Curriculum & Instruction Department Mission

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The mission of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) is to develop and deliver educational programs ensuring the highest level of teacher preparation and performance, as well as to be a recognized contributor in the fields of educational research and practice through effective teaching, quality research, and meaningful service. As our students graduate into a complex society that requires an understanding of diverse student populations, promoting programs with both rigor and consequence are critical to ensure that we are preparing “highly qualified” teachers. The faculty in the C&I Department believe that what we do as educators makes a difference and to this end demand much of themselves, of students, and of colleagues which in turn supports a strong commitment to the welfare and education of all children.

The C&I Department is comprised of six programs which support both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The programs, Early Childhood – Grade 4, Mid-level (grade 4 – 8), Secondary (grade 8 – 12), Early Childhood – Grade 4 Bilingual, Educational Technology and Reading are based on state certifications and state standards. Undergraduate students may receive teaching certifications in each of the programs and graduate students may receive certification as well as a Master’s of Education in Teaching. In addition, an MA in C&I is offered for certified, in-service teachers. The MA in C&I with an emphasis in Reading is available through distance education and has been recognized as one of the top ten distance education programs by U.S. News and World Report.

Curriculum and Instruction faculty understand that collaboration is a key for providing an innovative teacher education program that prepares pre-service teachers to serve all students. Established partnerships with Title I eligible K-12 schools bring together faculty, teachers, and administrators for integration of field work that focus on best practices. Students spend many hours in public school classrooms reflecting on practice and observing master mentor teachers modeling instruction. Additionally, grants, such as the National Writing Project and the funding of the Center for Bilingual Education by the U.S. Department of Education provide public schools with summer reading programs and teaching assistants in high need areas.

To help meet the challenges of educating all children and to secure the ideal of academically competent students for future generations, C&I faculty strive to provide learning environments that are based on the “central assumption that good teachers are essential for young students to obtain a high quality education and meet high standards.”