Curriculum and Instruction

Students of the curriculum and instruction program engage in applied and empirical research related to instructional, curricular and assessment practices.

A Doctor of Philosophy with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction is designed to give additional graduate preparation to those who wish to continue work in K-12 schools or at the university level. These degrees also prepare you for educational research positions with government, business or nonprofit agencies.

Our programs provide students with the skills and experience to become leaders, scholars and practitioners in education. You'll gain new knowledge and enlightened perspectives about contemporary instructional technology, student learning and faculty enrichment theories.

These programs are offered at the University of Idaho campus in both Moscow and Coeur d’Alene.

Your First Year

Applicants for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree should meet the requirements for the teaching certificate and have one year of teaching experience.

The University of Idaho College of Education offers two distinct doctoral degrees - the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). The Ph.D. degree program in the College of Education prepares students as researchers, university faculty and/or discipline-based scholars who contribute to the knowledge base of their respective fields. The Ed.D. degree program in the College of Education prepares students as professional leaders, educators, and practitioner-scholars who actualize the knowledge base in their respective field. To learn more, please consult the College of Education’s Doctoral Programs Student Handbook.

Students should meet with an adviser to plan their personal course of study.

What You Can Do

Graduates become master teachers and curriculum specialists. They also hold supervisory and leadership positions in public schools and institutions of higher learning.

Opportunities

Graduates can expect to be in high demand in public schools, private schools, community colleges, junior colleges and other institutions of higher learning.

Current Research

The College of Education has been awarded a three-year $300,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Education/ Mathematics and Science Partnership to help Idaho teachers integrate writing and literacy into their science curriculums. A team of Idaho faculty is partnering with 19 Idaho teachers from the Lake Pend Oreille School District for the project.

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.

Emily Duvall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research interests: Dynamic Assessment; Vygotsky's Cultural-Historical Approach; Sociocultural theory; Cultural Historical Activity Theory as Methodology; Democratic-Hermeneutic Activity Theory (Vygotsky/ Gadamer/ Dewey); Multiliteracies and transmediation; Developing the aesthetic response to reading & writing; Multicultural / Multiracial awareness development in pre-service teachers; Using Theatre of the Oppressed for pre-service teacher development; Herstory narratives of literacy development
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Paul Gathercoal, Ph.D.
Department Chair; Professor
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.
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Deanna Gilmore, Ph.D.
Affiliate Assistant Professor
Research interests: Education for English Language Learners; Teaching EFL in Higher Education; Literature Circles with English Language Learners; Diverse Family Structure Children’s Literature
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Georgia Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Anne Liu Kern, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research interests: Science teaching and learning, science knowledge development, and science integration in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Plus Cooperative learning and team functioning in STEM disciplines.
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Cherie Major, Ph.D.
Professor
Research interests: Middle school education, university partnerships with schools, instructional strategies
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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
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Elizabeth Reynolds, Ed.D
Associate Professor
Research interests: Many variables that impact the learning and development of the individual, such as gender, spatial performance, and cognitive style. Research topics that pertain to my classroom scholarship, additionally include Gifted and Talented Education, Exemplary Teaching, and Aggression in the Schools.
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Melissa Saul, Ph.D.
Research interests: Cultural studies and social thought in education, peace education, social justice, and ecological sustainability.
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