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.
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.
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.
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.
Deadlines
- Fall & Summer Application Deadline: January 15, international
- Fall & Summer Application Deadline: February 1, domestic
- Spring Application Deadline: September 1, international and domestic
For more information about courses and program requirements, visit the CU Boulder Course Catalog.
Interested in our graduate programs?
We offer Colorado’s top-ranked graduate education in multiple program areas and would love to connect with you to provide you with relevant information about our programs. We look forward to learning about your graduate studies journey!
Fall 2023 Information Sessions
School of Education Graduate Studies Preview Day (in-person)
Please join the School of Education for our Graduate Studies Preview Day on Saturday, Nov. 9. This program will be hosted in person and is open for all prospective Master's and PhD students. The program will include an overview of the application process and education program areas, breakout sessions with faculty by program area of interest, and a current graduate student panel for Q&A. Registration is required.
- Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, 9 a.m. to noon, begin in the Miramontes Baca Education Building lobby