Overview
McDaniel College’s highly regarded M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) program is ideal for educators in schools, colleges, and in staff development roles within business and social service organizations.
Key Features of the C&I Program include:
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Dynamic programming that is responsive to changing trends and issues in education
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Courses address global initiatives and their relationship to school systems
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Educational theory is examined in the context of practice
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Instructional technology is incorporated into the program – it is not an “add on”
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Universal Design for Learning principals and techniques are fundamental to course design
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Alternatives to a master’s thesis are provided through a choice of capstone experiences
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Course assignments are flexible, allowing students to focus on their instructional areas and interests
Degree
Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction (34.5 Credits)
Location
Academic Hall
Contact
Dr. Daria Buese, C&I Program Coordinator
dbuese@mcdaniel.edu
410-857-2526
Why McDaniel
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Highly applicable content—apply what you’ve learned in our classroom in your classroom
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Learn to make practical applications of educational research in your classroom
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Flexible scheduling and a variety of delivery methods to fit your busy life (face-to-face, hybrid and online offerings)
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This program is offered at multiple locations—choose the one that is nearest you
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Special cohort groups frequently formed with area school districts
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Small class sizes ensure personal attention from faculty
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Partnerships with local school systems and faculty who are school leaders in those systems make the program relevant and responsive to local concerns
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Candidates are supported through ongoing and easily accessible advising
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Highly competitive tuition
This program has been evaluated and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the National Council for Teacher Education (NCATE), and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Admissions Requirements
Initial Admission
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Completed application for graduate study
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Submit the non-refundable application fee
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Official transcripts verifying completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. No minimum GPA required.
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One letter of recommendation
Full Acceptance
Successful completion (grade of B or better) of the following courses:
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CUR 501 Curriculum Trends and Issues (3 credits)
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RSM 550 Introduction to Research Methodology (3 credits)
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One other course (3 credits)
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CUR 556 Introduction to Capstone Experience (1.5 credits, grade of C or better)
Degree Requirements
Completion of 34.5 credits, maintaining a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better throughout the program:
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7 core C&I curriculum courses (21 credits)
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Completion of 4 elective courses (12 credits)
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Completion of Capstone Experience (1.5 credits)
Courses
All candidates will complete eleven courses (34.5 credit hours) distributed over three categories: the Curriculum and Instruction Core, the Focus Area and the Capstone Experience.
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Seven REQUIRED courses These courses provide the candidate with the foundation for curriculum design and the implementation of that design. These courses also provide for developing skills in designing and evaluating curriculum.
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CUR 501 |
Curriculum Trends and Issues
Students analyze significant issues impacting curricular decisions, trace their historical development, and predict likely futures. Issues include conflict within and between learning theory, educational philosophies, and the content disciplines and the issues surrounding societal expectations and educational policy formation. |
3 Credits |
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RSM 550 |
Introduction to Research Methodology
This course is directed toward an understanding of how research is conducted. Includes the study of quantitative and qualitative strategies and their appropriate use. Reviews appropriate statistical tools and their use in data collection and interpretation. |
3 Credits |
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CUR 503 |
Learning and Instruction
This course examines current theories about psychological influences on student learning. Participants examine personal teaching and learning experiences to strengthen the development of their personal foundations for designing and implementing instruction. A case study is used for the analysis of the nature of the interactions of their learners and the educational context. |
3 Credits |
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CUR 505 |
Differentiation and Technology
This course explores differences in learners, methods to adapt instruction to special needs, and ways technology can be used in the adaptations. Participants in the course will modify and implement instructional plans to meet diverse needs incorporating technology available to them. |
3 Credits |
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CUR 509 |
Monitoring and Aligning Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
This course engages learners in evaluating and developing a comprehensive, valid and reliable assessment system to monitor student progress towards long term curricular outcomes and standards. Participants use selected response, essay/brief constructed response, performance and personal communications methods to design strategies that facilitate and assess student learning. Emphasis is placed on needs assessment including analysis of available data, collection and integration of formative and summative data and engagement of stakeholders, including students, in planning and decision making. |
3 Credits |
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CUR 512 |
Curriculum Analysis and Planning
