Curriculum and Instruction

Program Description

The faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction believe that educators can best be prepared within the framework of a learning community for roles as master teachers or other advanced education professionals. Graduate program goals center around the intent to prepare master teachers who can then create teaching and learning communities in their own professional education settings.

A learning community comes into being when everyone involved in the learning process shares a common purpose and commitment to learning. Teachers and learners assume many roles, often shared, often overlapping, always interdependent. They respect each other in those roles and delight in their opportunities to pursue and construct knowledge actively and cooperatively, regardless of age, academic status, cultural perspective, or interests. Particular values emphasized in the professional education learning community at The University of Montana include the following:

• Integration of ideas. Members of a learning community look beyond the traditionally segmented curriculum and think about the interrelationships among ideas.
• Cooperative endeavors. Knowing and learning are viewed as communal acts, and members are encouraged to assist each other to learn and grow.
• Respect for diversity and individual worth. Diversity is valued, and the inherent worth of each individual is respected. The ethics of caring and mutual respect are viewed as essential for creating supportive learning environments that foster risk-taking, creative conflict and excellence.

Candidates for advanced degrees in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction will experience in the learning community:

• Intellectual vitality, cooperation, and collaboration among graduate students, faculty, and professionals in Montana schools;
• Professional conscience that includes and values diversity among faculty, students and mentors;
• A sequential program of core studies that includes curriculum studies, research and statistics, historical and philosophical foundations of education, inclusion of special populations, multicultural/bilingual education, technology and leadership principles; and
• A variety of professional growth activities including preparation and presentation of original scholarly work.

Degrees Offered

M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction

Options: Curriculum Studies
Elementary Education
Library-Media Services
Literacy Education
Secondary Education

Requirements
Comprehensive exam and 37 credits minimum; previous teaching licensure required for all options except curriculum studies in which initial elementary and secondary licensure, special education endorsement, graduate preparation project (GPP) in early childhood education, online program and an emphasis in instructional design for technology are available.

Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction

Requirements
Comprehensive exam, dissertation and 60 credits minimum beyond the master's degree

Admissions

1. Application Materials and Deadline

• Fall - Priority will be given to complete application packets received by March 1. Complete application packets received after this date will be considered on a space available basis.

• Spring - Priority will be given to complete application packets received by October 1. Complete application packets received after this date will be considered on a space available basis.

• Summer - Priority will be given to complete application packets received by March 1. Complete application packets received after this date will be considered on a space available basis.

Instructions for applying to the Graduate School are in the Applying for Admission section on this web site.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction also requires:

For the M.Ed. program options:

• Letter of intent including academic and professional goals and philosophy of teaching and learning
, and the specific program option you are applying for.
• Current résumé including experiences with children and adolescents

• Three letters of recommendation that attest to your recent academic or professional performance
• At least one (two if Bachelor's degree GPA is below 3.0) of the following:

  • MA/MEd/MS GPA of 3.3 or higher

  • On campus interview (day/time to be scheduled at a convenient time only after all application materials are received)

  • 500-word essay (see prompt "all elementary and secondary ..." below)

  • National Board Certified

  • GRE scores (Verbal of 450 or higher, Quantitative of 450 or higher, and Writing of 3.5 or higher)

  • MAT score (375 or higher)
  • Please indicate in your letter of intent which of the above options you are submitting.
     

Initial elementary and secondary licensure applicants must also submit: 

• Initial Background Screening Form (formerly Form 2003.5), signed and notarized [please get rid of our old Form 2003.5 and replace with Initial Background Screening Form included in previous email]
• A fingerprint-based background check. A fingerprint card packet must be acquired from Teacher Education Services to complete the background check. (Please contact Teacher Education Services if unable to visit the office.)
• Background Check Authorization Form [please link to form included in previous email to you]
• Include a written description of previous experiences with children and adolescents. This is a two to three paragraph document separate from the resume.
• A 500-word essay, 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, one-inch margins, and titled, in response to the following prompt: "Select and describe one significant learning experience from your life. Identify what you learned and explain how it will contribute to your work as a teacher." (Note: This may also count as an additional submission material under requirement #6 above.)

For the Ed.D. program:

•  Letter of intent including academic and professional goals and philosophy of teaching and learning
• Résumé  including experiences with children and adolescents
• Writing sample from academic work or publication
• Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended
          − B.A./B.S. GPA of 3.0 or higher
          − M.A./M.Ed./M.S. GPA of 3.25 or higher
• Three letters of recommendation (can be submitted through on line application)
• Initial Background Screening Form (formerly Form 2003.5), signed and notarized

Official test scores (GRE or MAT) no older than five years:
        − Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Verbal of 460 or higher, Quantitative of 520 or higher, Writing 4.5 or higher
        − Miller Analogies Test (MAT): 375 or higher
 

To ensure the most updated version of these program requirements, visit the C&I Graduate Program webpages:

For the M.Ed. degree:  http://www.coehs.umt.edu/currinst/master/admission.html

For the Ed.D. degree:  http://www.coehs.umt.edu/currinst/doctor/admission.html

Submit all materials directly to:

•  

  • See information in the International Admission section on this web site.

• The University of Montana
  Graduate Admission Committee Chair
  Department of Curriculum and Instruction
  32 Campus Drive #6346
  Missoula, MT 59812-6346

  2. Program Requirements for Admission

  
  The Department of Curriculum and Instruction accepts GRE scores with a test date that is within the past five years or verifiable GRE scores if the test date is over five years old.

  3. Assistantship Application and Deadline

  Applications for assistantships for the upcoming academic year must be received by March 1. Contact the chair of the graduate committee in Curriculum and Instruction for additional information.

  4. International Students

   

  Financial Assistance

  
  For additional information about financial assistance, see the Financial Information section on this web site.

  Teaching Assistantships

  
  The Department of Curriculum and Instruction has a limited number of teaching assistantships (TAs) available each year. Our TAs work with the field placement of pre-service teachers, teaching introductory technology courses, teaching introductory field experience courses, helping with other classes as needed, and/or supervising student teachers. Teaching assistants are selected according to their experiences and their fit with departmental needs. Applications for the upcoming academic year are due March 1. Teaching assistants are required to register for 9 credits each semester.

  Native American Teaching Assistants

  
  Summer-only TA positions are available for Native American teachers working on a graduate degree in education. Please contact the graduate chair for more information.

  For additional information and an application form, contact the chair of the graduate committee in curriculum and instruction.

  Curriculum and Instruction

  
   
   
  Department website
  
  Campus Location
  Phyllis J. Washington Education Center

  Federal Express Delivery - Street Address
  32 Campus Drive #6346
  Missoula, MT 59812-6346

  (406) 243-4217
  Fax: (406) 243-4908

  Graduate Admissions Co-Chairs
  

  Morgen Alwell, Ph.D.
  (406) 243-5512
  PJWEC 306
  morgen.alwell@umontana.edu

  Matthew Schertz, Ph.D.
  (406) 243-2163
  PJWEC 304
  matthew.schertz@umontana.edu