Curriculum & Instruction (M. Ed.)

Program Overview

FGCU's fully accredited M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program is designed for working professionals, providing evening, online and hybrid courses to work around your schedule. The reading and elementary education concentrations are also offered in an accelerated online 7-week format. English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and reading endorsements can be earned through the ESOL and reading concentrations while earning a master's degree.

For teachers who want to move into a leadership or administrative role in K-12 schools or school districts, FGCU's M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) is a degree that can make all the difference in your career. Our reputation in Southwest Florida is exceptional, having forged deep ties within our community. This has earned us a 90%-plus graduate employment rate among C&I graduates - one of the highest in the state.

We are also one of the most affordable master's programs in Florida, delivering unmatched value for teachers seeking to move into roles such as:

Director of curriculum & instruction
Curriculum specialist
Reading specialist
ESOL program specialist
Staff development specialist at agencies for adults with disabilities

Program concentrations correspond with a specific subject, specific career ambition, or specific age group.

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Endorsements

Financial Aid/Cost

Concentrations

Endorsements Offered

Reading Endorsement

Students who are interested in completing this endorsement can do so while completing their Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and choosing a concentration in reading. Students can also complete this endorsement separate from the degree program as a non-degree seeking student.

English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement

Students who are interested in completing this endorsement can do so while completing their Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and choosing a concentration in ESOL. Students can also complete this endorsement separate from the degree program as a non-degree seeking student.

Elementary Education Accelerated Concentration

Courses are offered in an accelerated, seven-week delivery method completely online. Candidates typically take one course every seven weeks.

Reading Education Accelerated Concentration

Courses are offered in an accelerated, seven-week delivery method completely online. Candidates typically take one course every seven weeks.

Concentrations

Elementary Education Concentration
English Education Concentration
Mathematics Education Concentration
Reading Education Concentration
Science Education Concentration
Middle School Education Concentration
Social Science Education Concentration
Special Education Concentration
Gifted Education Concentration
English Speakers of Other Languages Endorsement Concentration

Accreditation
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Admissions Information
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Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online at apply.fgcu.edu. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
See program website at URL listed above.

Program Specific Requirements

The department bases decisions for regular admissions on a holistic review of credentials in which the criteria listed below are used to assess the potential success of each applicant.
- Submit graduate application and $30 application fee
- Official transcripts that verify a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent foreign institution
- A minimum 3.0 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester hours of the baccalaureate degree
- A one-page statement about your career and personal goals connected with pursuing graduate work in Curriculum and Instruction. This statement should explain your motivation for pursuing a master’s degree at FGCU.
- International graduate applicants are required to submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (internet-based test), or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, unless otherwise specified by the program.
- FGCU Regulation 3.005 also allow students to prove their English proficiency by completing “English Composition I and II (ENC 1101 and ENC 1102, or equivalent) with a grade of C or better” (these courses should be completed prior to admission into the graduate program).
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2022-2023 Catalog Year
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must satisfactorily complete the minimum number of credit hours specified by the graduate degree program.
- A grade of B or higher must be earned in all College of Education graduate courses used as prerequisites and each core course.
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
- The College of Education limits the transfer of coursework into its graduate programs to a maximum of 12 credits or three courses. Transfer courses must be applicable toward the graduate degree being sought at FGCU, should be current with respect to the specific field of study, and must be approved by the college dean (or designee). Up to 100% of the credit hours earned from courses taken at FGCU for a teaching certificate can be applied to the master's degree if those courses are required or electives in the master's degree. Course applications require approval of the college dean or designee in conjunction with the Office of Academic and Curriculum Support, and the Office of Graduate Studies.
Program Requirements
1. Required Courses (21 credits)
  EDF 6215 Learning Principles (3)
  EDF 6432 Foundation of Measurement (3)
  EDF 6481 Foundations of Ed Research (3)
  EDG 6329 Reflective Practitioner (3)
  EDG 6356 Inst Models and Strategies (3)
  EDG 6363 Capstone Seminar (3)*
  EDG 6627 Found. of Curriculum & Instr. (3)
  
  *Candidates will design and complete a scholarly project approved by their faculty advisor that integrates the principles, theories, and concepts of the C & I program. Students should complete the capstone project in the final semester.
2. Concentration Requirements (15 credits)
  
  Elementary Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn., Cont Area Rdg (3)
  RED 6656 Instruc for Struggling Readers (3)
  
  Select one of the following trends in education courses:
  LAE 6616 Trends in Lang Arts Instruct (3)
  MAE 6115 Trends in Math Instruction (3)
  SCE 6455 Trends in Science Instruction (3)
  SSE 6617 Trends in Soc Science Instruc (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits) select two from:
  Other graduate courses within the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  Other content specific courses from outside the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  
  English Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  LAE 6325 Lang Arts Meth: 6-12 (3)
  LAE 6616 Trends in Lang Arts Instruct (3)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn.,Cont Area Rdg (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits) select two from:
  Graduate courses in written composition or literature from outside of the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  Other graduate LAE and/or RED courses within the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  
  Mathematics Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  MAE 6115 Trends in Math Instruction (3)
  MAE 6336 Math Med: 6-12 (3)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn.,Cont Area Rdg (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits) select two from:
  Graduate courses in Mathematics content from outside of the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  Other graduate MAE courses within the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  
  Reading Education Concentration
  Required Courses (15 credits)
  RED 6540 Assessment in Literacy (3)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn.,Cont Area Rdg (3)
  RED 6545 Vocabulary & Word Study (3)
  RED 6656 Instruc Struggling Readers (3)
  RED 6846 Practicum (3)
  
