Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction

The Curriculum and Instruction program at the master’s degree level prepares candidates to build upon their undergraduate preparation as teachers. Persons enrolled in this program are committed to the design, development, and delivery of classroom instruction. Courses prepare candidates

  • to identify and use research-based practices in elementary, middle-level, or secondary schools;
  • to design curriculum for a variety of levels; and
  • to understand the broader functions of schooling in the United States.

The program is a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge that can be immediately applied to the classroom setting.

As visionary leaders in educational settings, graduate-level candidates integrate in their Curriculum and Instruction Program the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for success in communication, thinking skills, methodology, leadership, professionalism, assessment, and inclusive learning environments.

Student Learning Outcomes (Candidate Competencies)

Candidates for the MEd in Elementary and Secondary Curriculum and Instruction will provide leadership in the school setting.

Students graduating with the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction, aligned to InTASC Standards, will be able to:

  1. Develop and implement curriculum based on central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches; diverse learner needs and abilities; cognitive and developmental levels; and community and curricular goals. (Methodology, Inclusive Learner Environments)
  2. Develop and implement curriculum using a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills. (Methodology, Thinking Skills)
  3. Design and facilitate a learning environment that encourages individual and group motivation, positive social interaction, and active engagement in learning. (Methodology, Professionalism, Assessment)
  4. Demonstrate cultural awareness, gender sensitivity, and racial and ethnic appreciation in fostering an inclusive learning environment. (Inclusive Learning Environments, Methodology)
  5. Communicate clearly using listening, writing, speaking, and media skills in a manner that is consistent with and responsive to the specific audience. (Communication, Professionalism)
  6. Utilize assessment strategies and data to improve student learning and social development at the individual and program level. (Assessment, Methodology)
  7. Improve instruction based on reflective practice and research-based “best practices.” The candidate will continuously seek to grow as a professional educator. (Professionalism, Methodology)
  8. Foster relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies of the larger community based on an understanding of the impacts of philosophy, sociology, political, and legal forces on public education. (Professionalism, Communication, Inclusive Learning Environments)

Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction - Elementary – General Education Option

Note: This degree program does not lead to an Elementary Education Teaching Endorsement or Elementary Classroom Certification. This option is designed for elementary or middle school educators who desire to expand their breadth of knowledge at the K-8 level. 

Courses

Listed below is the course work required by the Program:

Basic Core Courses
EDCI 631RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 13
EDCI 633EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY3
EDCI 635CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDCI 638SCHOOL LAW3
EDUC 639ADVANCED METHODS OF PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT3
SPED 630CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES3
Required Elementary Performance Courses
EDCI 632IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN HEALTH AND SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS3
EDCI 634IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN MATHEMATICS IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS3
EDCI 636IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS3
EDCI 637IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN LANGUAGE ARTS IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS3
READ 531IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN READING3
Electives
Select an Elective Course, Scholarly Project or Thesis3
Total Credits36
1

EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS should be completed within the first 12 credits of a student's program of study.

Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction - Elementary – Field Option (Concentration in a Subject Area)

NoteThis degree program does not lead to an Elementary Education Teaching Endorsement or Elementary Classroom Certification, or to an Endorsement of certification in any of the field concentration areas. A student may pursue a master's in education with a field concentration consisting of 9 to 12 course credits to be selected in consultation with his or her advisor. Three to six course credits of the 36 total credits may consist of a scholarly project, thesis, action research, or practicum/internship. This option is designed for middle school educators or for elementary educators who desire to expand their breadth of knowledge of a particular field of concentration at the K-8 level.

Courses

Listed below is the course work required by the Program:

Basic Core Courses
EDCI 631RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 23
EDCI 633EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY3
EDCI 635CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDCI 638SCHOOL LAW3
EDUC 639ADVANCED METHODS OF PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT3
SPED 630CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES3
Advisor Consultation Option
Select one of the following in consultation with advisor:3
IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN READING
IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN HEALTH AND SCIENCE IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS
IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN MATHEMATICS IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS
IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS
IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN LANGUAGE ARTS IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Field of Concentration
Select 15 credit hours in any of the following concentration areas:15
Educational Technology
Language Arts
Mathematics
Physical Education
Science
Social Science
Total Credits36
2

EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS should be completed within the first 12 credits of a student's program of study.

Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction - Secondary

A student whose goal is to teach Dual Credit courses at the high school level must complete 18 hours of graduate course work in the desired subject area. Conversely, broad field content options will not lead to Dual Credit certification. Speak with your advisor if that is your purpose in seeking this degree.

Note: This degree program does not lead to an endorsement or additional certification in any of the Secondary Content Subject Areas. This option is designed for middle school educators or for secondary educators who desire to expand their breadth of knowledge in a particular content subject area at the 5-12 level.

