Curriculum and Instruction - Ph.D.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction prepares scholars for careers in college and university settings and leadership roles in schools. The program offers concentrations in Adapted/Physical Education, Curriculum and Teaching Studies, Educational Technology, Early Childhood Education, Literacy, Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Social Studies Education. Students conduct research, complete coursework, and pass a comprehensive examination to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Upon graduation, they are qualified for careers in education and other fields requiring advanced research and leadership abilities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction prepares scholars for successful careers in college and university settings and produces curriculum leaders for schools and other educational institutions. The program is relevant for qualified students interested in issues related to educational research with a curriculum and instruction focus. Upon completion of the program, students will have gained insight into what it means to transition from doctoral student to disciplined scholar. The major comprises the following concentrations: Adapted/Physical Education, Curriculum and Teaching Studies, Educational Technology, Early Childhood Education, Literacy, Mathematics Education, Science Education, Social Studies Education.

Outline:

Program Requirements:

• Course List:
• CI 87000 THEORY AND RESEARCH IN TEACHING (3 credit hours)
• CI 87001 THEORY AND RESEARCH IN CURRICULUM (3 credit hours)
• CI 87002 FORMS OF INQUIRY IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION (3 credit hours)
• RMS 85516 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN (3 credit hours)
• Educational Foundations Course (23 credit hours)
• CI 80089 RESIDENCY I (3 credit hours)
• CI 80090 RESIDENCY II (3 credit hours)
• CI 80199 DISSERTATION I (30 credit hours)
• Concentrations:
• Adapted/Physical Education Concentration Requirements:
• CI 75592 PRACTICUM IN ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• CI 77096 INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
• CI 85037 ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• CI 85055 CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN SPORT PEDAGOGY
• Other doctoral-level course, with advisor approval (12 credit hours)
• Curriculum and Teaching Studies Concentration Requirements:
• CI 71130 MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES
• CI 77002 CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP
• CI 77003 TEACHER EDUCATION
• CI 77005 INTERCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
• Educational Technology (ETEC) Doctoral-Level Elective (70000 or 80000 level) (3 credit hours)
• Early Childhood Education Concentration Requirements:
• ECED 70152 APPLICATION OF SELECTED THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN
• ECED 70158 RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
• ECED 70163 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
• ECED 80298 RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (12 credit hours)
• Literacy Concentration Requirements:
• CI 87340 RESEARCH IN READING (3 credit hours)
• CI 87343 RESEARCH IN TEACHING OF WRITING (3 credit hours)
• CI 87398 RESEARCH IN READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS (3 credit hours)
• Mathematics Education Concentration Requirements:
• CI 77225 RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (3 credit hours)
• CI 77095 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
• CI 77224 TEACHING MATHEMATICS USING COMPUTERS AND CALCULATORS
• CI 77226 IMPROVING MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD (6 credit hours)
• Science Education Concentration Requirements:
• CI 71133 ISSUES AND TRENDS IN ELEMENTARY SCIENCE (3 credit hours)
• CI 71134 RESEARCH TRENDS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION (3 credit hours)
• CI 71140 CULTURE AND MULTICULTURALISM IN SCIENCE EDUCATION (3 credit hours)
• Social Studies Education Concentration Requirements:
• CI 71124 EDUCATING THE GOOD CITIZEN
• CI 71125 ISSUES AND TRENDS IN SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION
• CI 71126 RESEARCH IN SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING AND LEARNING
• CI 71127 TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL STUDIES
• CI 77095 SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION (12 credit hours)
• Graduation Requirements:
• Minimum Major GPA: 3.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000
• Students may be required to take an introductory course on fundamentals of curriculum and other additional coursework, as well as research activities that support their scholarly interests in the context of doctoral socialization.
• Comprehensive Examination Requirements:
• The course phase of study culminates with a written and oral comprehensive examination that is created and evaluated by each doctoral student’s prospectus committee.
• Students choose one of the following options for the written component:
• Eight-hour in-class written examination
• Take-home written examination
• Written examination and portfolio (this option must be selected when submitting the plan of study)
• Once doctoral students have passed the comprehensive examination, they organize a dissertation committee, which supervises their dissertation research project.

Careers:

• Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries:
• Education teachers, postsecondary (4.8% about as fast as the average, 77,300 number of jobs, $65,440 potential earnings)
• Instructional coordinators (5.9% faster than the average, 192,900 number of jobs, $66,970 potential earnings)
• Additional Careers:
• University Professor