Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Program (ED)

Offered through the Department of Teacher Development
in the College of Education
A132 Education Building
Phone: 320.308.3007
Fax: 320.308.2933

Department Chairperson: Dr. Ramon Serrano
Department Secretary: Ms. Pam Thienes

Graduate Coordinators: Drs. Lalita Subrahmanyan & Ramon Serrano.
Graduate Faculty: Bacharach, Davis, Davison, Davison-Jenkins, Frank, D. Heine, P. Heine, Hornstein, Jay, Kazemek, Miller, Rojas, Scott-Halverson, Serrano, Subrahmanyan, Tabakin.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Program

• Undergraduate GPA is closely reviewed.
• Admission decisions are made as completed application files are received.
• Before applicants can be admitted to the graduate program in curriculum and instruction, they must meet the admission requirements for graduate studies at St. Cloud State University.
• An applicant for this degree must have completed an undergraduate teacher education program from an accredited teacher preparation institution.

Graduate Assistantship Overview

• One to two graduate assistantship positions are generally sponsored each year and are available both fall and spring semesters.
• Potential areas for graduate assistant involvement include advisement of undergraduate students, supervision of students in the field, research, and teaching.

Degrees and Plans Offered

• Master of Science: Plan A (Thesis) at 30 credits
• Master of Science: Plan B (Starred Paper) at 33 credits
• Master of Science: Plan C (Professional Portfolio) at 36 credits
• Each plan requires a preliminary conference and a final oral examination.

Master of Science — Curriculum and Instruction

Plan A (Thesis), 30 credits; Plan B (Starred Paper), 33 credits; Plan C (Portfolio), 36 credits

Research courses
Plan A, 12 credit minimum; Plan B, 6 credit minimum; Plan C, 3 credit minimum

• ED 610. Introduction to Curriculum and Instruction, 3 credits (Plan A, Plan B and Plan C)
• ED 699. Plan A, Thesis, 6 credits (Plan A)
• ED 698. Plan B, Starred Paper(s), 3 credits (Plan B)

Research course for Plan A students selected from the following choices: ED 614, ED 615, CEEP 675, CEEP 678, ANTH 530, or other with the approval of adviser.

Core Courses:
Plans A, B, & C, 9 credit minimum

 

Curriculum
3 credits

• ED 647. Curriculum Development, Implementation and Assessment, 3 credits REQUIRED

Instruction/Learning
3 credits

• ED 654. Instruction and Assessment, 3 credits REQUIRED

Foundations
3 credits

• ED 611. Historical and Philosophical Foundations, 3 credits -OR -
• ED 612. Social and Cultural Foundations, 3 credits

Teaching Field Applications and elective courses
Plan A, 9 credit minimum; Plan B, 18 credit minimum; Plan C, 24 credit minimum

Select 500- or 600-level courses from the various department offerings, approved workshops, specialty fields, and transfer credits.  At least one course approved by the adviser must be taken in another department.

SCSU's Curriculum & Instruction master's degree is not a licensure program. If students are seeking initial licensure in either elementary education or secondary/k-12 education, they will need to complete SCSU's undergraduate licensure program.

NOTE: CED prefix courses cannot be used in a master's degree program.

Master of Science — Curriculum and Instruction Cohort Program

Key Features

• Provides advanced professional educational opportunities for licensed, experienced teachers (18 to 25 teachers per cohort).
• The program can be completed in two years, including summer sessions.
• A student will take three 10-week courses over two semesters during the academic year.
• Classes will meet one night per week, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. during the academic year.
• During the summer, courses will follow the regular summer schedule and students will take three or four classes.
• Provides opportunity for teachers to develop professional networks of support through a cohort model.
• Provides theoretical basis for teaching as well as ideas for improving the effectiveness and satisfaction of practice.
• Allows options for the culminating project.
  

Plan A (Thesis), 30 credits; Plan B (Starred Paper), 33 credits; Plan C (Portfolio), 36 credits

Core courses
12 credits

• ED 610. Introduction to Curriculum and Instruction, 3 credits
• ED 647. Curriculum Development and Assessment, 3 credits
• ED 654. Instruction and Assessment, 3 credits

Choose one course

• ED 611. History and Philosophy of Education, 3 credits
• ED 612. Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, 3 credits

NOTE:

• ED 699 and a research course required for Plan A
• ED 698 required for Plan B

Choose remaining credits from the following courses

Classroom management
Children's rights
Action research
Cooperative learning
Conflict mediation
Reading in content areas
Classroom computers
Keyboarding and technology
Active assessment
Mentoring and supervision
Gender equity in education
Teachers and change
Critical pedagogy
and other special topic offerings (e.g., middle-level education, urban education, literacy)

Location

SCSU Campus, Education Building
Parking is available with a permit in any campus lot.