This course explores processes for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of a given curriculum to meet national, state, and local content standards. Candidates will reflect upon the curriculum they are assigned to teach and the effectiveness of their implementation of that curriculum. Consideration will also be given to the resources of the local educational community dedicated to support curriculum. At the completion of the course, candidates should be confident of their own ability to analyze the approved curriculum provided to them, adapt the curriculum for the student population they are assigned to teach, and determine the effectiveness of these adaptations. |
3 Credits |
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CUR 515 |
Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction
Prerequisites CUR 501, 503, 505, 509, 512, and EDU 550
This final course in the Curriculum and Instruction Program is a seminar in which advanced master’s degree candidates develop curriculum and investigate relevant educational issues. This course provides a forum to discuss the relationship between curriculum theory, education policy and research, and teaching practice as a means to support candidates in the challenges they face as educators of diverse populations in a high-stakes accountability climate. |
3 Credits |
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Four courses to be selected by the student. The Focus Area is intended to extend the candidate’s abilities to apply the concepts and skills in a pedagogical or content area of interest. These areas include, but are not limited to:
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Adaptations for Special Needs (EDU, PSY, SED)
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Computer Applications in the Instructional Program (EDU, SLM)
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Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction (ADM)
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Online Teaching and Learning (OTL)
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Reading and Language Arts (RDG)
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Science (**BIO, **PHY)
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Social Sciences (**HUM, PSI, SOC)
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Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TSL)
(the course prefixes which are appropriate for these focus areas are in parentheses)
** available on campus ONLY
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Capstone Experience:
Candidates will complete CUR 515 as the last course in the sequence of the Curriculum and Instruction Core. This course will encompass all previous academic work in the required Core.
Three capstone experiences are available for completion of the Curriculum and Instruction program. Students select one of the following 1.5 credit options:
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Portfolio
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Synthesis
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Action Research
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CUR 556 |
Intro to Capstone Experience
This course is the first in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. Candidates will be introduced to the three capstone options: Portfolio Experience, Synthesis Experience, and Action Research Experience. Candidates must take this course during the semester of their second or third course in the program. This course is a requirement for full acceptance into the Curriculum and Instruction Program. |
0.5 Credits |
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CUR 557 |
Capstone Experience Development
This course is the second in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. This course is to be taken by candidates who select the Electronic Portfolio or Synthesis Experience options. |
0.5 Credits |
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CUR 558 |
Portfolio Experience
This course is the last in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. This course is intended for candidates who selected the Electronic Portfolio rather than the Synthesis or Action Research Experiences. Candidates will submit their portfolio for scoring by Curriculum and Instruction faculty and will hold a culminating interview with the course instructor. |
0.5 Credits |
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CUR 556 |
Intro to Capstone Experience
This course is the first in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. Candidates will be introduced to the three capstone options: Portfolio Experience, Synthesis Experience, and Action Research Experience. Candidates must take this course during the semester of their second or third course in the program. This course is a requirement for full acceptance into the Curriculum and Instruction Program. |
0.5 Credits |
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CUR 557 |
Capstone Experience Development
This course is the second in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. This course is to be taken by candidates who select the Electronic Portfolio or Synthesis Experience options. |
0.5 Credits |
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CUR 559 |
Synthesis Experience
This course is the last in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. This course is intended for candidates who selected the Synthesis Experience rather than the Portfolio or Action Research Experiences. Candidates will submit their Synthesis Paper, a written response to the prompt that was presented to them in the Capstone Experience Development course. Additionally they will sit for a three hour examination in which they will provide written responses to two questions about educational practice and/or policy which are related to their Synthesis Paper. |
0.5 Credits |
Close
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CUR 556 |
Intro to Capstone Experience
This course is the first in a series of three 0.5 credit courses intended to prepare Curriculum and Instruction candidates for the capstone experience, which is the final requirement for graduation. Candidates will be introduced to the three capstone options: Portfolio Experience, Synthesis Experience, and Action Research Experience. Candidates must take this course during the semester of their second or third course in the program. This course is a requirement for full acceptance into the Curriculum and Instruction Program. |
0.5 Credits |
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CUR 560 |
Action Research Experience
This one credit course is intended to support Curriculum and Instruction candidates in their development of an action research project, which is one of the program’s three capstone experience options. Candidates will meet with the instructor one-on-one, or in small groups with other C&I candidate action researchers, to develop a research proposal, develop analytic strategies, and complete the written research report. The research report will be defended orally. |
1.0 Credits |
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Important Dates
Information meetings are held regularly in each county in which cohorts programs are offered. Contact Leslie Dennis at ldennis@mcdaniel.edu or 410-386-4627 for information about cohorts and specific meeting dates.
