GRADUATE DEGREE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
MASTER'S PROGRAM
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers already certified teachers and experienced educators a range of options and tracks leading to the master’s degree. Underlying all of the options and tracks is the Department’s belief that master’s level studies in education for teachers and educators need to be flexible and responsive to candidate needs in ways that promote their development of the knowledge, abilities and attitudes supportive of active, interactive, and interpretive learning for diverse students in different types of school settings.

There are two main program options: the Master of Education (M.Ed.) Program option and the Master of Arts (M.A.) Program option. The M.Ed. –Teacher Leadership track emphasizes advanced professional development studies, which support experienced teachers as accomplished professionals and instructional leaders. EDCI also offers separate M.Ed. tracks in Reading Education for already licensed teachers seeking to coordinate studies leading to the reading specialist certification with studies leading to the M.Ed. degree and a separate track in Second Language Education and Culture for candidates seeking to add TESOL certification while pursuing the master’s degree. In addition, a newly approved track emphasizes curriculum-situated subject matter and professional development studies on teaching and learning in the middle school and is intended for teachers certified in elementary and/or special education who are teaching at the middle school level and want to obtain recognition as highly qualified teachers and become certified for subject matter instruction at the middle school level. The M.A. Program option is intended for candidates who plan on or are teaching at the secondary, community college, or college level and/or who intend to pursue doctoral level studies; this option emphasizes advanced studies in subject matter disciplines, professional development, and research in discipline-based teaching and learning.

EDCI also offers a set of M.Ed. with certification options for college graduates with majors in appropriate disciplines who seek to coordinate studies leading to initial teaching certification with studies leading to the M.Ed. degree. There is a MCERT option in elementary education and a MCERT option in secondary education for majors in English, foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, and social studies. In addition, the Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE) is a collaborative effort between Montgomery County Public Schools and EDCI to prepare talented support staff for elementary classroom positions in the Montgomery County Public Schools. Finally, EDCI offers a post-baccalaureate certification-only option for qualified college graduates with appropriate majors seeking to become certified as middle-secondary level teachers but without the accompanying coursework for the master’s degree.

Core Goals/Learning Outcomes for the Master’s Degree Options and Tracks in EDCI
Different master’s degree options in the Department will have specialization or degree –specific goals and learning outcomes that go beyond the Core Goals/Learning Outcomes for the degree program. However, all graduates of the Master’s Degree Options in EDCI demonstrate that they:
1) are able to engage in the careful analysis of and reflection on their own and others’ teaching as a basis for continuing growth as a professional
2) demonstrate an understanding of the content, topics, issues, practices, and policies that support effective classroom practice for diverse students in diverse school settings
3) demonstrate that they are able to engage in effective instruction for diverse students
4) demonstrate the capacity to engage in disciplined inquiry into curriculum, teaching, and students’ learning as a basis for decision-making in the classroom, leadership roles in schools, and/or support of research and theory development in the field.

Time Limits: All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within a 5-year period from date of admission.

Transfer of Credit for Master's Students: Students may apply to transfer up to twelve credits, earned as an Advanced Special student at the University of Maryland, College Park, into a master's degree program. (At no time will more then twelve such credits be approved for transfer.) Six credits of work taken at another regionally accredited institution may be brought into a master's degree program. The advisor, Department, College of Education, and the Graduate School must approve all transfer credits.
For the master's degree, credits should have been earned within five years of graduation.

Credit by Examination and Work Experience: The Department does not allow credit by examination or work experience to meet any of its requirements.

Examinations: In addition to an oral defense, master’s students completing a thesis must complete a three-hour written exam. MA Non-thesis option and M.Ed. master’s students must complete a six-hour written exam. Exams are taken by arrangement with your program and/or advisor.

Internships: Master's students in the Master’s Certification, CITE, and TESOL w/certification programs must complete a field experience.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
The Department offers a variety of programs individually designed to meet graduate students' personal and professional goals, which may include educational research, teaching (K-12 and post-secondary), supervising, providing leadership as curriculum specialists within the disciplines, and teacher education at all levels (elementary, secondary and higher education).     These programs are organized around the following set of specialization areas.

M.Ed. Programs
M.Ed with Emphasis In Teacher Leadership in the Schools
M.Ed. in Reading Education with Reading Specialist Certification
Second Language Education M.Ed. Only
Middle School Mathematics


MA Programs
Art Education
English, Literacy, Speech Communication and Theatre Education
Mathematics Education
Minority and Urban Education
Second Language and Culture (TESOL/FLEd)
Science Education