  Science Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  SCE 6366 Science Methods: 6-12 (3)
  SCE 6455 Trends in Science Instruction (3)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn.,Cont. Area Rdg (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits) select two from:
  Graduate courses in Science content from outside of the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  Other graduate SCE courses from within the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  
  Middle School Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn.,Cont Area Rdg (3)
  
  Select one of the following secondary methods courses:
  LAE 6325 Lang Arts Meth: 6-12 (3)
  MAE 6336 Math Med: 6-12 (3)
  SCE 6366 Science Methods: 6-12 (3)
  SSE 6326 Soc Studies Meth: 6-12 (3)
  
  Select one of the following trends in education courses:
  LAE 6616 Trends in Lang Arts Instruct (3)
  MAE 6115 Trends in Math Instruction (3)
  SCE 6455 Trends in Science Instruction (3)
  SSE 6617 Trends in Soc Science Instruc (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits) select two from:
  Other graduate courses within the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  Other content specific courses from outside the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  
  Social Science Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  RED 6544 Compreh.,Cogn.,Cont Area Rdg (3)
  SSE 6326 Soc Studies Meth: 6-12 (3)
  SSE 6617 Trends in Soc Science Instruc (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits) select two from:
  Graduate courses in Social Science content from outside the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  Other graduate SSE courses within the College of Education, with advisor approval.
  
  Special Education Concentration
  Required Courses (9 credits)
  EEX 6025 Foundations of Spec Educ (3)
  EEX 6248 Instr Approaches for Excp Pops (3)
  EEX 6612 Mgmt & Motiv Excep &at-RiskStud (3)
  
  Electives (6 credits)
  Select one from the following:
  EED 6215 AdvTheories&Prac in BehavDisor(3)
  ELD 6015 AdvTheo/Prac-Spec LearnDisab (3)
  EMR 6052 AdvTheories&Prac-Intel Dis (3)
  
  Select one from the following:
  EEX 5752 Work w/Fam: Pluralistic Persp (3)
  EEX 6732 Consult & Collab in Spec Ed (3)
  
  Gifted Education Concentration
  Required Courses (15 Credits)
  EGI 5051 Nature in Needs of the Gifted (3)
  EGI 5307 Creative Prob Solving forChild (3)
  EGI 6232 Adv Educ Strat for the Gifted (3)
  EGI 6415 ConsultCouns&Guid-GiftedStud (3)
  EGI 6936 Sem & Educ of Gifted:Spec Popu (3)
  
  ESOL Endorsement Concentration
  Required Courses (15 credits)
  LIN 5010 Applied Linguistics & 2nd Lang (3)
  TSL 5085 Methods of Teaching ESOL (3)
  TSL 5142 Curriculum & Material Develop (3)
  TSL 5440 Testing and Eval for ESOL Teach (3)
  TSL 5525 Cross Cult Comm Issues in ESL (3)
Total Credits Required: 36 HRS
Course Descriptions
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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Our program is to prepare teachers for leadership roles through their development of advanced knowledge and skills in the application of theory, research, and practices in curriculum and instruction.

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate ability to use subject matter knowledge, principles of inquiry, and diverse backgrounds of students to plan, facilitate, and assess student learning in a positive, engaging, and safe environment for all learners. C & I Program Outcome 7 (C1.7).
2. Demonstrate the ability to accommodate the needs of diverse learners. C & I Program Outcome 6 (CI.6).
3. Use current research and professional literature to advocate for the use of best instructional practices, equal access to quality learning, and the well-being of learners. Program Outcome 2 (CI.2).
Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to
1. Demonstrate ability to use professional communication skills to collaborate with stakeholders in professional settings. C & I Program Outcome 3 (CI.3).
2. Demonstrate the ability to use technology to enhance learning and communication. C & I Program Outcome 5 (CI.5).
Critical Thinking Skills

Graduates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate ability to critically analyze current theory, research, and practices in the field and assess applications to the learner-centered curriculum and instruction. C& I Program Outcome 1 (CI.1).
2. Demonstrate ability to identify a curricular need and develop a research-based plan to address the need. C& I Program Outcome 4 (CI.4)
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Information on Tuition and Fees is available on the Office of the Bursar website.

Financial Aid and Estimated Cost of Attendance

Contact the Financial Aid Office for information about grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment. See FGCU's Financial Aid website for information and applications. This site also has information on estimated cost of attendance for graduate students.

Related Program: Teacher Immersion Program (T.I.P.) TIP is a state approved program that qualifies completers for a 5 year Professional Teaching Certificate for those students who already have Bachelor’s Degree in a field other than education.

TEACHER IMMERSION PROGRAM

Dr. Keiana Desmore

Assistant Dean

College of Education

kdesmore@fgcu.edu

Lauren Willison

Director of Community Engagement, Recruitment, Communication

College of Education

lwillison@fgcu.edu

239-745-4320

Getting Started

Please visit the Office of Graduate Studies or contact Graduate Studies at 239-590-7988 or graduate@fgcu.edu for an application for admission and additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

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