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Important Dates – Cohort Recruitment |
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County |
Program Offered |
Semester of Information Meetings |
Semester Start Date |
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Anne Arundel County |
C&I Master’s Degree – Generalist |
Fall |
Spring |
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C&I Master’s Degree – Leadership |
Fall |
Spring |
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Administrator I Certification |
Spring |
Fall |
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Carroll County |
C&I Master’s Degree – Generalist and Administrator I Certification |
Spring |
Fall |
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Cecil County |
C&I Master’s Degree – Generalist |
Spring |
Summer or Fall |
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C&I Master’s Degree - Leadership |
Spring |
Summer or Fall |
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Administrator I Certification |
Spring |
Summer or Fall |
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Frederick County |
C&I Master’s Degree – Leadership |
Fall |
Spring |
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Administrator I Certification |
Spring |
Fall |
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Howard County |
C&I Master’s Degree – Generalist |
Fall |
Spring |
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C&I Master’s Degree – Leadership |
Fall
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Spring
|
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Administrator I Certification |
Spring |
Fall |
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Montgomery County |
C&I Master’s Degree – Leadership |
Spring |
Fall |
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Administrator I Certification |
Spring
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Fall
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Faculty
Dr. Daria Buese, C&I Program Coordinator
dbuese@mcdaniel.edu
410-857-2526
Dr. B.J. Gallagher, Lecturer and Area Coordinator for Technology
bgallagh@mcdaniel.edu
410-857-2736
Dr. Rebecca Gibson, Area Coordinator for Assessment
rgibson@mcdaniel.edu
410-871-3353
Dr. Leslie Simpson, Area Coordinator for Curriculum
lsimpson@mcdaniel.edu
410-386-4672
Career Opportunities for Graduates
The C&I Program offers multiple paths to leadership in education:
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Teacher leadership (coaching/mentoring, instructional technology) through instructional and curricular expertise developed in the program.
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Supervisory leadership (Curriculum Design, Staff Development, Assessment, etc.) through coursework that leads to Administrator I Certification.
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School building leadership through coursework that leads to Administrator I Certification.
Program Locations
Westminster
Main McDaniel Campus in Westminster
Off-Campus Centers in Maryland
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Arundel Mills
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Prince George’s County
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Calvert County
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Charles County
Counties with cohort agreements
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Anne Arundel County
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Carroll County
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Cecil County
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Frederick County
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Howard County
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Montgomery County
FAQs
How do I apply?
Go to How to Apply for application procedures and forms.
Is there a GPA requirement?
There is no GPA requirement for admittance into the program. However, the grade of B or better must be achieved in each of the first three courses taken in order to continue in the program. You must also complete CUR 556: Introduction to the Capstone Experience course with a grade of C or better.
How long does it take to complete the C&I Program?
The program can be completed in two years by taking one or two courses each fall and spring and three courses each summer. The program must be completed within six years.
Is there a thesis requirement?
In lieu of a master’s thesis, candidates have one of three capstone experience options:
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Electronic Portfolio
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Synthesis Experience
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Action Research
Who can I contact for more information?
General questions about the program can be directed to Ms. Andrea Selivan at aselivan@mcdaniel.edu or 410-871-3340. She can answer your questions and direct you to an academic advisor.
What is a cohort?
The C&I Program has negotiated agreements with several counties in Maryland to deliver the program for teachers in those counties. Teachers in those counties take the program as a group or cohort according to a pre-determined schedule. A special tuition rate is available for cohort members and classes are held in county schools rather than on the McDaniel campus. You must be a county employee who is eligible for a tuition benefit with that county.
Counties with cohort agreements:
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Montgomery County
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Howard County
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Frederick County
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Cecil County
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Carroll County
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Anne Arundel County
What cohort options are available?
Depending on the agreement with a particular county, available program formats are:
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Master of Science in Education – Generalist Focus
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Master of Science in Education – Leadership Focus
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Administrator I Certification – This program is for teachers already holding a master’s degree who wish to obtain an Administrator I certificate. It is a five-course (15 credit) program with an additional internship requirement.
