Curriculum and Instruction

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Chair: Sally Blake

Graduate Faculty

Sally Blake, professor, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
James A. Cohen, associate professor, Ph.D., Arizona 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
Melanie D. Koss, professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago
Jodi Lampi, associate professor, Ph.D., Texas State University
David Nieto​, Ph.D., assistant professor​, University of Massachusetts at Boston
David Paige, professor, Ed.D., University of Memphis
Mariana Ricklefs,​ Ph.D., assistant professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eui-kyung Shin, professor, Ph.D., University of South Carolina
John Evar Strid, associate professor, Ph.D., Northwestern University
Kimberlyn Suedbeck​, Ed.D., clinical assistant professor, National Lewis University
Donna E. Werderich, professor, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Corrine M. Wickens, professor, 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 curriculum and instruction and 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
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 PK-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 PK-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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