MA in Curriculum & Instruction

The Master's in Curriculum & Instruction supports educators who are interested in developing greater understanding and expertise in the teaching and learning of three areas: Literacy Education, Math & Science, or Humanities.

Humanities Education

This program supports educators who are interested in developing greater understanding and expertise in the teaching and learning of the humanities. Within this concentration, you will strengthen discipline-specific content knowledge, knowledge for teaching humanities, and a greater understanding of how curriculum and instructional approaches can be tailored to foster students’ understanding of concepts and questions about human experience and culture that invite a multidisciplinary response.

Program Requirements

Students must successfully complete 30 credit hours of approved coursework while maintaining at least a B (3.0) average in all work attempted while enrolled.

Sample Courses

3 credit hours of learning and development courses. Eligible courses include:

EDUC 6318 Psychological Foundations of Education
EDUC 6328 Advanced Child Growth and Educational Development
EDUC 5105 Teaching for Understanding and Equity

3 credit hours of foundations of education curriculum courses. Eligible courses include:

EDUC 5065 Curriculum Theories
EDUC 6220 Gender Issues in Education
EDUC 5075 Sociology in Education
EDUC 6230 Ethics in Education
EDUC 5085 History of American Education
EDUC 6235 Anthropology of Education
EDUC 5115 Issues in School Change and Reform
EDUC 7055 Philosophy of Education
EDUC 5726 Introduction to Disciplined Inquiry
EDUC 7446 Seminar: Policy Issues in Education
EDUC 6210 Education Policy and the Law

12 credit hours of curriculum and instruction in the humanities courses. Eligible courses include:

EDUC 5070 Spirituality and Religion in Education
EDUC 5265 Processes in Writing
EDUC 5145 Gender, Literacy, and the K-12 Classroom
EDUC 5316 Nature of Social Studies and Social Studies Education
EDUC 5165 Children's Literature
EDUC 5325 Queering Literacy in Secondary Classrooms
EDUC 5222 Language Study for Educators
EDUC 5445 Curriculum for Multicultural Education
EDUC 5235 Language and Literacy Across the Curriculum

Required 3 credit hour capstone course:

EDUC 6964 Capstone: Inquiry in the Content Areas

9 credit hours of electives are also required. Electives may be selected from any School of Education program area or in other departments on campus, with the agreement of the advisor.

Literacy Education

Educators who are interested in developing greater understanding and expertise in the teaching and learning of literacy can focus on this literacy education track. Students in the program are often practicing teachers who want to strengthen their literacy instruction and earn a Reading Teacher K–12 endorsement from the state of Colorado. The optional Reading Teacher K-12 endorsement is an advanced, specialty certification, and therefore all candidates for the degree must have a minimum of two years' teaching experience and pass the Praxis Teaching Reading exam to be eligible to receive the endorsement.

Program Requirements

Students must successfully complete 30 credit hours of approved coursework while maintaining at least a B (3.0) average in all work attempted while enrolled.

Sample Courses

The following coursework is required:

EDUC 5245 Foundations of Reading Instruction K-12
EDUC 5255 Digital Literacies and New Media (prerequisite EDUC 5245)
EDUC 5265 Processes in Writing
EDUC 5275 Assessment in Literacy (prerequisite EDUC 5255)
EDUC 5285 Reading Clinic Procedures K-12 (prerequisite EDUC 5275; Capstone Course)

15 credit hours of electives are required. Electives may be selected from any School of Education program area or in other departments on campus, with the agreement of the advisor.

Math & Science Education

This track supports educators who are interested in developing greater understanding and expertise in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. The program helps you develop content knowledge in mathematics and science, and a greater understanding of how curriculum and instructional strategies can be tailored to foster students’ understandings of mathematics and science.

If you are interested in combining your Master’s coursework while working toward an initial teacher licensure in Secondary Math, Science, English or Social Studies, please explore our Master’s + Teacher Licensure program.
We partner with local school districts. Learn more about Partners in Education, a program for early career teachers.

Program Requirements

Students must successfully complete 30 credit hours of approved coursework while maintaining at least a B (3.0) average in all work attempted while enrolled.

Sample Courses

3 credit hours of learning and development courses. Eligible courses include:

EDUC 6318 Psychological Foundations of Education
EDUC 6328 Advanced Child Growth and Educational Development
EDUC 5105 Teaching for Understanding and Equity

3 credit hours of foundations of education curriculum courses. Eligible courses include:

EDUC 5065 Curriculum Theories
EDUC 6220 Gender Issues in Education
EDUC 5075 Sociology in Education
EDUC 6230 Ethics in Education
EDUC 5085 History of American Education
EDUC 6235 Anthropology of Education
EDUC 5115 Issues in School Change and Reform
EDUC 7055 Philosophy of Education
EDUC 5726 Introduction to Disciplined Inquiry
EDUC 7446 Seminar: Policy Issues in Education
EDUC 6210 Education Policy and the Law

12 credit hours of curriculum and instruction in math and science courses. Eligible courses include:

EDUC 5070 Spirituality and Religion in Education
EDUC 5820 Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Algebraic Thinking
EDUC 5317 Perspectives on Mathematics
EDUC 5822 Teaching and Learning Chemistry
EDUC 5460 Teaching and Learning Physics
EDUC 5831 Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Geometry & Measurement
EDUC 5580 Physics and Everyday Thinking
EDUC 5840 Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Probability & Statistics
EDUC 5706 Assessment in Mathematics and Science Education
EDUC 6811 Teaching and Learning Biology
EDUC 5815 Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Number Sense

3 credit capstone

EDUC 6964 Capstone: Inquiry in the Content Areas

9 credit hours of electives are required. Electives may be selected from any School of Education program area or in other departments on campus, with the agreement of the advisor. Education courses must be at the 5000 level or above.

Admissions Requirements

A Personal Statement
3 Letters of Recommendation
Current Resume
Unofficial Transcripts (official transcripts required after admission)
If international, TOEFL scores
Application Fee ($60 domestic application/$80 international) along with the application

Admission to all our graduate programs is competitive and based on multiple criteria, including undergraduate academic record, letters of recommendation, personal statement, evidence of special accomplishments, and relevant past experience. Criteria are considered in the aggregate. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. For more information, contact edadvise@colorado.edu.