Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, this is one of the strengths of the program. You are able to take five electives which you can use to develop your career goals. We have a number of defined options (for example, in ESL or bilingual education, in mathematics, reading, or language arts). But you are not restricted to these options. Indeed, the majority of our students define their own sequences of electives.
Yes. Although the School of Education has a wide variety of offerings in many areas, you are free to choose courses from anywhere in the University (provided they are graduate courses for which you qualify). For example: English teachers often take courses offered by the English Department, including courses from their M.A. in writing program; history teachers are encouraged to take additional history or political science courses; elementary and middle school teachers might want to broaden their education by taking courses in our Masters in Liberal Studies program; and teachers interested in multicultural education are invited to consider courses on inter-cultural communication offered by our Communications department.
Yes, we encourage more biology courses for biology teachers. And by and large the Biology department has been helpful. They generally offer one evening course every quarter in Ecology, Aquatic Environments, Exotic Cat Management, and the like. These have worked well for many biology teachers, especially those who have a good background in biology. However, you do have to plan your schedule carefully so that you are ready to take the courses when they are offered.
Can I get any additional certifications
or endorsements through the Curriculum Studies program?
Yes, in many cases you can. In particular, the career emphasis sequences
in bilingual education, ESL, middle school mathematics, and reading teacher,
are specially designed to lead towards an additional endorsements. If you are seeking an endorsement, you should choose your electives carefully in consultation with an adviser.
Yes. We have a number of students who work for corporations, hospitals, professional associations, and civic or community organizations. Although we do not have a specific concentration in corporate education, we do have a group of students who are specifically interested in corporate education.
Do students pursuing different emphases
in Curriculum Studies ever take courses together?
Yes. You must take three core curriculum courses, all of which enroll
students from a variety of specialties within curriculum studies or educational
leadership. From our point of view, the variety of settings represented
in these common courses add strength to the program.
Do you have any pre-approved career emphasis
sequences?
Yes, we have pre-approved sequences in a number of areas (for example,
in bilingual education, language arts, reading teacher, or middle school mathematics). (See
this
link for more details on elective sequences.)
Sometimes. Financial aid for graduate students is limited and is only for students who have been accepted into the program. Occasionally, students are able to get financial aid from external sources. To find out more about financial aid you should consult the Financial Aid office.
As a graduate student in Curriculum Studies,
do I qualify for a student loan?
Yes. This is the primary form of financial aid. Again, consult
the Financial Aid office for information about how to fill out applications
for student loans.
Do graduate students qualify for graduate
assistantships?
The School does have a small number of graduate assistantships for
full time students. Preference is given to students who have been officially
accepted into the program and are registered for classes. Applications
for these highly competitive positions are generally due in March or April
for the following year.
No, not at this time. However, there are three required social/cultural studies courses that are offered at our Naperville campus. If you find it convenient to take these courses there, you are free to do so. In addition, you may occasionally find an elective course offered at another campus.
An M.A. requires a Master's thesis, written to fulfill the requirements of CS 589, and an oral defense on the thesis. An M.Ed. requires two Master's papers, planned and partially developed to fulfill the requirements of CS 580.
Is there any difference between an M.A.
and an M.Ed. as far as marketability and respectability are concerned?
This is difficult to answer because it depends on whom you talk to
and where you plan to work. Most people would answer, "No." Some people,
especially those who do not know the field, perceive that an M.A. is more
prestigious. From our perspective, both degrees require serious work and
are equally prestigious.
Which should I choose, an M.A. or an M.Ed.?
This depends on you. The thesis is generally a year long process, and
it must involve a committee of at least three. Although it can be an extremely
valuable experience, it requires time and commitment for you to make the
most of the process. The papers can be planned earlier in your program
and, if you are well organized, completed while you take CS 580 towards
the end of your program. Fortunately you do not need to decide until you
are well into the program.
How do I get started on the M.Ed. papers?
If you decide on an M.Ed., you will have to register for CS 580, a
course designed to help you through the process of writing these papers.
This course is offered once a year. Typically the class meets one evening every other week during the Autumn and Winter
quarters. (See the CS
580 web page for further information about this course.) Don't
wait until the class begins to get started on your Master's papers. The
earlier you start, the more likely you are to complete your papers in a
timely way. It is a good idea to have an idea of what you plan to write
about before you enter this course, so do not hesitate to discuss your
thoughts with your advisor. More details are in the M.Ed. handbook which
you can obtain from the Advanced Graduate Programs Office (SAC 481).
How do I get started on a thesis?
Since you cannot register for the thesis course until you have a thesis
advisor, you first must get someone to agree to be your advisor. A good
way to approach this is to prepare a short proposal and discuss it with
the person you think you want to convince to become your advisor. More
details are in the thesis handbook (scroll down to MA Thesis). You can also obtain a copy from the Advanced Graduate Programs Office (SAC 481).
This depends on you, your motivation, and your other commitments. Three years is a general guide for most people, though some take longer and a few finish more quickly. The program requires 12 courses, plus a research course. Most people start with one course per quarter, and later take two per quarter.
Can I begin the Masters program while I
am still working?
Yes. We expect that our students will be working full time outside
the home, as teachers, administrators, or professionals in other positions.
Since all of our Master's courses are offered in the evening, it is possible
to complete the whole program without taking a leave from your job.
What is a full course load for a person
who works full time?
We consider two courses to be a full load, especially for those who
have responsibilities elsewhere. Usually students start with one course,
and they seldom take more than 2 courses per quarter.
How many courses do I need to complete a
Master's degree?
13 courses of 4 quarter hours each are required for a master's degree.
Each four hour course should meet for 30 hours plus a meeting for exams
or final wrap-up if there is no final exam.
What time of day do classes usually meet?
Do you have any daytime or weekend classes?
Almost all of our graduate courses meet once a week in the evenings
for three hours from 5:30 - 8:30. A few classes meet during the day and
a few on Saturdays, but Curriculum Studies students are not likely to take
these courses.
What is the system of credits at DePaul?
Each course that we teach is a 4 quarter hour course. So that
means you have to take (and pay for) 52 hours. (Note: DePaul is on a quarter
hour system. Many universities use semester hours. One semester hour =
1.5 quarter hours.)
What is the academic calendar at DePaul?
How long does a course last?
You can find the academic calendar on-line. Roughly, Autumn quarter
is September - November; Winter is January - March; and Spring is late
March through mid June. Summer quarters are intensive, usually 3 hours
twice a week for 5 weeks.
We do not have a defined sequence in educational technology at this point, but we are developing one. We do have a number of faculty (on the Barat campus as well as at Lincoln Park) who are pursuing this interest, and there are courses (either in the School of Education or in the School of Telecommunications and Information Science) which you might want to take. We also have some knowledgeable people in our Academic Technology Development department who have taught courses for us. For information about our ATD department, try this link: http://www.atd.depaul.edu/website/.
If I want to continue to teach and work
with people, would a degree in Computer Science be the best option for
me?
Perhaps. A computer science degree would make a lot of sense for some
people. But for those who are interested in teaching, it also makes sense
to combine computer science courses with a Curriculum Studies degree. Our
primary emphasis is on why and how technology can be used to enhance the
learning process rather than on the technical aspects of hardware and software.
Can the Curriculum Studies program help
me learn how to use technology to create, design, and deliver educational
curricula?
Yes. These goals fit well with the approach to technology which most
of our faculty take. In general, we do not see technology as something
that causes change by itself. So we not only teach about technology, we
also give a lot of attention to how it can be used to make a difference
in the lives of people.