Graduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction lead to degrees of Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). (The Neag School of Education also confers Sixth-Year Certificates in Professional Education, which are described elsewhere.) Students can enter the Master’s program through one of two routes. The first is through the teacher education/preparation track, which has two paths: the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s (IBM) degree program, which is intended for undergraduates at the University of Connecticut who continue on for a fifth year to earn an M.A. degree, and the Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates (TCPCG), which is intended for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in a major unrelated to education. Alternatively, students can enter the program for reasons other than standard teacher preparation. This route is available, for example, to individuals who are already teachers and may be seeking additional certification. Master and doctoral programs of study are offered in the following areas of concentration: Bilingual and Multicultural Education, Elementary Education, Music Education, Literacy Specialist Program (M.A.) or Reading Education (Ph.D.), and Secondary Education with one of the following concentrations: English Education, World Language Education, History and Social Studies Education, Mathematics Education, and Science Education. The M.A. degrees in Reading and Language Arts Consultant and Remedial Reading, World Language Education, and Bilingual and Multicultural Education may provide a vehicle, as appropriate, for the fulfillment of certification requirements.
Master of Arts Requirements
Requires satisfactory completion of at least 30 credit hours maintaining at least a “B” average. Each plan of study is a non-thesis plan requiring a culminating activity or exam as indicated. There are six different sets of requirements, which depend on the specific route/path the student is in.
Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s (IBM)
IBM Concentrations in Elementary Education or Secondary Education. Secondary Education includes: English Education, World Language Education (American Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Latin/Classics, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish), History and Social Studies Education, Mathematics Education, and Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, or Physics). Required Courses: EPSY 5195 for two credits; EDCI 5092 for three credits; EDCI 5093 for four credits; EDCI 5094 for three credits; and EDCI 5095 for three credits. Three credits of one of the following: EDCI 5700, 5705, 5715, 5720, 5740, 5742, 5750, 5875, 5890, 5895, CLCS 5306, or GERM 5305. Three credits of EDLR 5015. One credit of EPSY 5221. Required courses should total 22 credits.
IBM Elective Required Courses: Nine credit hours aligned with content specialty selecting courses in EDCI, EDLR, and EPSY or Graduate Liberal Arts courses totaling nine credit hours.
Exam/Culminating Portfolio Requirement. Will be directed by the student’s advisor.
IBM Music Education Required Courses
EPSY 5195 for two credits; EDCI 5092 for three credits; EDCI 5093 for four credits; EDCI 5094 for three credits; EDCI 5095 for three credits. One of the following three credit courses: EDCI 5700, 5705, 5715, 5720, 5740, 5742, 5750, 5875, 5890, 5895, CLCS 5306, or GERM 5305. Also required are EDLR 5015 and EDCI 5041. Required courses should total 24 credits.
IBM Elective Required Courses: EDCI 5040 and 5047; or related, approved courses (musical theatre, world music, folk music, etc.) totaling six credits.
Exam/Culminating Portfolio Requirement. Will be directed by the student’s advisor.
Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates (TCPCG)
Agricultural Education (PK-12) and Secondary Education (Grades 7-12). Secondary Education includes: English Education, World Language Education (American Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish), History and Social Studies Education, Mathematics Education, or Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, or Physics). Plan B (Non-Thesis) Required Courses: EDCI 5050, 5055, 5060, 5065, 5070, 5080, 5085, 5092, 5825, 5830, 5875; nine credits of EDCI 5090; three credits of EDCI 5830; EPSY 5108. Required courses total 45 credits.
Required Elective: A three credit Education or Graduate Liberal Arts course.
Exam/Culminating Portfolio Requirement. Will be directed by student’s advisor (not filed with the Graduate School by prior arrangement).
Master’s of Arts Concentrations Outside of Initial Teacher Certification Programs
Concentrations in Bilingual and Multicultural Education, Elementary Education, Literacy Specialist Program, Music Education, or Secondary Education Required Courses: Three courses from the following two areas, with at least one course from each area, totaling nine credits. EDCI/HRTS (Social Justice/Human Rights) EDCI 5700, 5875, 6860. Learners: EDCI 5742; EPSY 5108, 5710, 5750. Three credits from Literacy and Language course options: EDCI 5100, 5110, 5125, 5130, 5135, 5140, 5145, 5250, 5255, 5605, 5715, 5720, 5742, 5750, or 5890. Three credits from Assessment Literacy course options: EDCI 5145, 5765; EPSY 5602.
Content Course Requirements. Students must also complete 15 credit hours in their area of concentration chosen from the categories below.
Bilingual and Multicultural Education: EDCI 5605, 5700, 5705, 5710, 5715, 5720, 5740, 5742, 5745, 5750, 5755, 5760, 5765, 5770, 5775, 5780, 5895, 6860.
Elementary Education in Math, Science, Reading, Language Arts, Social Studies, or Children’s Literature: EDCI 5100, 5105, 5110, 5130, 5350, 5460.
Literacy Specialist Program: EDCI 5100, 5105, 5110, 5115, 5120, 5125, 5130, 5135, 5140, 5145, 5150, 5250.
Music Education: EDCI 5040, 5041, 5042, 5043, 5044, 5047.