For more information contact:
Dr. Lalita Subrahmanyan
Department of Teacher Development
320.308.3057
lsubrahmanyan@stcloudstate.edu

Graduate Middle Level Specialty Licensure

The "Middle School Teaching Endorsement" in Science, Social Studies, Math, or Communication Arts and Literature is no longer the teaching license granted by the State of Minnesota's Department of Education. Effective October 1, 2004, the new licensure (which may be added to a current K/1-6 or 7-12 licensure in one or more of the four content areas-Science, Social Studies, Mathematics or Communication Arts and Literature) is called the Middle Level 5-8 _________ (fill in either Math, Communication Arts and Literature, Science, or Social Studies). Please note that the Middle Level Specialty is not a stand alone license. Candidates with K-12 licenses in disciplines such as art, music, or physical education must complete the requirements for the elementary (K-8) or secondary (5-12) license.

Requirements

The new licensure guidlines are standards based, leaving the university coursework requirements up to the Teacher Development and Content Area faculty. All candidates are required to pass the Praxes II Examination in the specific middle level content area before they can obtain the licensure for the specialty. St. Cloud State University course requirements for each of the middle level specialties are described below. Please note that any changes in the State of Minnesota guidelines will take precedence and may result in changes in this process.

Course Requirements for adding the Middle Level 5-8 Specialty License to a Grades K/1 - 6 license or to a Grades 7 - 12 license in the same field as the primary license.

Area 1: Emerging adolscent development and middle school philosophy and organization.

• For K/1-6 and 7-12 license holders:
  ED 627, Education of the Emerging Adolescent, 3 credits (Fulfills both Early Adolescent Development and Middle School Philosophy and Organization requirements of the State of Minnesota.)

Area 2: Documented Field Experience:

• For K/1-6 License Holders:
  Documented satisfactory field experience of at least 20 hours (teachiang lessons or a unit, small group or large group) in Grades 7 or 8 at a public middle or elementary school supervised by a licensed and tenured teacher or administrator. A signed statement on school letterhead from the Principal or designee certifying satisfactory completion is required.
• For Grades 7-12 license holders:
  Documented satisfactory field experience of at least 20 hours (teaching lessons or a unit, small group or large group) in Grades 5 or 6 at a public middle or elementary school supervised by a licensed and tenured teacher or administator. A signed statement on school letterhead from the Principal or designee certifying satisfactory completion is required.

Area 3: Content area requirement:

• Candidate may choose one of the areas: Communication Arts and Literature, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies.  Approval of Content Area Advisor is required for all course requirements.  Please note that it might be possible to transfer in one or more courses from a different institution with the approval of the advisor. Undergraduate courses may also be taken at the graduate level.  Courses taken at the graduate level may be used as electives in the Masters Program in Curriculum and Instruction with the approval of the graduate advisor.
• Please note that Grades 7-12 license holders seeking the Middle School Specialty in a field different from their primary license must contact the content area advisors for specific requirements.

Communication Arts and Literature

• Undergraduate or graduate level literature course numbered above 200 (consult advisor for specifics).
• Upper level writing course
• Course in middle level pedagogy: ENG 351 may be changed to a graduate course, with approval of the advisor
• ENG 554
• CMST 553

Mathematics

• Math 171 – Fundamentals of Mathematics (3 credits)
• Math 112 – *College Algebra (3 credits)
• Math 211 – Survey of Calculus I (3 credits)
• Math 330 – Mathematics for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
• Math 336 – Data Analysis and Probability for K - 8 Teachers (3 credits)
• Math 337 – Geometry for K - 8 Teachers (3 credits)
• Math 431/531 – Professional Subject Matter for Middle Grades Mathematics (3 credits)
• College Algebra will be waived if, based on placement test exam or prior coursework, the student is placed into and successfully completes a higher-level (Math 115, 211, 221) math class.
• Three of the courses can be taken at the graduate level. Math 431 can be taken as Math 531. Math 336 and 337 can also be offered as Math 583 (Special Topics) at the same time and place. Students taking the class at a graduate level will complete an extra graduate-level project (to be arranged with the instructor of the course). The other classes are not available at graduate level.

