2026-2027 Course Catalog

Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/education/curriculum-instruction-edm/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/

for the degree of Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction

Through the Master of Education and the Certificate of Advanced Study, experienced teachers are prepared to become more competent and better-informed practitioners who serve as leaders for educational reform in local schools and school districts.

Also offered are master's degree programs leading to teacher licensure for individuals who have a degree in a field other than education and wish to become teachers. The four majors leading to licensure are Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2), Elementary Education (Grades 1 - 6), Middle Grades Education (Grades 5-8), and Secondary Education (Grades 9 - 12). In addition to completing the courses required for an Ed.M. degree, students in these programs follow the same sequence of professional education courses as undergraduate students.

Only master’s students wishing to become licensed teachers in one of these areas should apply to the Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades, or Secondary Education majors. Master’s degree candidates who do not wish to become teachers, or who are already teachers, should apply to the major in Curriculum & Instruction. The EdM is attained through satisfactory completion of coursework, while the MA and MS degrees require the completion and defense of a thesis.

Two doctoral degree programs are offered. The Ph.D. program prepares degree candidates for careers involving research and scholarship, including those in colleges and universities where research is generally combined with teacher education. The Ed.D. program prepares scholarly practitioners for leadership positions in teacher training institutions, state education agencies, and public school districts.

Length of time for a degree: an Ed.M. program can be completed by a student attending full-time in a calendar year, while the M.S. or M.A. often takes longer. The Ed.M. with licensure typically takes two years to complete. Doctoral programs usually require five years of full-time study.

Admission

Interested applicants should start at the College of Education Graduate Programs website. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to submit the following information: a statement of purpose, an updated resume, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and three letters of recommendation. A scholarly writing sample in English (e.g., a master's thesis, article, or academic paper) is required for application to a doctoral program.

International applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency for admission. Please see the English Proficiency Requirement for Admission for additional information on this requirement.

Faculty Research Interests

To learn more about our faculty’s research areas, current grants, and recent publications, please visit our department homepage and/or visit the Faculty Finder. Our faculty pursue a wide range of research interests, offering graduate students many opportunities to collaborate and participate in meaningful research projects.

Facilities and Resources

The College of Education offers a variety of resources to support graduate students throughout their academic journey. The Bureau of Educational Research assists students in securing research funding, and each student is assigned a graduate adviser to help plan their program of study, select courses, and track progress toward degree completion. Additional information about university-wide resources is available on the GradMAP website.

Financial Aid

Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. Please note: Graduate students employed as staff by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Fellowship. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid.

for the degree of Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers many programs leading to the degree of Master of Education (Ed.M.). A list of programs and additional requirements can be found on the program's website, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.

Students may select a concentration in Bilingual-Bicultural Education or Digital Learning.

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Foundations Hours | | 8 | | Choose at least two foundation courses from the Course List tab. At least one of these two courses must be a course from outside the degree-granting department. | | | | Elective Hours | | 24 | | Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): 0-8 | | | | Total Hours | | 32 |

Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements

for the degree of Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Foundations Course List

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | CI 446 | Culture in the Classroom | | | CI 501 | Curriculum Development for the 21st Century | | | EPOL 401 | History of American Education | | | EPOL 402 | Asian American Education | | | EPOL 403 | Historical and Social Barriers | | | EPOL 405 | School and Society | | | EPOL 406 | Professional Ethics in Education | | | EPOL 407 | Critical Thinking in Education | | | EPOL 409 | Sociology of Education | | | EPOL 410 | Racial and Ethnic Families | | | EPOL 412 | Politics of Education | | | EPOL 413 | Economics of Education | | | EPOL 480 | Technology and Educational Reform | | | EPOL 530 | Educational Politics and Policies | | | EPOL 552 | Foundation of Higher Education | | | Any 400 level EPSY course | | | | EPSY 553 | Global Issues in Learning | | | SPED 514 | Equity Issues in Special Education | | | SPED 517 | Disability Issues in Special Education | |

for the degree of Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

1. Students will acquire deep knowledge of content in the field of education.
2. Students will display a deep understanding of psychological foundations of learning.
3. Students will demonstrate a deep understanding of philosophical foundations of education.
4. Students will display a deep understanding of best pedagogical practices in K-12 classrooms, with attention to 21st century skills and practices.
5. Students will display deep knowledge of conducting a research study, including reviewing literature, collecting and analyzing data, and writing a thesis.

for the degree of Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Department of Curriculum & Instruction

Head of the Department: Joshua Danish\ Director of Graduate Studies: Emma Mercier\ Graduate admissions information: Mitzi Koeberlein\ Curriculum & Instruction faculty\ 142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820\ (217) 244-3542\ gradservices@education.illinois.edu

College of Education

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Admissions

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