Secondary Education English Education: EDCI 5125, 5135, 5140, 5250, 5255.
Secondary Education STEM: Math Education and/or Science Education: EDCI 5369, 5450, 5455, 5465, 5500, 5550.
Secondary Education History and Social Studies Education: EDCI 5355, 5360, 5830.
Secondary Education World Language Education: EDCI 5600, 5890.
Other Course Options. In addition to the EDCI courses listed in each content area above, students may elect additional courses approved by their advisor and these will most often be either Liberal Arts courses or related education courses (EDCI, EPSY, and EDLR).
Exam/Culminating Portfolio Requirement. Report of exam submitted to the Graduate School.
Concentration in Remedial Reading and Language Arts Teacher Requirements. The following areas of study are required. Choices are dependent upon discussion with the advisor.
Early/Intermediate Reading/Writing: Three credits in Reading: EDCI 5100, 5115, or 5125 and three credits in Writing/Language Arts: EDCI 5105 or 5110; three credits of Secondary Reading: EDCI 5125 or 5135; three credits in Disciplinary Literacy/Content Area Reading: EDCI 5140; three credits in Literature EDCI 5130 or 5250; six credits in Diagnosis and Remediation: EDCI 5145 and 5150 (EDCI 5120 if approved by advisor); six credits of Advanced Clinical Practicum EDCI 5155.
Elective Course Options. Determined in consultation with the advisor: three credits of EPSY 5108; general Liberal Arts courses; Independent Study EDCI 5099; other education course(s) in EDCI, EPSY, or EDLR.
Concentration in Reading and Language Arts Consultant Course Requirements: EDCI 5160; six credits of EDCI 5092.
Elective Course Options. Selections are based on the student’s transcript and prior course work. Suggested courses: six credit hours from EDCI 5100, 5105, 5110, 5115, 5125; three credits from EDCI 5135 or EDCI 5125; three credits of EDCI 5140; three credits of EDCI 5130, or 5250; six credits from EDCI 5120, 5145, or 5150; six credits of EDCI 5155; EPSY 5108; three credits of EDCI 5099; related courses in language and/or literacy, curriculum, educational psychology, or educational leadership (EDCI, EPSY, EDLR).
Exam/Culminating Portfolio Requirement. Report of exam submitted to the Graduate School.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Curriculum and Instruction Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program offers nine concentrations: Bilingual and Multicultural Education, Elementary Education, English Education, Mathematics Education, Reading Education, Science Education, Secondary Education, Social Studies/History Education, World Language Education. The Plan of Study for a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to cultivate beginning expertise in five areas central to scholarly work: Disciplinary Knowledge, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Skill, Research Methods, and Research Performance. Each area is outlined below. While minimum credit levels are set for each area, the development of emerging expertise in these areas will likely necessitate additional courses or other experiences determined by the student and advisor in consultation. A suggested list of possible courses from which to choose for each area is provided. The doctorate requires satisfactory completion of at least 24 credit hours maintaining at least a “B” average, as well as all other requirements of the Graduate School (e.g., 15 credit hours GRAD 6560 or 6950). In addition to required coursework, candidates complete a comprehensive doctoral exam, prepare and present a proposal for their dissertation study, prepare and defend their dissertation.
Disciplinary Knowledge. A minimum of six credits of the EDCI 6094, doctoral seminar (or equivalent doctoral seminar) designed to provide in-depth exploration and discussion of current topics, issues, and research in a disciplinary area. Options include: three credit hours of EDCI 6094 for a specific topic; three credit hours of EDCI 6094 when repeated with a new topic; three credit hours of an equivalent course, seminar, or independent study; additional credit hours of EDCI courses.
Curriculum and Instruction. A minimum of six credits must be taken through a departmental Proseminar across two semesters that focuses on the history, models, theory, and issues in teacher education. These six credits are typically taken during the first year of doctoral study. Options for earning the minimum six credits include: three to six credits of EDCI 6094; three credits of an equivalent course, seminar, or independent study; additional credit hours of EDCI courses.
Professional Skill. A minimum of six credits must be taken toward initial mastery of professional skills for grant writing, writing for research and professional publication, and teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Course options include: EDCI 6010, 6094, 6103; three credits of an equivalent course, seminar, or independent study.
Research Methods. A minimum of 12 credits in research methodology must be taken. The distribution of coursework is established by the Advisory Committee with the doctoral student’s professional goals in mind but is ordinarily a combination of quantitative and qualitative courses to ensure breadth of knowledge for evaluating and conducting rigorous research. Course options include: EDCI 5760, 5824, 6000, 6005, 6860; EPSY 5602, 5603, 5605, 5607, 5613, 5621, 6052, 6601, 6611, 6621, 6626, 6635, 6636, 6637.
Research Performance. A minimum of 15 credits of GRAD 6950 or 6960, Doctoral Dissertation, is required while completing the dissertation research study.
Electives. Identified by the student in consultation with their advisor.
Culminating Requirements. Candidates must complete a General Examination with a written and oral component; a dissertation proposal with a written proposal and oral defense of the proposal; a final examination with an oral defense of the written dissertation.
The programs are offered by the Neag School of Education.