Curriculum and Instruction

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Acting Chair: Donna E. Werderich

Graduate Faculty

Brenda Aranda, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso
James A. Cohen, associate professor, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Mayra C. Daniel, professor, Ed.D., Illinois State University
Laurie Elish-Piper, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Presidential Engagement Professor, Ph.D., University of Akron
Joseph Flynn, associate professor, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Anne Gregory, professor, Ph.D., Purdue University
Mary Beth Henning, professor, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Melanie D. Koss, associate professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Jodi Lampi, assistant professor, Ph.D., Texas State University
Eui-kyung Shin, associate professor, Ph.D., University of South Carolina
John Evar Strid, assistant professor, Ph.D., Northwestern University
Melanie Walski, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago
Donna E. Werderich, associate professor, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Corrine M. Wickens, associate professor, acting associate chair, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Elizabeth Wilkins, professor, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
C. Sheldon Woods, associate professor, Ph.D. Kansas State University

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers the M.A.T. specialization in elementary education, M.S.Ed. degree in literacy education, and the Ed.D. degree in curriculum and instruction with three specializations: curriculum leadership; literacy education; and science, social studies and environmental education integration. A list of requirements for each program is available in the department office. Several courses of study leading to licensure, endorsement, and teacher approval are also offered. The department offers course work in reading, the language arts, children’s literature, bilingual education, English as a second language, social studies, science education, elementary educator licensure, and multicultural education.

Master of Arts in Teaching

Master of Science in Education
Curriculum and instruction
Elementary education
Literacy education

Doctor of Education
Curriculum and instruction

Internships

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers graduate internships in literacy fields including reading, language arts, children’s literature, bilingual education, English as a second language, and adult literacy. For further information and internship possibilities, see course descriptions and consult with an adviser.

Endorsement at the Graduate Level

The K-12 reading specialist program is designed for teachers who wish to gain additional competencies which will enable them to work effectively with learners, teachers, and K-12 school-community personnel in improving reading instruction in the schools. As teachers progress through the program, they have the opportunity to meet the requirements for reading teacher (24 semester hours in reading) and/or reading specialist (32 semester hours in reading). Course work in Bilingual/English as a Second Language meets all Illinois State Board of Education standards and leads to state endorsement to work with English language learners as an English as a second language teacher and/or as a bilingual teacher. This endorsement consists of 18 semester hours and must be attached to elementary or secondary licensure. Students may use these hours toward a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction (33 semester hours) with an emphasis on Bilingual/ESL.

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