Curriculum and Instruction

Welcome to Advanced (Graduate) Studies in Curriculum and Instruction. The coursework in the Advanced Studies programs are offered in online, face-to-face, and blended formats. Advanced Studies programs are flexible and while there are required and recommended courses, each student’s plan of study is individually crafted with the guidance of a major professor, addressing the specific needs and interests of the student. To help assure successful progress toward your degree, you should become familiar with this handbook, obtain and review the University of Idaho Catalog and meet regularly with your advisor/ major professor and other faculty members.

Advanced Studies in Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers the following graduate programs:
● Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The Masters of Education program provides advanced professional and foundational coursework that supports graduate study in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Graduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction emphasize teacher education and may include an option for teacher certification.

Locations
● Moscow, Coeur d’Alene, and Boise
● Online

Your First Year

Admission Requirements
● A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.00. This includes both graduate and undergraduate coursework.
● Evidence of at least three years of teaching and/or professional experience (the faculty within each program area may require or accept an alternative experience).
● Completed application package.
○ Note: International students are required to submit TOEFL (or equivalent) scores showing a required minimum score of 550.

Selection Criteria
All applications will be reviewed by a committee from the respective programs in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Selection for the graduate program will be based upon the following criteria:
● The quality of your Statement of Intent and your writing samples. Each prospective student should clearly articulate their objectives for wanting to pursue a graduate degree in the department of curriculum and instruction, and why the program of study offered will meet their need. Writing samples should demonstrate the ability adhere to grammatical procedures while articulating an argument in a clear, logical, and convincing manner.
● GPA score
● Work experience. The quality and quantity of working experience, combined with career goals, are evaluated equally. We do not have a minimum number of years of post-baccalaureate work experience required for admission consideration.
● Closeness of fit of our academic program with your goals, experience and academic qualifications.
● References indicating suitability for and prospects for success in graduate work.
Conditional admission may be granted to applicants:
• who qualify academically, but have not yet achieved the University of Idaho’s minimum English language requirements for full admission.
• with exemplary experience but whose GPA is slightly below the minimum requirement.

If the applicant does not meet one or more of the admission requirements a majority of the voting graduate faculty members in the program area will vote to admit the student. However, an approved graduate faculty member must agree to be the applicant’s initial advisor and a statement of support from the program must be provided which supports admission to graduate studies. All recommendations (to accept or not) are forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Office in the College of Graduate Studies for a final decision.

What You Can Do

Graduates from the University of Idaho’s College of Education who have earned their Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction can expect to be in high demand in public schools, private schools, community colleges, junior colleges and other institutions of higher learning locally, nationally, and internationally.

Opportunities

Our program provides students with the skills and experience to become tomorrow’s leaders, scholars and practitioners in education. Our graduates become master teachers and curriculum specialists. They hold supervisory and leadership positions in public schools and institutions of higher learning. By engaging in research related to instructional, curricular and assessment practices they gain new knowledge and enlightened perspectives. As one of our students you may be involved in action research, developing expertise in contemporary instructional technology, advancing your understandings of student learning theories, engaging in new and evolving methods of evaluation and measurement, but especially learning alongside faculty who are deeply involved in outdoor education, STEM, new literacies, social justice and other areas of faculty expertise.

Current Research

• College of Education Signature Area: ICE-Net
• $1.1 Million NSF Grant for Idaho
• AL@UI Artic Expedition

Breakthroughs & Discoveries

The University of Idaho works regularly with local and regional school districts on research and professional development projects, such as the Northwest Inland Writing Project’s Summer Institute and research on integrating literacy in math and science curricula.

Faculty Involvement

A small student-to-faculty ratio provides a unique opportunity for students to interact closely with faculty.

Paul Gathercoal, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair
Research interests: Webfolios in education and teaching and learning at a distance; Neuroscience, behavior and cognition; Research on the implementation of Judicious Discipline in schools; the Effects of violent media messages on individuals and society; Service learning and innovative technologies; and the Metacognitive and metalinguistic links between media literacy and reading comprehension.
» View Paul Gathercoal's Profile

Anne Liu Kern, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Advanced Studies
Research interests: Science teaching and learning; science knowledge development; STEM integration for science understanding; integration of Indigenous knowledge and cultural relevance with western STEM. Plus Cooperative learning and team functioning in STEM disciplines.
» View Anne Kern's profile

Rodney McConnell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research interests: Secondary Writing Instruction; Use of reading and writing to enhance student understanding of math and science concepts; Secondary Literacy Instruction for Children with Learning Disabilities
» View Rodney McConnell's Profile