Master's Degree Program in Instruction and Curriculum in the Content Areas with an Empasis in Elementary Education
The MA Degree in Instruction
and Curriculum with an emphasis in elementary education provides candidates
with an understanding of current theory and research instruction and
curriculum. The program strongly emphasizes the School of Education's
themes of equal opportunity; ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity;
and educational reform.
Theory and Methods of Instruction
Good instruction is eclectic in nature
and requires that teachers possess knowledge about a wide array of methods
and strategies. The decision to use a particular method or strategy should
rest on a firm understanding of how children learn and how cultural and
contextual factors affect learning. In the program, learning is conceptualized
as the active construction of knowledge, skills, and understandings.
Learning is viewed as a social activity in which students construct knowledge
through interaction with others – teachers, peers, and family.
It is the teacher's role to create opportunities for the construction
of knowledge. These opportunities can be created in a multitude of ways,
ranging from directly teaching a particular fact or concept, to designing
situations in which teachers and students collaborate to explore complex
ideas, to hands-on activities in which students identify and solve meaningful
problems.
Theory and Methods of Curriculum
Curricular plans come in all sizes, makes, and designs. Some curricular plans expect students to master particular bodies of knowledge to attain the requisite core knowledge. Other curricular designs view disciplinary knowledge as a distinct way of understanding the world and attempt to enable students to see their social and natural worlds in new and unexpected ways. Still other curricular plans emphasize students' diverse roles in knowledge construction, in inquiry, and in active engagement in the world around them. Some curricular designs encourage students to reproduce while other plans ask students to critically question existing relations of power. In the program, these views of curriculum are explored, their connection to content knowledge is underscored, and current trends are evaluated.
Who Enrolls in the Program?
The typical candidate in the program is a practicing teacher who is interested
in learning about current theories and methods of instruction and curriculum.
All candidates pursue the degree because of their desire to improve their
professional knowledge and skills. Some, however, enroll in the program
in conjunction with their participation in one of two CU-sponsored professional
development opportunities offered in collaboration with local school
districts: Partners in Education (PIE) and the Professional
Enrichment Program (PEP).
The PIE program is intended for teachers who are at the early stages
of their careers. The PEP program is designed for more experienced teachers.
For more information on these programs, contact Dr. John Zola, Campus
Box
249, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, 303-492-8499, John.Zola@Colorado.edu.
Requirements for Admission
All persons seeking admission to the ICCA MA degree must satisfy the following minimum requirements
- Have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and an elementary teaching license.
- Have a minimum 2.75 undergraduate grade point average (GPA), and a minimum of 2.75 GPA in all previous course work in Education.
- Have a minimum 3.00 post-baccalaureate GPA.
- Teaching experience is strongly recommended.
Course Work Requirements
Candidates have two options for completing this program. In the first
option, candidates must successfully complete 30 semester hours of
approved
coursework and pass the Comprehensive Exam. In the second option, candidates
must
successfully complete 24 semester hours of approved coursework, write
and defend a major thesis, and pass the Comprehensive Exam.
The following courses are required for the degree:
EDUC 5105-3 Teaching for Understanding
EDUC 5115-3 Modern
Trends in Teaching
Candidates for this degree must complete an additional 12 semester hours
of courses in the content areas in consultation with the degree advisor.
Courses should be drawn from at least two different content areas (literacy,
mathematics, science, and social studies) at the elementary (or K-12)
level. Examples of content area courses include, but are not limited
to:
EDUC 5165-3 Children's Literature
EDUC 5315-3 Nature of Science and Science Education
EDUC 5575-3 K-12 Math: Special Topics
EDUC 5265-3 Processes in Writing
EDUC 5445-3 Curriculum for Multicultural Education
The frequency of individual course offerings varies. Therefore, candidates
should plan ahead so that the required 12 semester hours are completed
within the four year limit.
An additional 12 semester hours of electives (6 hours for students completing a thesis) are required. Electives
may be selected from any School of Education program area with the agreement
of the advisor.
PIE and PEP Candidates
Candidates participating in the PIE Program are required to enroll in:
EDUC 5095-3 Teachers as Researchers
EDUC 6915-3 Practicum
EDUC 8935-3 Internship
12 semester hours of courses in the content areas
An additional 3 semester hours of electives
Candidates participating in the PEP Program are required to enroll in:
EDUC 5095-3 Teachers as Researchers
EDUC 6804-3 PEP Seminar
12 Semester hours of courses in the content areas
An additional 6 semester hours of electives
Comprehensive Exams
A written comprehensive examination must be completed during the candidate's
last term of study for the MA degree. The examination will cover the content
of
all work in the program. Candidates transferring course work from other institutions
to
this program (up to 9 hours may be taken at other approved institutions)
are responsible for the same knowledge as those whose work has been taken
entirely
at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Students must be registered for the
term
in which they take the exams.
Application Materials
Persons interested in this program must seek admission to the Graduate School
of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Application materials may be
obtained online at www.colorado.edu/education or
in the Office of Student Services, School of Education, Education 151,
UCB 249, Boulder, CO 80309-0249, telephone 303-492-6555, edadvise@colorado.edu.
Other documents you should consult
- Two sections of the UCB Catalog (the section for the Graduate School and
the section for the School of Education) for information on the MA requirements.
The UCB Catalog is available online at www.colorado.edu/catalog or
in the Registrar's office in Regent Hall.
- The Graduate Student Handbook.
Deadlines
The following are the deadlines for submitting complete application materials.
Any applications completed after the deadline will be processed only if program
openings still exist.
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