The University of St. Thomas

School of Education

Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction COurses

Note: Admissions to this degree program are currently on hold.


Core 1: Teaching and Learning

Core 2: Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for Individual Learners

Core 3: Research and Specialization Research Courses


Prerequisites

If your master’s program did not include the coursework cited below, you must complete the following prerequisites as necessary in addition to the 36-credit program. 

Research

Principles of Educational Research (CIED 500 – 3 Credits)

  • Study methods of descriptive and experimental research.
  • Learn basic statistical theory and application.
  • Receive an orientation to library resources.
  • Understand the development of significant research methodology.

Educational Psychology - Choose 1 of the Following 3 Courses:

Developmental Psychology K-12 (CIED 546 – 3 Credits)

  • Become effective child and adolescent growth and development specialists.
  • Understand the current literature on child and adolescent development.
  • Study typical and atypical patterns of cognitive, social and physical development and implications of those patterns for classroom instruction.

Theories of Cognition for Instruction (CIED 610 – 3 Credits)

  • Investigate the contributions of psychology to the understanding of learned human behavior, educational methodology and the learning-teaching processes.
  • Assess the major theories and models of learning and motivation.

Introduction to Adult Learning and Education (HRDO 561 – 3 Credits)

  • Explore the profession of adult education, especially as it links with the fields of human resource development and community education.
  • Understand the complex nature of the adult-as-learner and the implications for learning and education in various professions and settings.
  • Study competing philosophies and psychologies of human learning and the roles and skills of the adult educator. 

Curriculum and Instruction - Chose 1 of the Following 4 Courses:

Elementary School Curriculum (CIED 530 – 3 Credits)

  • Study practical concepts of elementary school curriculum, innovative programs of the present and educated projections of future trends.
  • Examine your own thinking about the curriculum and its relationship to the classroom, school and society.

Curriculum K-12 (CIED 532 – 3 Credits)

  • Explore issues and factors that affect the curriculum development process, and curriculum and related divisions of the human learning system.
  • Review innovative programs of the present and educated projections of future trends.
  • Examine your own thinking about the curriculum and its relationship to the classroom, school and society.

Secondary School Curriculum (CIED 535 – 3 Credits)

  • Explore issues and factors that affect the curriculum development process as well as curriculum and related divisions of the human learning system.
  • Review innovative programs of the present and educated projections of future trends.
  • Examine your own thinking about the curriculum and its relationship to the classroom, school and society.

Instructional Systems Design for Educators (CIED 549 – 3 Credits)

  • Become familiar with the systems design approach to the design and development of instructional units and courses of instruction.
  • Engage in goal development, task analysis, learner analysis and assessment design in the production of a course or unit. 

Educational Foundations - Choose 1 of the Following 4 Courses:

Social Foundations of Education (CIED 505 – 3 Credits)

  • Analyze the educational system of the United States and its relation to other social systems.
  • Study economic, political and sociological conditions and trends as they affect education.

Historical Foundations of Education (CIED 506 – 3 Credits)

  • Study the international antecedents of American education, both institutional and informal.
  • Explore the contributions of American educators.

Comparative Foundations of Education (CIED 507 – 3 Credits)

  • Analyze educational philosophies, systems, and issues in the United States compared to countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Philosophical Foundations of Education (CIED 508 – 3 Credits)

  • Analyze various philosophies affecting American education.
  • Study the impact of these philosophies upon educational aims, values, administrative organization, curriculum, methods of instruction and contemporary educational issues. 

Special Education

Survey of Exceptionality (SPED 750 – 3 Credits)

  • Examine the theories, legal mandates, definitions and terminology related to special education.
  • Explore the characteristics of individuals with exceptionalities including gifted and talented; emotional and behavioral; speech and language disorders; learning, developmental and sensory disabilities; and early childhood special education.

Computer Literacy

You must complete a technology self-assessment instrument. If you do not demonstrate substantive experience with the effective uses of educational technology you will take: 

Use of Technology for Introduction (CIED 551 – 3 Credits)

  • Use instructional technology in a more effective manner.
  • Evaluate microcomputer-based learning systems, video systems and other audio devices that have high potential for learning systems.
  • Design, develop, and evaluate an instructional or learning project. 

Course of Study

Core 1: Teaching and Learning (7 – Credits)

Portfolio Assessment (CIED 810 – 1 Credit)

  • Participate in an initial assessment to orient you in the education specialist degree program.
  • Learn to identify your strengths and weaknesses and capabilities through a documented portfolio process.

The Language of Teaching and Learning (CIED 811 – 3 Credits)

  • Explore the interactions of language, teaching and learning.
  • Examine issues of cultural and gender equity in relation to democratic learning opportunities and instructional methods.
  • Discover relationships between languages, culture and learning.
  • Build a learning environment which considers the social relationships and the communication system in the school setting.
  • Construct and assess curriculum for multicultural and multilingual classrooms.

Psychology of Learning and Individual Learners (CIED 812 – 3 Credits)

  1. Establish theoretical frameworks for analyzing human motivation, thought and action from a socio-cognitive perspective.
  2. Explore a variety of perspectives which illuminate how learners acquire knowledge, retain it and use it to think critically to solve problems.
  3. Assist the individual learner to develop different means of self-reflection and self-initiation in their learning process.
  4. Examine how cognitive, affective, social, physical, and behavioral factors interact to facilitate or hinder the process. 

Core 2: Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for Individual Learners (7 Credits)

Portfolio Assessment (CIED 810 – 1 Credit)

  • Participate in a second assessment to orient you in the education specialist degree program.
  • Learn to identify your strengths and weaknesses and capabilities through a documented portfolio process.

Curriculum Design, Development and Implementation Systems (CIED 813 – 3 Credits)

  • Study systems and models for innovative planning, assessing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating change.

Curriculum and Instructional Strategies for Students with Special Needs (SPED 814 – 3 Credits)

  • Review curriculum and instructional strategies for students with special needs in the academic, social, physical, or health-related domains. 

Core 3: Research and Specialization Research Courses (10 Credits)


Portfolio Assessment (CIED 810 – 1 Credit)

  • Participate in a third assessment to orient you in the education specialist degree program.
  • Learn to identify your strengths and weaknesses and capabilities through a documented portfolio process.

Practical Research for the Professional (CIED 871 – 3 Credits)

  • Study, select, and design research plans appropriate for identifying and framing practical research questions in your professional settings.
  • Work in interest-related small groups to design a research plan that addresses your specific questions using qualitative and/or quantitative methods.

Advanced Research and Development Methods (CIED 872 – 3 Credits)

  • Learn specific skills and research methodology that will lead to your proposed research or development project.

Ed.S. Research or Development Project (CIED 873 – 3 Credits)

  • Facilitate the methods of research you have selected for the culmination of your respective project.

Specialization - Collateral Courses (12 Credits)

You will take four courses in collateral fields based on your individual learning plan and adviser approval. Nine of the 12 credits must be listed at or above the 700 level.

Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.