2006-2008 Catalog of Courses

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

College of Education

www.uni.edu/coe/ci

Staff:

G. Stefanich, Interim Head. P. Beed, M. Betterton, M. Cai, C. Christensen, J. Cornett, R. DeVries, J. Donaldson, R. Edmiaston, L. Ensworth, J. Finkelstein, L. Fitzgerald, B. Heitzman, M. Herring, G. Holmes, K. Krueger, D. Landis, J. Marchesani, C. May, J. McClain, K. Meredith, L. Nielsen, B. Safford, J. Schneider, D. Schumacher-Douglas, J. Smith, J. Steele, D. Tallakson, D. Tidwell, R. Traw, V. Trent, J. Uhlenberg, T. Weih, B. Zan, L. Zeitz.

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers the following graduate programs.  Specific requirements for these programs are listed within this Department of Curriculum and Instruction section in the following order:

Graduate Majors (M.A.)

Curriculum and Instruction: Instructional Technology

Performance and Training Technology

School Library Media Studies

Graduate Majors (M.A.E.)

Curriculum and Instruction: Early Childhood Education

Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary Education

Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy Education

Curriculum and Instruction: Middle Level Education

Graduate Majors (Ed.D.)

Doctor of Education: Curriculum and Instruction intensive study area

Master of Arts Degree Programs

Major in Curriculum and Instruction: Instructional Technology

This major is designed to prepare educators for a variety of professional positions in educational settings, including: school building level, school district level, and alternative schools.

This major is available on both the thesis and non-thesis options, and requires a minimum of 35-44 semester hours depending on the option chosen. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200-level course work is required for the thesis option. A minimum of 12 semester hours of 200-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

All students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. This comprehensive examination will normally accompany the thesis defense. A student completing the thesis option must include 6 hours of 240:299 in the program of study.

All students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete the departmental graduate research requirement and prepare a comprehensive ePortfolio at the end of the student's program of study.

Option 1

Option 2

Major in Performance and Training Technology

This major is offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as a program in performance and training technology for persons planning to work in non-K-12 school or corporate settings.

This major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options, and is designed for a minimum of 35 semester hours. A minimum of 15 semester hours of 200-level course work is required for the thesis option. A minimum of 12 semester hours of 200-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

All students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. The examination will be comprehensive in nature and will normally accompany the thesis defense. A student completing the thesis option must include 6 hours of 240:299 in the program of study.

All students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete the departmental graduate research requirement and prepare a comprehensive portfolio at the end of the student's program of study.

Majors in this area will complete a basic core of course work applicable to all preparing to work as trainers, instructional designers, or production specialists. Specific areas of interest will determine the supporting electives. Teacher licensure is not required. The student's baccalaureate degree may be in any field.

Major in School Library Media Studies

This major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options. A minimum of 40 semester hours is required for the thesis option, and a minimum of 36 semester hours is required for the non-thesis option. A minimum of 15 hours of 200-level course work is required for the thesis option. A minimum of 12 hours of 200-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Students choosing the thesis option are required to write a thesis and pass an oral defense conducted by the thesis committee. Students choosing the non-thesis option are required to complete the departmental graduate research requirement. In lieu of a comprehensive examination, all students must complete a comprehensive portfolio that meets the requirements of the division faculty, during their final semester of course work.

Students completing this major are eligible for the K-12 media specialist endorsement if they hold or are eligible to hold a teaching license.

Students who have previous course work which is equivalent to required courses are encouraged to take elective courses in instructional technology, gifted education, postsecondary education, or other education-related programs.

Master of Arts in Education Degree Programs

Major in Curriculum and Instruction: Specialty Area Focus

The Curriculum and Instruction: Specialty Area Focus master's programs have as their focus the improvement of learning environments for K-12 children. The programs will have a common core. Students entering this master's program will need to select a specialty area for their primary area of study. The diploma for the degree will indicate the specialty area.

This master's degree is available on the thesis and non-thesis options. A minimum of 15 hours of 200-level course work is required for the thesis option. A minimum of 12 hours of 200-level course work is required for the non-thesis option. Students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. This comprehensive examination will normally accompany the thesis defense. Students completing the thesis option must include 6 hours of 210:299 on the program of study. Students completing the non-thesis option are required to meet the individual specialty area's requirements for the non-thesis option. These are cited within the description for each specialty area.

The student must complete the Curriculum and Instruction core, the professional core, required courses in the specialty area, and electives for a specified number of semester hours in the program of study.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Curriculum and Instruction: Early Childhood Education

The degree program in this specialty area focus requires a minimum of 30 or 33 semester hours.

