Graduate Program: Degrees Offered

• M.S.(Master of Science) in Curriculum and Instruction
• M.S. in Science Education
• M.A. in Education and Mathematics

• Ph. D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
• Ph. D. Minor

• Bilingual Certification
• English as a Second Language (ESL) K-12 Certification
• Instruction Technology (IT) Certification
• Reading Teacher License
• Reading Specialist License

• Nondegree Study in Graduate-Level Courses
• Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification

Masters Degree Programs

M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction

Requirements for the M.S. degree in Curriculum and Instruction are:

1. Completion of at least 24 credits of graduate course work with a minimum GPA of 3.25. Excluded from these 24 credits are research/thesis credits and credits carried to remove deficiencies. At least 12 credits must be in department courses other than independent reading.
2. Completion of the Graduate School residence requirement.
3. Completion of a master's paper based upon a research project, approved by either the student's major professor or another professor designated by the major professor.
4. Successfully pass a comprehensive master's examination.
   The student's program of studies is planned in conference with the major professor. Usually, the selection of courses shows a balance and relationship between courses in Curriculum and Instruction and those selected from one or more other departments.

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M.S. in Science Education

In addition to the M.S. in curriculum and instruction (described above), the department offers an M.S. in science education. The program requires a minimum of 24 graduate credits (16-18 credits in the sciences and 6-8 credits in science education), an approved master's paper, and the passing of a comprehensive master's examination.

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M.A. in Education and Mathematics

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction collaborates with the Department of Mathematics to provide a joint program of graduate work for the master of arts (M.A.) in Education and Mathematics. This joint program culminates in a master's degree that encompasses both mathematics education and mathematics. Prospective students should apply to the M.A. in Education and Mathematics program and submit their application materials to the Curriculum & Instruction Graduate Program Office, which will oversee the routing of the application and materials to the Mathematics Department. Admittance requires acceptance by both departments. Additional information about this program is available at www.math.wisc.edu/~wilson/masters.htm.

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Ph. D. Programs

Ph.D Degree

The goals of doctoral study in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction are to help students:

1. Acquire greater competence in curriculum development and better understanding of the teaching-learning process;
2. Develop abilities for research in the field of curriculum and instruction;
3. Gain depth and breadth of knowledge in related academic fields; and
4. Evolve a broadened professional background in areas related to curriculum and instruction, such as administration, counseling, educational psychology, supervision, and the history, philosophy, and sociology of education.

With these goals in mind, a course of study is planned under the supervision of the student's major professor. The dissertation is planned and conducted under the supervision of a dissertation committee chaired by the major professor.
Specific procedures and requirements of the Ph.D. program are described in the department's brief document, Steps to the Ph.D., and more completely in the department's Ph.D. Degree Programs Handbook. A brief summary of the requirements for the Ph.D. follows:

1. Admission to Doctoral Standing by the department.
2. Completion of the Graduate School residence requirement;
3. Completion of the requirements of the Ph.D. major, as determined by the major professor;
4. Completion of a Ph.D. minor in accord with Graduate School rules;
5. Successfully passing a comprehensive department preliminary examination;
6. Completion of research and the preparation of a dissertation and dissertation abstract approved by both the department and the Graduate School.
7. Successfully passing an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

Research-oriented Ph.D. study in the department prepares students for different forms of intellectual leadership in education. These different forms of intellectual leadership include research, teacher education and other teaching in higher education, and leadership positions in educational agencies. These different forms of leadership are not mutually exclusive, but the relative emphasis given to each varies among students and areas.

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Ph.D. Minor in Curriculum & Instruction

Doctoral students majoring in another department who desire a Ph.D. minor in curriculum and instruction should seek and enlist a faculty member in the department to serve as Ph.D. minor adviser (also known as the minor professor). The minor professor, in conference with the student and the major professor, approves the courses that will constitute the minor.
Twelve credits are required for a Ph.D. minor in Curriculum and Instruction. At least six of these credits must be in substantive, graduate-level courses taken in the department; this part of the requirement cannot be satisfied through independent reading, independent study, research, and thesis credits. With the approval of the minor professor, the remaining six credits may be met through an approved transfer of credits in substantive, graduate-level courses completed at other institutions. A maximum of three credits of the total 12-credit minor requirement may be met through graduate-level independent reading done in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

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Advanced Certification Programs

In addition to the master's degree and Ph.D. degree programs, the department offers several advanced certification programs involving certificates that are available only at the postbaccalaureate level. Their descriptions follow.

