Curriculum and Instruction Learning Outcomes

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree students analyze and understand the various roles of multiple types of assessments for monitoring, evaluating and responding to student learning. They understand, develop, use and critique formal, informal and performance assessment techniques, including local, state and national assessment systems to improve student learning.

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree graduates understand that curriculum should be relevant, engaging, challenging and integrative for the learner. They know how to select, adapt and reflect on theories and engage in reflective practices in light of curriculum standards, theories, models and learners.

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree graduates understand human diversity as a valued component of educational systems; understand how to appropriately engage with diverse population; effectively structure learning experiences with diverse population; and effectively engage with diverse populations of students, parents and colleagues.

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree graduates understand the principles of instruction, know a wide variety of teaching strategies and learning theories and incorporate relevant technologies while teaching core concepts, skills of inquiry, problem posing/solving, collaboration and communication to facilitate student learning.

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree graduates have a comprehensive understanding of the philosophical, historical, social, political and cultural understanding of schools and society.

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree graduates appreciate the role of educational research for informing practice. Master of Education graduates develop the skills to conduct classroom research. Master of Science graduates, as producers of educational research, collect and analyze data, and formally share their research findings.

Curriculum and Instruction master's degree students demonstrate their knowledge of the content that they teach through the admissions requirements and/or through content coursework that is included in the degree.

• To complete the Master of Education (M.Ed.), a non-thesis degree program, the student must complete and successfully defend a graduate project (i.e., non-thesis project).
• Of the minimum 30 credits required, at least 18 must be in courses at the 500 level; the remainder may include 400 level courses in the major and 300 or 400 level courses in supporting areas.
• A candidate for an advanced degree must have a cumulative GPA, based on his or her graduate record, of at least 3.00 (A = 4.00).
• The M.Ed. program requires a minimum of 30 credits. Additional work may be stipulated in individual cases to meet particular objectives or need for additional background.
• Courses used toward an undergraduate degree, professional development courses or courses on a professional development transcript are not available to be used toward a graduate degree.
• No more than three credits of workshop or workshop equivalent courses may be used toward the graduate degree.
• Up to five credits of course number 599 are allowed to count toward a non-thesis master's degree.
• A graduate student in a non-thesis program must be registered at U of I during the semester in which the non-thesis requirements are completed.
• This project is completed after the completion of most or all of the degree requirements. The department establishes format and time frame, and reports the results of the non-thesis requirement to the College of Graduate Studies using the Non-Thesis Report form.

The combined total of transfer credits, correspondence credits, non-degree credits, and approved credits more than eight years from the time the degree is awarded will not exceed 12 credits for master's programs requiring 36 or fewer credits.

Students will prepare with their initial advisor or major professor a master’s degree study plan outlining all course work to be completed to fulfill the requirements for the degree. The study plan is approved by the student’s major professor, departmental administrator and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Any subsequent changes in the study plan must be submitted for approval to the College of Graduate Studies. Most core courses are offered in an online format to provide the maximum flexibility for professionals.