Master of Education In Curriculum And Instruction

Overview

The UTA College of Education provides four options for earning a masters’ degree, offering the flexibility you have been looking for and the personal support you need. Options exist for online programs in literacy, math, and science education. Face-to-face coursework can also be tailored to the master’s program. Choose the degree option that best fits your goal.

About The Program

• This master’s degree provides opportunities to advance in teaching, research, and leadership.
• All programs of study are 30 credit hours.
• In addition to the master’s degree, some options offer add-on certifications for those certified and teaching in Texas.

Career Opportunities

• Highly qualified classroom teacher
• Content-area instructional leader
• Instructional coach
• Curriculum developer
• School or district content-area coordinator

Degree Options

Literacy Studies

• The literacy studies master’s degree program provides classroom teachers and district content specialists a way to gain expertise in literacy education.
• The literacy studies program also provides a path to Texas certifications in English as a second language (ESL supplemental) and reading specialist (RS) for qualified Texas-certified educators.
• Teachers outside of Texas can consult with their state agency in regard to obtaining RS and ESL certifications upon completing the master’s degree.
• The preparation program is state and nationally accredited, with strong pass rates on the certification exams.
• All 30 credit hours of coursework are online.

Mathematics Education

• The mathematics education, non-thesis master’s degree is designed for classroom teachers in grades K-12, district content specialists, and those in a variety of alternative educational settings, such as museums and corporate education/outreach divisions.
• Courses emphasize teaching mathematics to students in grades K-12, using problem-based, inquiry-based teaching strategies consistent with math disciplines and centered on how people learn.
• All 30 credit hours of coursework are online.
• The program of study does not lead to any type of teacher certification.
• Science Education
• The science education, non-thesis master’s degree program in science education is designed for classroom teachers in grades K-12, district content specialists, and those in a variety of alternative educational settings, such as museums, zoos, nature centers, and corporate education/outreach divisions.
• Courses emphasize teaching science to students in grades K-12, using problem and inquiry-based teaching strategies consistent with science disciplines and centered on how people learn, linking research and theory to practice.
• All 30 credit hours of coursework are online.
• The program of study does not lead to any type of teacher certification.

Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels

Open Option

• This 30-hour master’s degree in education offers flexibility in the focus.
• The six courses are chosen to support the candidate’s professional growth through enhancing expertise in an academic discipline or obtaining an add-on certificate, such as ESL.
• Four courses provide the core courses, which feature effective teaching and classroom research.

Why Choose Us?

• Outstanding, award-winning faculty with active research agendas who are leaders in national professional organizations and the Online Learning Consortium.
• National, state, regional, district, and school “Teacher of the Year” award-winning graduates.
• Innovative programs based on curriculum are known to be effective for online and face-to-face learning.
• Engaged instructors and opportunities to collaborate with classmates.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction Programs is competitive and some qualified students may not be admitted if demand exceeds the program’s capacity to serve all applicants. All students must meet university, college, department, and Texas Administrative Code qualifications in order to participate in educator preparation programs. Out-of-state students will not qualify for Texas educator certification. Therefore, students should review their state's requirements to determine if completion of a program at UTA will lead to certification in their state.

Unconditional Admission Criteria

• Proof of two or more years of relevant experience.
• Undergraduate transcripts with at least a 3.0 GPA during the last 60 hours or at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The higher of these GPAs will be used for admission purposes. A 3.0 GPA on the last 9 hours of graduate coursework may be considered in place of the undergraduate GPA.
• Two professional letters of reference. Letters from supervisors are strongly encouraged. Applicants for the M.Ed. in Special Education submit a personal statement of interest. M.Ed. in Special Education applicants who are not certification seeking submit only a personal statement of interest rather than letters of reference.

Program areas have additional requirements including documents for TEA reporting, including 1) a written response to the given prompt (fulfills “other screening instrument” as required by The Texas Education Agency), and 2) completion of Attestation and FERPA forms. In addition, some programs require access to an approved Pre K-12 setting. The overall grade point average (GPA) of each incoming class admitted between September 1 and August 31 of each year by an educator preparation program (EPP) may not be less than 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent. Certification programs have additional TAC requirements for GPA (used by the program in addition to, not in lieu of, the requirements stated above).

Probationary Admission Criteria

• Applicants who have less than 2 years of relevant experience, AND have a GPA of at least 3.0 and two letters of reference, may be granted probationary admission. The faculty admissions committee may require additional documents (e.g., GRE scores) for consideration. M.Ed. in Special Education program applicants may also be admitted on probationary status with less than 2 years of relevant work experience, and a personal statement of interest.
• Students granted probationary admission must maintain a 3.0 (B or better) GPA in the first 9 credit hours of graduate coursework in the College of Education program to be converted from probationary to unconditional admission.

Program areas have additional requirements including documents for TEA reporting, including 1) a written response to the given prompt (fulfills “other screening instrument” as required by The Texas Education Agency), and 2) completion of Attestation and FERPA forms. In addition, some programs require access to an approved Pre K-12 setting. The overall grade point average (GPA) of each incoming class admitted between September 1 and August 31 of each year by an educator preparation program (EPP) may not be less than 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent. Certification programs have additional TAC requirements for GPA (used by the program in addition to, not in lieu of, the requirements stated above).