The Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) program offers a Personalized Professional MA degree, a MA degree plus endorsement, and endorsements in a variety of areas.  The program is intended to provide licensed K-12 teachers the skills and understanding necessary for an ever-increasing diverse student body and to prepare them for curriculum development, implementation, and assessment.  The program is also beneficial for those individuals who work in community colleges, professional development, or other ancillary services in education and beyond. This is not a licensure program.  No teacher license will be issued upon successful completion of the program. 

MA C&I Degree, MA C&I Degree + Endorsement, and Endorsement Areas

Personalized Professional C&I MA Degree with Concentration in: no license or endorsement)	C&I MA Degree + Endorsement	Endorsement Only
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education	C&I MA w/Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education with K-12 endorsement	Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12)
Reading and Writing	C&I MA w/Reading and Writing with Reading Teacher K-12 Endorsement	Reading Teacher (K-12)
English Education
Math Education
Science Education
Math and Science Education
Special Education	C&I MA w/Special Education with Generalist Endorsement, Ages 5-21	Special Education Generalist Endorsement, Ages 5-21

The Master of Arts (MA) in Curriculum and Instruction offers three degree paths: 

1. Personalized Professional:  The customizable 30 credit hour MA path provides the opportunity for you to tailor your coursework to your specific needs as an Educator.  Students choose from one of several concentration areas in which to focus, while having the flexibility to choose courses outside the concentration area for additional learning from the Thematic Course Categories.  This MA does NOT lead to a license or an endorsement.
2. MA plus endorsement:  The MA plus endorsement allows students to add an endorsement to their current teaching license in a variety of areas.  In this program, students receive a MA and an endorsement.  Recommendation for endorsement(s) is made by the C&I Program, but endorsement is granted by the State of Colorado. Individual State requirements vary and may include teaching experience and examinations in addition to a valid teaching credential. Students should consult with the Colorado Department of Education for the most updated endorsement requirements. http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/licensure_authorization_landing. 
3. MA for teacher licensure completers:  Students who have completed the Teacher Education licensure program in the SEHD have the option of completing their MA in Curriculum and Instruction. 

Concentration Areas

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Concentration

This concentration helps licensed teachers enhance their skills and credentials for working with English language learners.  This concentration emphasizes a socio-cultural approach to issues of language and learning, acknowledging the legitimacy of linguistic and cultural differences, and recognizing that academic settings represent important socializing forces in students’ lives. We emphasize the “whole learner” in our teaching and in teacher education, understanding that individuals do not merely add a language to their repertoire of communication but make fundamental identity adjustments as they progress in their studies. Course work includes language teaching methodology, language acquisition, linguistic analysis of English, multicultural foundations, assessment, literacy, and other areas.

Literacy, Language and Culturally Responsive Teaching Concentration

Reading and Writing

This concentration will enhance your literacy instruction skills and credentials while providing advanced knowledge and training to work with diverse student populations as they develop reading, writing, and oral language skills.  Course work includes language and literacy acquisition, culturally relevant teaching practices, literature, literacy assessment and informed instruction, hands-on practice, and other areas. We stress the importance of recognizing a variety of literacies - home, school, community, and mainstream - in both first and second languages, and the meaningful use of literacy and language to improve students’ quality of life. 

English Education

This concentration prepares licensed Secondary English or language arts teacher to work with diverse adolescents as they develop an appreciation for literature and composition.  Course work includes theory and methods of English education, linking assessment and instruction, and practicum experience. The study of contemporary, ethnic, and classic literature, reading, and writing are woven together, along with speaking, listening, and viewing.  We stress the importance of recognizing a variety of literacies - home, school, community, and mainstream - in both first and second languages, and the meaningful use of literacy and language to improve students’ quality of life.

Mathematics Education Concentration 

This concentration promotes elementary and secondary mathematics teachers’ passion, confidence, and competence in providing mathematics teaching-learning processes informed by insightful theories, effective learning activities, and innovative teaching strategies, as well as by international perspectives. This concentration area focuses on integration of theory, research, and practice to enable teachers to make instructional decisions and implement mathematics lessons that promote students’ conceptual understandings and problem solving, including opportunities for doing research.

Science Education Concentration

This concentration promotes elementary and secondary science teachers’ passion, confidence, and competence in providing science teaching-learning processes informed by insightful theories, effective learning activities, and innovative teaching strategies, as well as by international perspectives. This concentration area focuses on integration of theory, research, and practice to enable teachers to make instructional decisions and implement science lessons that promote students’ conceptual understandings and problem solving, including opportunities for doing research.

Mathematics and Science Education Concentration

This concentration area combines the mathematics education and science education fields to prepare teachers who can bridge these disciplines into exciting and innovative programming for students. It draws on the learning activities and experiences provided in the mathematics education and science education concentration areas.

Special Education Concentration

This concentration emphasizes the development of reflective practitioners through trans-disciplinary training, fosters reflective inquiry about teaching and learning, as well as the development of the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary to teach in elementary and secondary classrooms serving students with disabilities.  Reflection and inquiry provide an informed and integrated basis for advocating for all learners.