
About this Program
The Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) program is designed to enrich the certified teacher鈥檚 knowledge of research-based teaching and learning in the context of the profession鈥檚 shifting landscape. Evening and summer classes make it possible for students to pursue the degree while continuing to teach, thereby strengthening the program's theory-to-practice approach.
Program Overview
Tuition & Fees
Funding opportunities
Download C&I Brochure
National Board Certification Prep Program
Relevant, Credible, Online
The C&I program offers a fully online model, purposefully designed to deliver high-quality learning experiences while accommodating the busy schedule of teaching professionals. Online classes provide students with flexibility and the convenience of working from home, while still allowing students to have rich conversations about teaching and learning. Our small class sizes and discussion-based courses encourage high levels of engagement. The program culminates in a final capstone research project based on a student's unique interests and learning goals.
91视频专区鈥檚 education faculty and adjunct instructors are professional educators who work in the very fields that they teach. They know, from everyday experience in local schools, how standards, curriculum and assessment in today's diverse classrooms affect teaching and learning across all disciplines. They understand what effective inquiry-based learning, differentiation and personalized learning look like in high-performing classrooms. As a direct result, students have the advantage of relevant course content that puts current theory into practice.
Unique Concentrations, Small Class Sizes
The C&I program offers concentrations in elementary education, secondary education, elementary school science and mathematics, and special education. Students advance through the program, taking myriad courses that delve into cognitive-based teaching learning and assessment. The range of courses focus on current best practices, emerging issues, equity and equality. Small classes mean individual support and meaningful opportunities for collaborative work. Through the online format, students tap into technology as a blended learning tool.
The 91视频专区 Education Department is recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education as an approved Educator Preparation Program provider.
Student & Alumni Testimonials
"I was drawn to 91视频专区 College鈥檚 grad school program because of their blended learning environment. I was very interested in an on campus graduate school experience, where I would still have connections with my departmental advisors and professors as opposed to learning completely online." - Joy Nugent, Curriculum & Instruction M.S. '20
Please note the Curriculum and Instruction master's program is not open to F1 students.
91视频专区 College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Admission Requirements
For students applying to the curriculum and instruction program, please submit the following to the Graduate School:
- Complete the online application.
- Submit one copy of official transcripts from the institution where the highest degree was conferred.
- Write a short essay (approx. 500 words) describing how you anticipate 91视频专区 College鈥檚 curriculum and instruction graduate program will benefit you and your professional goals.
- Submit a copy of your teaching certificate.
Once these documents have been submitted to the Graduate School, the applicant will interview with the Program Director after which a decision for admittance into the curriculum and instruction graduate program will be made.
An applicant to the graduate program in curriculum and instruction must already hold teacher certification. This program does not issue initial teacher certification.
Transfer credit policy for admitted students
Students may transfer a maximum of 6 graduate credits from an external, accredited institution, or another 91视频专区 graduate program prior to the first semester of study in the current program. Please review the full graduate transfer credit policy in the .
Degrees Offered
- MS
Are you ready to go further?
Professional Education Core Courses
Technology for Teaching, Learning & Leadership | 3.0 | |
Introduction to Educational Research | 3.0 | |
Research-Based Teaching, Learning & Assessment | 3.0 | |
Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Vanguard teachers enrolled in the program may take in lieu of .
Foundation Courses (12 credits):
In addition to the four professional education core courses for the M.S. degree, students must complete four elementary education foundation courses (12 credits):
Effective Home-School Interaction: Research & Practice | 3.0 | |
