Graduate Programs of Study

Master of Arts or Master of Education: Curriculum Studies

Program Description
The Curriculum Studies program is designed for professional educators who wish to enhance their own professional practice in teaching, curriculum planning, or the administration of a department or educational program. It is designed to equip leaders in a variety of educational settings with the skills necessary to develop, justify, evaluate, and modify curricula so that the needs of students, especially those in urban environments, will be better served. These skills have become increasingly significant for schools, but they also are needed in other organizations — hospitals, businesses, associations, community organizations, civic agencies, and museums — that are confronted with the necessity of educating their employees, students, patrons, or the public at large in a time of fast-moving social and technological change.

The program offers core courses which develop skills and concepts including:

• Deliberative Skills involving the clear formulation of curriculum problems;
• Development Skills in program planning, content selection and the creation as well as the arrangement of materials;
• Evaluation Skills for assessing curriculum and programs;
• Knowledge about Curricular Designs, their underlying assumptions and implications for different settings, and;
• Knowledge of Instructional Methodologies and their influence on the success of curriculum planning.

This program also includes a set of carefully chosen electives which support the student's career goals. This course sequence is especially designed in light of personal goals and interests. Students can select from approved career emphasis sequences or can design their own in conjunction with a faculty advisor.

Career Emphasis Sequences
A number of career emphasis sequences have been approved in advance and are offered on a regular basis. Some of these sequences may qualify a teacher who already has a teaching certificate for an additional endorsement, approval, or certificate from the Illinois State Certification Board (provided that all other state requirements are met).

Currently, pre-approved sequences are available in the following areas:

• Bilingual Education (leading to bilingual approval)
• English as a Second Language (leading to ESL approval)
• Language Arts -- elementary or middle school
• Mathematics -- primary grades
• Mathematics -- middle grades (leading to math endorsement)
• Reading (leading to reading teacher endorsement)
  (ISBE Deficiency Statement required upon admission)
• Technology Specialist (leading to technology specialist endorsement)

Students who do not wish to pursue one of these options are encouraged to plan their own electives to meet their particular career goals. Some students plan electives to strengthen their preparation in a subject area (such as history, mathematics, or literature). Others seek to improve their preparation for curriculum work in non-school settings (for example, in nursing, health education, corporate training, or educational television).

Whether following an approved sequence or developing an individual plan, it is crucial that all students meet with a faculty advisor during the first quarter in the program, and regularly thereafter, to make sure that they are following a coherent and feasible plan.

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Admission Requirements

• A completed School of Education graduate application.
• A bachelor's degree conferred by an accredited institution.
• A previous grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale.
• Two years of successful teaching, pupil personnel work or other appropriate work experience.
• Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors.
• One official transcript from all colleges and/or universities attended.
• Resume.
• Personal statement (see application for details).
• Evidence of adequate background for the program.

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Learn about:

• Degree Requirements
• Career Emphasis Courses
• Faculty
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Primary Grades Mathematics Program
• Middle School Mathematics Program
• Apply Now
• Application Deadlines

For More Information
Please direct questions to edgradadmissions@depaul.edu
or call (773) 325-4405.

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