The program is designed to improve the student's competence in teaching young children and in providing leadership for program development and implementation.

Students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. The examination will be comprehensive in nature and will normally accompany the thesis defense. Students completing the thesis option must include 6 hours of 210:299 on the program of study. Students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete

1. the department graduate research requirement and

2. a performance-based and/or standard-based measure demonstrating student competency upon completion of the program.

The program may be extended by students wishing to complete the State of Iowa licensure endorsement for Early Childhood Education.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Curriculum and Instruction: Education of the Gifted

The degree program in this specialty area focus requires a minimum of 32 or 37 semester hours.

The program is designed to improve the student's competence in teaching gifted and talented children and youth and in providing leadership for program development and implementation.

Students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. This comprehensive examination will normally accompany the thesis defense. Students completing the thesis option must include 6 hours of 210:299 on the program of study. Students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete

1. the department graduate research requirement and

2. a performance-based and/or standard-based portfolio and oral comprehensive examination.

The program may be extended by students wishing to complete the State of Iowa licensure endorsement for Education of the Gifted.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary Education

The degree program in this specialty area focus requires a minimum of 30 semester hours.

The program is designed to improve the student's effectiveness as a classroom teacher, instructional leader, and curriculum developer.

Students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. This comprehensive examination will normally accompany the thesis defense. Students on the thesis option must include 6 hours of 210:299 on the program of study. Students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete the department graduate research requirement.

The program may be extended by students wishing to complete the State of Iowa licensure endorsement for Elementary Education.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy Education

The degree program in this specialty area focus requires a minimum of 33 semester hours.

The program is designed to develop and extend the expertise of educators in both leadership and classroom positions who wish to specialize in the area of literacy education. Students examine theories, programs and practices in the teaching of literacy, the evaluation of literacy development and the integration of literacy across curricular areas.

In addition to the university requirements for admission to graduate study, admission to this program includes the following requirements:

1. two recommendations from professional educators, and

2. satisfactory completion of writing examination.  Preference may be given to applications with academic background and/or professional experience in education.

Students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. This comprehensive examination will normally accompany the thesis defense. Students on the thesis option must include 6 hours of 230:299 on the program of study. Students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete

1. the department graduate research requirement and

2. a performance-based and/or standard-based measure demonstrating student competency upon completion of the program.

The program may be extended by students wishing to complete any of the four State of Iowa licensure endorsements: K-6 Reading, Reading Specialist, English/Language Arts K-6, or Secondary Reading.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Curriculum and Instruction: Middle Level Education

The degree program in this specialty area focus requires a minimum of 32 or 35 semester hours.

The program is designed to increase competence in working with young adolescents. It can be varied (or extended) to fit the student's background and goals.

Students completing the thesis option are required to pass an oral examination prepared and administered by the thesis committee. The examination will be comprehensive in nature and will normally accompany the thesis defense. Students on the thesis option must include 6 hours of 210:299 on the program of study. Students completing the non-thesis option are required to complete the departmental graduate research requirement. In lieu of a comprehensive examination, all students must complete a comprehensive portfolio that meets the requirements of the division faculty, during their final semester of course work.

The program may be extended by students wishing to complete the State of Iowa licensure endorsement for Middle Level Education.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Doctor of Education Degree Program

This program is intended to provide practicing educators the opportunity to continue their study and earn the terminal professional degree in their field. The Ed.D. degree requires a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit beyond the master's degree. The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is required for admission to the program.

There are three components to the program: 15 semester hours in a Professional Common Core of work in educational foundations, fundamentals, and research; 38 semester hours of Advanced Professional Study in one of six areas of intensive study and a related area; and a Dissertation of 7 semester hours.

By design, then, all students are required to study in basic areas that undergird and define educational practice and develop skills of problem definition, data collection and analysis, and interpretation. The six areas of intensive study provide for a specialized focus on practice. The six intensive study areas are: Community Health Education, Curriculum and Instruction,Educational Leadership, Leisure, Youth and Human Services, Rehabilitation Studies, and Special Education. (In some areas, it is possible to combine doctoral degree study with work toward an endorsement to perform a particular role in K-12 education.)

The Curriculum and Instruction intensive study area is designed to prepare scholar-practitioners to plan, implement, evaluate, and supervise educational programs for children and adult learners. (For more information, contact the Head, Department of Curriculum and Instruction.)