310 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-8286
E-mail: cigradprograms@ed.illinois.edu
Major: Curriculum and Instruction
Degrees offered: Ed.M., M.S., M.A., C.A.S., Ph.D., and Ed.D.
Graduate Concentration: Writing Studies (Ph.D. only)
Major: Early Childhood Education
Degrees offered: Ed.M. with teacher certification
Major: Elementary Education
Degrees offered: Ed.M. with teacher certification
Major: Secondary Education
Degrees offered: Ed.M. with teacher certification
Graduate Concentrations: English, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Studies
Off-Campus Program: Curriculum and Instruction
Degrees offered: Ed.M.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Education (Ed.M.), Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Art (M.A.), Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). Students may work with faculty who specialize in: Aesthetics Education, Bilingual/ESL Education, Curriculum Studies, Early Childhood Education, Early Literacy, Elementary Education, English Education, Literature for Children and Adolescents, Mathematics Education, Multicultural Education, Reading Education, Science Education, Second Language Literacy, Secondary Education, Social Studies Education, Teacher Education, Technology Studies, and Writing Education. Graduate students interested in writing can obtain a concentration in Writing Studies.
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 certification for individuals who have a degree in a field other than education and who wish to become teachers. The three majors leading to certification are Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education. Spaces in these programs are very limited. Students in these programs follow the same sequence of professional education courses as undergraduate students, in addition to completing the courses required for an Ed.M. degree.
Only master’s students wishing to become certified teachers in one of these three areas should apply to the Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education majors. Master’s candidates who do not wish to become teachers should apply to the major in Curriculum and Instruction.
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. Most doctoral students enroll in the Ph.D. program.
Length of time for a degree: an Ed.M. program can be completed in a calendar year, while the M.S. takes longer. The Ed.M. with certification typically takes two years to complete. Doctoral programs usually require four to five years of full time study.
Admission
Applicants should apply online at www.education.illinois.edu/ci/admissions. 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. Scores for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be submitted for Ph.D. applicants who wish to specialize in mathematics, science, instructional technology, or early childhood. No test scores are necessary for other areas of study or degrees. A scholarly writing sample in English, such as a master's thesis, article, or paper, is required for application to the doctoral program. Applicants for the master's degree with teacher certification must submit passing scores on the Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills Test and, if required for your area of certification, the appropriate content area examination. Note: The master's with teacher certification program admits students only during the fall term.
International applicants must submit TOEFL scores. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction's TOEFL requirement is 550 on the paper-based test, 79 on the internet-based test and 213 on the computer-based test. International applicants must also submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Web site, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Education (Ed.M.) with Teacher Certification
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Elementary Education | Required Hours-Early Childhood Education | Required Hours-Secondary Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 | 4 | 4 |
| Social Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426 |
2 | 2 | 2 |
| Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414 |
2 | 2 | 2 |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) 500-Level Hours Required in Education: 12 hours |
24 | 24 | 24 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* Certification courses (see www.education.illinois.edu/ci/oce) |
A concentration is required. | A concentration is required. | A concentration is required. |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Arts (M.A.), Curriculum and Instruction
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 |
| Social Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426 |
2 |
| Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414 |
2 |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) 500-Level Hours Required in Education: 12 hours |
24 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 |
| Thesis Hours Required – CI 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 2-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Master of Education (Ed.M.), Curriculum and Instruction
| Required Courses: | Required Hours- |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses** EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 |
| Social Foundation Courses ** EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426 |
2 |
| Philosophical Foundation Courses ** EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414 |
2 |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) 500-Level Hours Required in Education: 12 hours |
24 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
** Students in the online Illinois Special Certificate (K-12) with a Reading Specialist Endorsement are exempt from these requirements.
Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.), Curriculum and Instruction
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| If the student does not have a Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Foundation Courses must be completed: Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours Social Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426: 2 hours Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414: 2 hours |
4 |
| Elective Hours: 500-Level Hours Required: 16 hours (Independent Study included) General Coursework Required: 16 hours |
32 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32-40 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Enrollment must be preceded by at least two years of acceptable professional work experience. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Curriculum and Instruction
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Competence in one of four research specialization areas. These courses are required, but hours do not count toward the degree. (The number of hours needed varies.) | |
| Elective Hours: Minimum Hours Required in Education: 32 hours General Coursework Required: 28 hours |
60 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – CI 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-32 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA:
Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD Residency: 2 consecutive full-time (12 hours) semesters of study on campus Early Research Requirement Qualifying Exams Required Human Subjects approval Preliminary Exam Required Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required Dissertation Deposit Required |
3.0 |
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Curriculum and Instruction
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Cognate Requirement (minimum applied toward degree) | 16 |
| Research Methods | 8 |
| Elective Hours: General Coursework Required: 36 hours |
36 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – CI 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-16 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
Minimum GPA: |
3.0 |
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Curriculum and Instruction. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Faculty Research Interests
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: Research in the Teaching of English, National Council of Teachers of English, International Journal of Education & the Arts, Journal of Curriculum Studies. We also have resources for graduate students like the Language and Literacy Student Organization and other student-initiated groups in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
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 and provide human subject reviews. Educational Career Services assists with job placement in educational-related settings. The Council on Teacher Education certifies candidates, provides accreditation of professional education programs; and supervision of pre-service field experiences. The Chief Information Office provides technical support, equipment checkout, and an Instructional Computing Lab. The Thesis Format Office assists students in the formatting of their thesis or dissertation for degree completion.
Information on University resources can be found at www.grad.illinois.edu/campus-resources.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. There are opportunities available through the department, the College of Education, and the Bureau of Educational Research. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid.