The Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) master's degree requires one academic year or more of graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree.

Program Tracks

Humanities Education Track

This track is designed to support teachers and other education professionals who are interested in developing greater understanding and expertise in the teaching and learning of the humanities. Courses within this concentration provide opportunities for graduate students to strengthen discipline-specific content knowledge, knowledge for teaching humanities and a multidisciplinary understanding of how content, pedagogy and practice that supports teaching and inquiry focused on humans’ social and cultural experience as they navigate  institutional, social and political systems, including education. In consultation with the advisor, this degree can be tailored toward students’ goals, interests and desired timeline to degree (typically ranging from 1–2 years)

The program serves practicing teachers, educators working with youth in informal and out-of-school settings, as well as individuals with backgrounds in the humanities wishing to learn more about teaching and learning. This track is only offered as a master's degree. Prospective doctoral students interested in the humanities are encouraged to consider the Literacy Studies, or the Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice emphasis of the Education PhD program.

STEM Education Track

The CU Boulder School of Education offers this program to support educators and other education professionals who are interested in developing greater understanding of and expertise in education related to STEM (particularly science, mathematics and computational thinking). The program enables teachers, educational designers and scholars to explore and critically analyze educational, pedagogical and curricular strategies designed to support students’ STEM learning and identities. Disciplinary connections to critical issues in STEM are strengthened through lesson design and analysis, fieldwork, coursework and research activities. Throughout these experiences, we center equity, democracy and justice as core concerns in STEM education.

The program serves practicing teachers, educational leaders, designers of informal educational settings, as well as individuals with backgrounds in STEM wishing to learn more about teaching and learning. Graduates of our MA program go on to become teacher leaders, instructional designers, curriculum specialists and district administrators.

MA+ Teacher Licensure

The MA+ teacher licensure program leads to a Colorado initial teaching license in Secondary Math, Science, English or Social Studies plus a master's degree in C&I. This program is for candidates who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and who want to elaborate and deepen the close connections between fieldwork and coursework to become a teacher. For more information, contact the School of Education.

Requirements

General Requirements

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.

Students develop a degree plan in consultation with their faculty advisor, typically in their first semester. The frequency of individual course offerings varies; therefore, candidates should plan ahead so that the required 30 credit hours are completed within the four-year time limit.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit is defined as any credit earned at another accredited institution, credits earned on another campus of the CU system, or credits earned as a nondegree student within the CU system including the Boulder campus. Students who have transfer credits must complete the transfer-of-credit paperwork approval process.

The maximum amount of work that may be transferred from another accredited institution to CU Boulder is 9 credit hours, and is accepted only after approval of the department chair/program director and under the special conditions outlined in the Graduate School Rules. All courses accepted for transfer must be graduate-level courses. A course in which a grade of B- or lower was received will not be accepted for transfer.

Transfer coursework must have been completed in the five years prior to acceptance to the program. Credit may not be transferred until the student has completed 6 credits of graduate-level coursework as a degree-seeking student on the CU Boulder campus with a 3.0 GPA.

Master's degree students who began CU's Teacher Education Program as undergraduates or as post-baccalaureate students have the following transfer credit options:

  • If the student took the courses as an undergraduate, they may be eligible to transfer up to two of their track's eligible transfer courses, depending on when those courses were taken and if the credits did not count towards the degree. Contact the School of Education for more information.
  • If the student took the courses as a post-baccalaureate student, they may transfer up to two of their track's eligible transfer courses as electives, as long as the courses were taken within the past five years. Note: Students transferring from secondary programs will transfer seven credits; therefore, they will complete a 31-credit master's degree.

Time Limit

The master's degree must be completed within four years.

Program Tracks

Humanities Education Track

In addition to the required core courses, students must complete the following track-specific course requirements.

Learning and Development
Choose at least 3 credit hours of learning and development courses. Examples of eligible courses include:3
Psychological Foundations of Education
Advanced Child Growth and Educational Development
Teaching for Understanding and Equity
Foundations of Education Curriculum
Choose at least 3 credit hours of foundations of education curriculum courses. Examples of eligible courses include:3
Curriculum Theories
Sociology of Education
History of American Education
Introduction to Disciplined Inquiry
Education Policy and the Law
Gender Issues in Education
Anthropology of Education
Philosophy of Education
Policy Issues in Education
Curriculum and Instruction in Humanities
Choose at least 12 credit hours of curriculum and instruction in humanities courses. Courses that meet students’ goals and interests are chosen in consultation with the advisor. 112
Electives
Choose at least 9 additional credit hours of courses at the 5000 level or above from within the School of Education, to be chosen in consultation with an advisor. 1,2,39
Capstone Course3
Capstone: Inquiry in the Content Areas
Total Credit Hours30
Eligible Transfer Courses

See the Transfer Credit section for details.

EDUC 5205Elementary Mathematics Theory and Methods3
EDUC 5215Elementary Science Theory and Methods3
EDUC 5316Nature of Social Studies and Social Studies Education3
EDUC 5355Secondary Social Studies Methods II3
EDUC 5365Secondary English Methods II3
Capstone Course

During the final spring semester prior to graduation, students must enroll in the capstone course, EDUC 6964 Capstone: Inquiry in the Content Areas. This course is only offered once a year. The Capstone course is a graduation requirement and requires the submission of a paper or project reviewed by faculty to successfully complete graduation and course requirements.

STEM Education Track

In addition to the required core courses, students must complete the following track-specific course requirements.

Learning and Development
Choose at least 3 credit hours of learning and development courses. Examples of eligible courses include but are not limited to: 13
Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science
Teaching for Understanding and Equity
Psychological Foundations of Education
Advanced Child Growth and Educational Development
Foundations of Education Curriculum
Choose at least 3 credit hours of foundations of education curriculum courses. Examples of eligible courses include but are not limited to:3
Advanced Social Foundations of Education
Sociology of Education
History of American Education
Queer(ing) Topics in Education
Introduction to Bilingual/Multicultural Education
Introduction to Disciplined Inquiry
Anthropology of Education
Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics and Science
Choose at least 12 credit hours of curriculum and instruction in mathematics and science courses. Eligible courses include but are not limited to: 212
Perspectives on Mathematics
Teaching and Learning Physics
Assessment in Mathematics and Science Education
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Number Sense
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Algebraic Thinking
Teaching and Learning Chemistry
Teaching and Learning Earth Systems
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Geometry & Measurement
Teaching K-12 Mathematics: Probability & Statistics
Teaching & Learning Biology In the Classroom
Capstone Course
Students are required to take on one of the seminar courses in the spring before graduation to complete their capstone. 3
EDUC 5177
Seminar in Curriculum and Policy in Mathematics & Science Education
EDUC 5178
Seminar on Learning in Math & Science Education
Seminar on Teaching and Teacher Education in Math and Science Education
Electives
Choose at least 9 additional credit hours of courses at the 5000 level or above from within the School of Education, to be chosen in consultation with your advisor. 2,3,49
Total Credit Hours30
Eligible Transfer Courses

See the Transfer Credit section for full details.

EDUC 5050Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science3
EDUC 5205Elementary Mathematics Theory and Methods3
EDUC 5215Elementary Science Theory and Methods3
EDUC 5317Perspectives on Mathematics3
EDUC 5375Problem-Based Math Instruction4
EDUC 5385Phenomenon-Based Science Instruction4
Comprehensive Exam

During the final Spring semester prior to graduation, students must enroll in a content seminar course (EDUC 5177, EDUC 5178 or EDUC 5179). The course is a graduation requirement and requires the completion of a paper or project reviewed by faculty to successfully complete graduation and course requirements.

Learning Outcomes  

MA students in Curriculum & Instruction will:

  • Develop greater understanding and expertise in teaching and learning within and/or across content domains (e.g., Humanities, Literacy, STEM Education).
  • Demonstrate professional integrity through ethical conduct, reflection and leadership.
  • Collect and analyze information from research and practice to inform decisions and enhance equitable teaching and learning for all students.
  • Make educational decisions based on deep engagement with educational scholarship, perspectives and data.
  • Understand the importance of partnering with and centering the knowledge of families and communities, particularly those that have experienced histories of marginalization, to work toward social change and educational justice.
  • Draw on disciplinary knowledge, perspectives and practices to broaden opportunities personal and social transformation