Courses

Listed below is the course work required by the Program:

Basic Core Courses
EDCI 631RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 33
EDCI 633EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY3
EDCI 635CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDCI 638SCHOOL LAW3
EDUC 639ADVANCED METHODS OF PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT3
READ 532READING IN THE CONTENT FIELDS3
SPED 630CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES3
Content Area Courses
Select with advisors approval 15 credit hours from the following areas of specialization:15
Business Education
Career and Technical Education
Mathematics
Physical Education
Science
Social Science
Special Education (Additional credit hours required - See section below)
Total Credits36
3

EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS, should be completed within the first 12 credits of a student's program of study.

Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction  – Special Education-Early Childhood Special Education (Birth – Kindergarten)

This program does lead to an added endorsement in Special Education-Early Childhood Special Education (Birth through Kindergarten). It requires that the candidate hold, or has held, a certificate with a teaching endorsement. The Praxis II test is required for graduation. Students seeking certification of this endorsement in Nebraska must reach the state minimum cut score required for Nebraska Licensure.

Courses

Listed below is the course work required by the Program:

Basic Core Courses
EDCI 631RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 43
EDCI 635CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDCI 633EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY3
EDCI 638SCHOOL LAW3
Endorsement Courses
COUN 637ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT3
FCS 520LOSS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN3
FCS 532PLAY BASED LEARNING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD3
FCS 537FAMILY STRENGTHS3
FCS 540SPECIAL TOPICS IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES3
FCS 690INTERNSHIP3
SPED 538CONSULTION/COLLABORATION3
SPED 539LANGUAGE AND LEARNING DISORDERS3
SPED 630CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES3
SPED 640ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF YOUNG CHILDREN3
Total Credits42
4

EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS, should be completed within the first 12 credits of a student's program of study.

Title 92, Chapter 24: 006.59D2. This program shall provide applicants with supervised practicum/clinical experiences. The experience shall consist of a minimum of 250 clock hours with individuals with behavioral disorders. The 250 clock hours may be included in the 30 graduate semester hours requirement.

Praxis II exam in your content area is required for graduation. Students seeking certification of this endorsement in Nebraska must reach the state minimum cut score required for Nebraska Licensure.

Master of Education - Curriculum and InstructionReading Specialist (Grades PK-12)

This program does lead to an added endorsement in Reading Specialist. Two years of successful teaching experience is a prerequisite for certification. The Praxis II test for Reading Specialist is required for graduation. Students seeking certification of this endorsement in Nebraska must reach the minimum state cut score required for Nebraska Licensure.

Courses

Listed below is the course work required by the Program:

Basic Core Courses
EDCI 631RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 53
EDCI 635CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDCI 638SCHOOL LAW3
SPED 630CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES3
Reading Endorsement Courses
READ 531IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN READING3
READ 532READING IN THE CONTENT FIELDS3
READ 533PHILOSOPHIES, APPROACHES, AND TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING READING3
READ 535READING AND THE AT-RISK STUDENT3
READ 634LINGUISTIC FOUNDATIONS OF READING INSTRUCTION3
READ 635DIAGNOSIS AND CORRECTION3
READ 636PRACTICUM IN READING3
READ 638SEMINAR IN READING: ISSUES, TRENDS AND PROGRAMS3
Electives
Select one of the following:3
READING AND WRITING IN THE MIDDLE/SECONDARY SCHOOLS
IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN LANGUAGE ARTS IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOLS
ADOLESCENT LITERATURE
Total Credits39
5

EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS, should be completed within the first 12 credits of a student's program of study.

Master of Education - Curriculum and Instruction   Special Education (Grades K-12)

Students may opt to complete the first 39 credits to earn a master's degree with an emphasis in special education. However, to also earn the endorsement for Special Education Generalist (SPED), twelve additional credits from the list below must be completed. This program leads to an added endorsement in Special Education Generalist (grades K-12). It requires that the candidate holds, or has held, a certificate with a teaching endorsement. The Praxis II test for Special Education is required for graduation. Students seeking certification of this endorsement in Nebraska must reach the minimum state cut score required for Nebraska Licensure.

Courses

Listed below is the course work required by the Program:

Basic Core Courses
EDCI 631RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 63
EDCI 633EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY3
EDCI 635CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT3
EDCI 638SCHOOL LAW3
READ 635DIAGNOSIS AND CORRECTION3
SPED Courses
COUN 637ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT3
SPED 516CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN APPRAISAL OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN3
SPED 531PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MANAGEMENT3
SPED 535ASSESSING INDIVIDUALS WITH MILD/MODERATE DISABILITIES3
SPED 536ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL/SECONDARY METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR MILD/MODERATE DISABILITIES3
SPED 538CONSULTION/COLLABORATION3
SPED 539LANGUAGE AND LEARNING DISORDERS3
SPED 630CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES3
SPED Courses to Complete the Endorsement
SPED 555CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING DISABILITIES3
Select three of the following:9
SURVEY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
READING AND THE AT-RISK STUDENT
INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
INTRODUCTION TO ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Total Credits51
6

EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS, should be completed within the first 12 credits of a student's program of study.

The Praxis II test for Special Education is required for graduation. Students seeking certification of this endorsement in Nebraska must reach the state minimum cut score required for Nebraska Licensure.