Current Issues in Early Childhood & Elementary Education | 3.0 | |
Teaching Diverse Learners in an Inclusive Setting | 3.0 | |
Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Content Electives (9 credits)
In addition to the professional education core and foundation courses, the candidate must select three elective courses from different curriculum areas. One must be taken in reading. Substitutions are permitted with approval by the program director or academic advisor. (9 credits)
Reading
Children's Literature | 3.0 | |
Materials for Teaching Reading: Instruction & Methods | 3.0 | |
Reading Instruction: Elementary | 3.0 | |
Reading Diagnosis | 3.0 | |
Contemporary Issues in the Teaching of Reading | 3.0 | |
Integrating the Elementary Curriculum through Language Arts | 3.0 | |
LETRS Word Recognition: Units 1 & 2 | 3.0 | |
LETRS Word Recognition: Units 3 & 4 | 3.0 |
Mathematics/STEM
Mathematics Education Leadership I | 3.0 | |
K-12 Blended Learning | 3.0 | |
Modern Science Methods | 3.0 | |
Modern Mathematics Methods | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Numbers,Operations & Algebraic Thinking in Elementary & Middle School | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Geometry & Measurement in Elementary & Middle School | 3.0 | |
Foundations of Elementary STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) Education | 3.0 |
Special Populations
Methods for Teaching Multilingual Learners | 3.0 | |
Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: English Language Arts & Social Studies | 3.0 | |
Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: Math and Science | 3.0 |
Capstone (3 credits):
Part one of the capstone research project - offered Fall semester only | 3.0 | |
Part two of the capstone research project - offered Spring semester only | 3.0 |
Professional Education Core Courses
Technology for Teaching, Learning & Leadership | 3.0 | |
Introduction to Educational Research | 3.0 | |
Research-Based Teaching, Learning & Assessment | 3.0 | |
Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Foundation Courses (12 credits):
In addition to the four professional education core courses for the M.S. degree, the candidate must complete four elementary school science and mathematics foundation courses (12 credits):
Modern Science Methods | 3.0 | |
Modern Mathematics Methods | 3.0 | |
Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: Math and Science | 3.0 | |
Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Content Electives (9 credits):
In addition to the professional education and foundation courses, the candidate must select three courses from different content and topic areas, either from the science or mathematics disciplines with the approval of the adviser, or from the following education courses (9 credits).
Methods for Teaching Multilingual Learners | 3.0 | |
K-12 Blended Learning | 3.0 | |
National Board Certification Support | 3.0 | |
Topics in Elementary Physical & Earth Science | 3.0 | |
Topics in Elementary Life Science | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Numbers, Operations & Algebraic Thinking in Elementary & Middle School | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Geometry & Measurement in Elementary & Middle School | 3.0 | |
Foundations of Elementary STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) Education | 3.0 |
Capstone (3 credits):
Part one of the capstone research project - offered Fall semester only | 3.0 | |
Part two of the capstone research project - offered Spring semester only | 3.0 |
Professional Education Core Courses
Technology for Teaching, Learning & Leadership | 3.0 | |
Introduction to Educational Research | 3.0 | |
Research-Based Teaching, Learning & Assessment | 3.0 | |
Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Foundation Courses (9 credits):
In addition to the four professional education core courses for the M.S. degree, students must select three secondary foundation courses (9 credits):
Teaching Diverse Learners in an Inclusive Setting | 3.0 | |
Classroom Organization & Management in Special Education | 3.0 | |
Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 |
Content Electives (12 credits):
In addition to the professional education and foundation courses, candidates must select four courses from professional and content areas that form a coherent unit of study within the secondary teaching areas. These 500-level courses may be selected from offerings by the various departments at 91视频专区, including the Education Department, and must be approved by the adviser. Students may select from the following listing of content areas, provided that they have met course prerequisites and any subject matter departmental requirements. Students should check with their academic adviser each semester for course availability and additional courses that may become available (12 credits):