Bilingual Certification

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English as a Second Language K-12 Certification Program

The English as a Second Language (ESL) certification program offers a course of study that leads to Kindergarten-Grade 12 (K-12) ESL teacher certification. ESL is an add-on certification, which means that the candidate must already hold a Wisconsin teaching license in early childhood education, elementary education, or a secondary education core content area (defined as science, social studies, math, or English/language arts). All courses are at the graduate level, and they may be taken either as a University Special Student or as a graduate student enrolled in the Curriculum and Instruction Master's degree program. The certification program consists of 22 credits of graduate coursework. Additional information about this program is available at www.education.wisc.edu/ci/esl/certification/default.asp.
Adviser: Professor Hawkins, 514-D Teacher Education Building, 608/263-4667, mhawkins@education.wisc.edu

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Instructional Technology (IT) Certification Programs

Advisors
Professor Michael Streibel
544c Teacher Education Bldg.
(608) 263-4670

Assistant Professor Kurt Squire
544b Teacher Education Bldg.
(608) 263-4672

Degree granted: M.S.-Curriculum and Instruction.
Admission requirements: Refer to the previous description of admission to master's degree study. In addition, applicants must have teacher certification in at least one field of study.
Graduation requirements: Refer to requirements for the M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction.

The certification program requires a student to complete the master's degree program in Educational Communications and Technology. This curriculum emphasizes critical media analysis, computers in the classroom, television production, local production of instructional media, and instructional design. Successful completion of the program and Wisconsin teacher certification qualifies students for certification by the State Department of Public Instruction as an Instructional Technology Specialist.

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Reading Teacher License

Advisor:
Assistant Professor Dawnene Hassett
464D Teacher Education Bldg.
(608) 263-5980

Any person who has a specific assignment to teach reading must hold a reading teacher license (316). A regular K-12 reading teacher license can be issued to an applicant who has completed an approved program, who has received the institutional endorsement for the reading teacher license, and who has completed or possesses:

1. eligibility to hold a Wisconsin License to teach or completion of an approved teacher education program;
2. two years of successful regular classroom teaching experience; and
3. a minimum of 18 semester credits, with at least 12 of those credits taken beyond the bachelor's degree. At least 16 of the 18 semester credits to include a practicum in teaching reading at the elementary level and at the secondary level, and to include course work in (a) through (e) below:

   (a) developmental reading in the elementary school and in the secondary school;
   (b) assessment and instructional techniques for readers with special needs;
   (c) language development;
   (d) learning disabilities; and
   (e) course work in one of the following:
   (i) gifted and talented education,
   (ii) evaluation and measurement, and
   (iii) literature for children or adolescents.

At UW-Madison, application for 316 (reading teacher) or 317 (reading specialist) certification is made to the School of Education certification officer, 109/B117 Education Building.

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Reading Specialist License

Advisor:

Assistant Professor Dawnene Hassett
464D Teacher Education Bldg.
(608) 263-5980.

Any person who directs K-12 reading programs, works with reading teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and others as a resource teacher in reading must hold a reading specialist license (317).

A regular K-12 reading specialist license can be issued to an applicant who has completed an approved program, who has received the institutional endorsement for the reading specialist license, and who has completed or possesses:

1. eligibility to hold a Wisconsin reading teacher license; and
2. a master's degree with a major emphasis in reading, or at least a 30-graduate-semester-credit program equivalent to the master's degree with a minimum of 15 graduate semester credits to include:

(a) guiding and directing the K-12 reading program;
(b) field experience in K-12 reading programs;
(c) research related to reading;
(d) supervision of instruction; and
(e) content area reading for the specialist.

Students may elect to meet the Wisconsin Certification requirement but not pursue an advanced degree or enroll in a special program. Those who choose this option should, nevertheless, consult with a faculty adviser because institutional endorsement is required for certification. In general, certain requirements of the Graduate School and of the department are waived for students who are not candidates for an advanced degree.
At UW-Madison, application for 316 (reading teacher) or 317 (reading specialist) certification is made to the School of Education certification officer, 109/B117 Education Building.

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Other Programs

Nondegree Study in Graduate-Level Courses

Already-certified educational professionals who wish to earn credit in graduate-level courses to improve professionally or to update or renew a license but who do not wish to seek a graduate degree ordinarily register as University Special students through University Special and Guest Students, Division of Continuing Studies, 905 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53715-1005; 608/441-7357; fax 608/441-7325; nondegree.student@dcs.wisc.edu; www.dcs.wisc.edu/. Persons who plan eventually to earn a graduate degree in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction should apply for admission as a graduate student before beginning their studies and not accumulate credits as a University Special student. University policies actively discourage belated requests to allow work done as a University Special to count toward graduate degree requirements.

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Postbaccalaureate Teacher Certification

Qualified but presently uncertified persons who desire teacher certification but not a graduate degree should refer to the Undergraduate Catalog, www.wisc.edu/pubs/ug/06education/admiss.html. Admission to non-graduate teacher-certification programs is limited and is subject to the availability of class space and field placements. Depending on an applicant's background and the type of certification sought, a successful applicant will be classified upon admittance as either an Education Certification Special (EDCS) student or a second-undergraduate-degree candidate.

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