Science

Requirements for candidates with a primary K/1-6 license are different from those for candidates with a primary 7-12 license.

Requirements for K/1-6 license holders:

• SCI 226 and SCI 227. 
• One approved introductory lab course in Chemistry, Earth Science, and Biology. These courses can vary somewhat depending on previous coursework.  Please check with the science education advisor.
• SCI 420 (Science and Society).

Requirements for 7-12 license holders:

• BIOL(Biology) 151
• BIOL(Biology) 152
• CHEM(Chemistry) 210
• CHEM(Chemistry) 211
• EAS(Earth and Atmospheric Science) 205
• ASTRO(Astronomy) 106
• PHY (Physics) 231
• PHY (Physics) 232
• SCI (Science) 420 (Science and Society)

Social Studies

One graduate level course each from any five of the following areas (15+ credits):

• History (recommended)
• Geography (recommended)
• Anthropology
• Social Science
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Economics

Process for Licensure Approval

1. Candidate must complete ED 627 (Education of the Emerging Adolescent) 3 credits. Candidates may check the course schedule and sign-up on-line whenever the course is offered.  In case of difficulty, please call the Department of Teacher Development Office Manager, Pam Thienes at (320) 308-2040.
2. Candidate must obtain signed approval of all required upper level undergraduate or graduate level content area courses taken either at St. Cloud State University or transferred in from another institution from advisors in Middle Level Education (Dr. Terry Miller or Dr. Lalita Subrahmanyan) and a content area advisor (see list below) in the Middle Level Specialty Course Approval Form..
3. Candidate must complete all coursework as per the approved list of courses. If changes are made subsequently, they must be signed and approved by the advisor.
4. Candidates must satisfactorily complete field experience of at least 20 hours (teaching lessons or a unit, small group or large group) in Grades 7 or 8 for K/1-6 license holders or Grades 5 or 6 for Grades 7-12 license holders at a public middle or elementary school supervised by a licensed and tenured teacher or administrator.  Candidates must obtain a signed statement on school letterhead from the Principal or designee certifying satisfactory completion.  This statement must be submitted to a middle level education advisor (Dr. Lalita Subrahmanyan or Dr. Terry Miller) for approval and sign-off.
5. Candidate must complete Praxis II examination for the content area in which licensure is sought.  Candidate must designate SCSU as the University where the Praxis II scores must be sent. (Code # R6679)
6. Candidate must submit the following application materials to St. Cloud State University’s Office of Records and Registration, Attention: Darla Calverley.
   1. Completed and signed Middle Level Specialty Course Approval Form. 
   2. Completed and signed Middle Level Specialty Checklist for Completion of Requirements.
   3. Original transcripts in a sealed envelope from all universities in which course work was approved by advisor
   4. For SCSU transcript a separate check payable to SCSU for $5.
   5. Completed, signed, and dated State of Minnesota Licensure Application and Conduct Review Form (obtainable from the Department of Education website:  www.education.state.mn.us).
   6. Licensure Fee ($57) payable to the Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Education.
7. After all materials including examination scores are verified, the application will be sent to the State of Minnesota Department of Education for final approval of licensure.  For more information, please check the SCSU website www.stcloudstate.edu.

Contact Persons

Department of Teacher Development

Dr. Terry Miller, tkmiller@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Lalita Subrahmanyan, lsubrahmanyan@stcloudstate.edu

Mathematics Specialty

Dr. Shirley Buls, srbuls@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Janis Cimperman, jmcimperman@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Susan Haller, skhaller@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Bishnu Naraine, bnaraine@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Roozbeh Vakil, rvakil@stcloudstate.edu

Social Studies Specialty

Dr. Betsy Glade, beglade@stcloudstate.edu

Science Specialty

Dr. Jean Hoff, jlhoff@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Patricia Simpson, psimpson@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Mark Minger, maminger@stcloudstate.edu

Communication Arts and Literature Specialty

Dr. Chris Gordon, cmgordon@stcloudstate.edu
Dr. Raymond Philippot, raphilippot@stcloudstate.edu

University Records and Registration

Darla Calverley, (320) 308 – 4933, ddcalverley@stcloudstate.edu