Biomedical Science
/ | Protein Biochemistry | 3.0 |
/ | Biochemistry of Intermediary Metabolism | 3.0 |
Cell Structure & Function | 3.0 | |
/ | Molecular Biology of Eukaryotic Cells | 3.0 |
Environmental Biology
Introduction to Environmental Biology | 3.0 | |
Principles of Ecology | 3.0 | |
/ | Pollution Biology | 3.0 |
/ | Natural Resource Management | 3.0 |
Mathematics
Statistics | 3.0 | |
Explorations in Geometry | 3.0 | |
Explorations in Algebra | 3.0 | |
Discrete Math | 3.0 | |
/ | Introduction to Graph Theory | 3.0 |
/ | Elementary Number Theory | 3.0 |
The Teaching of Geometry & Measurement in Elementary & Middle School | 3.0 |
Some of these courses may be applied toward the Mathematics Department鈥檚 . This certificate does not lead to initial teacher certification.
Mathematics Education
The Teaching of Geometry | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Algebra | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Statistics & Probability: Decision Making with Mathematics | 3.0 | |
The Teaching of Mathematical Modeling: Strategies for Contemporary Problems | 3.0 |
Capstone (3 credits):
Part one of the capstone research project - offered Fall semester only | 3.0 | |
Part two of the capstone research project - offered Spring semester only | 3.0 |
Professional Education Core Courses (12 credits)
Technology for Teaching, Learning & Leadership | 3.0 | |
Introduction to Educational Research | 3.0 | |
Research-Based Teaching, Learning & Assessment | 3.0 | |
Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Foundation Courses (9 credits):
In addition to the four professional education core courses for the M.S. degree, all candidates in the Special Education Concentration must complete three courses in special education content coursework for 9 credits:
Classroom Organization & Management in Special Education | 3.0 | |
Historical, Philosophical & Legal Foundations of Special Education | 3.0 | |
Principles of Curriculum Development & Appraisal | 3.0 | |
Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 |
: Waived if student has taken special education survey or mainstreaming course at the undergraduate or graduate level within five years and obtained a grade of 鈥淏.鈥 An elective may then be selected by the student.
Content Electives (12 credits):
In addition to the professional education core and foundation courses, the candidate must select four elective courses. One must be taken in reading. Substitutions are permitted with approval by the program director. (12 credits)
Methods for Teaching Multilingual Learners | 3.0 | |
K-12 Blended Learning | 3.0 | |
National Board Certification Support | 3.0 | |
Foundations of Elementary STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics) Education | 3.0 | |
Assessment, Diagnosis & Prescription in Special Education | 3.0 | |
Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: English Language Arts & Social Studies | 3.0 | |
Curriculum & Methods in Inclusive Classrooms: Math and Science | 3.0 |
Reading
Children's Literature | 3.0 | |
Materials for Teaching Reading: Instruction & Methods | 3.0 | |
Reading Instruction: Elementary | 3.0 | |
Reading Diagnosis | 3.0 | |
Contemporary Issues in the Teaching of Reading | 3.0 | |
Integrating the Elementary Curriculum through Language Arts | 3.0 | |
LETRS Word Recognition: Units 1 & 2 | 3.0 | |
LETRS Word Recognition: Units 3 & 4 | 3.0 | |
LETRS Word Recognition: Units 5 and 6 | 3.0 | |
LETRS Word Recognition: Units 7 and 8 | 3.0 |
Capstone (3 credits):
Part one of the capstone research project - offered Fall semester only | 3.0 | |
Part two of the capstone research project - offered Spring semester only | 3.0 |
18-24 Months
Average Completion Time
36 Total Credits
Program Contact

Program Director

Assistant Director of Graduate Admission

Graduate Faculty Focus | Marisel Torres-Crespo, Ph.D.
"One of the most important skills my graduate students should learn is that working with AI generative tools encourages creativity and innovation in the classroom. AI allows you to explore and generate new ideas as well as create exciting content."

Jaime Chevalier Named Outstanding Curriculum and Instruction Student
Jaime聽not only聽graduated聽with a 4.0 GPA, she did it while being an聽exceptional聽teacher and growing her family, delivering twins聽shortly before graduating! 聽

Meet Alumna Laurene Carlisle | Curriculum & Instruction M.S.'03
Laurene Carlisle earned an M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction from 91视频专区 College and has been teaching K-5 for the past 21 years.