C & I Graduate

Prior to enrollment advisement you will be asked to review this program information and submit the orientation completion form at bottom of this page.

This orientation provides an introductory overview and resource to enhance program planning through completion of your master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.

The Graduate Handbook includes program information regarding completion of all concentrations in the C&I M.Ed.

In addition to concentration area coursework that differentiates the C&I M.Ed., all students complete the following program courses:

• EDU 503: Foundations of Curriculum
• EDU 538: Curriculum Design and Implementation
• EDU 598: Techniques of Research

And Capstone Project course:

• Educational Diagnosticians -  EDSP 599 Internship for Educational Diagnosticians
• Technology concentrations - EDTC 570 Internship/Service Learning Capstone
• All other concentrations - EDU 585/586 Action Research Project

Optional: Thesis Requirements (offered to interested students in any concentration):

• Concentration area program requirements AND 6 hours EDU 588;
• Permission from concentration area advisor, committee chair, C&I department chair;
• Thesis guidelines

To meet Texas public school certification requirements, students with concentrations in Educational Diagnostician and Professional Reading Specialist must also pass state certification tests.

Occasionally, students with insufficient undergraduate background may be required to complete additional leveling courses.

Mission

To provide a relevant, research-based curriculum that develops the capacity for leadership through master of knowledge, effective communication, collaboration, inquiry, and decision-making to ensure learner success.

Goals

• Knowledge of research-based curriculum and instruction best practices.
  Prepare students to identify, evaluate, and investigate best practice in the field of curriculum and instruction.    
  • Application of curriculum and instruction best practice.
    Prepare students to apply best practice curriculum and instruction knowledge to classroom and instructional leadership.
    • Communication of best practices in curriculum and instruction to professional audiences.
      Prepare students communicate to educational professionals best practices in the field of curriculum and instruction.

The Graduate Capstone Project provides a demonstration of proficiency in the application of program goals and concentration area content by requiring students to:

• Identify a problem to solve (related to the student’s practice),
• Review of the current research related to the problem,
• Gather and analyze data related to the problem
• Report the findings of data collection/analysis
• Draw conclusions and make recommendations for further action.
• Present findings to a professional audience.

Identifying a Problem

• During the first semester it is helpful if students begin to focus on a particular problem they face in their practice that if solved would improve instruction.

Concentration Area Advisement

• Concentration area advisors direct students’ enrollment advisement and release advising holds up to the point students enroll in EDU 598 Techniques of Research and select a faculty committee. Concentration advisors also provide feedback regarding potential research problems.

Committee Chair Advisement

• During the semester enrolled in EDU 598 Techniques of Research, students select faculty committees. Once selected the student’s committee chair serves as advisor for enrollment and capstone project completion. To identifying potential committee members, students can access graduate faculty research interests on the graduate faculty link located on the C&I graduate website.

Your Roles and Responsibilities as a Graduate Student:

• Develop a 3- faculty member committee to direct completion of the student’s capstone project (usually during the semester enrolled in EDU 598, Techniques of Research). 
• Complete the Degree Plan with the identified committee chair.
• Work under the supervision of the committee chair to ethically meet departmental capstone project standards and satisfy committee specifications and timelines.
• Apply for graduation the semester BEFORE graduation.
• Submit Chalk and Wire assignments/artifacts as directed.
• Present the completed capstone project to a professional audience the semester of graduation.

Your Committee Chair:

• Submits the student’s Degree Plan.
• Supervises student completion of the capstone project to ensure project meets ethical and departmental capstone project standards and satisfies committee specifications and timelines.
• Assesses Chalk and Wire assessments with feedback from committee members.
• Attends and evaluates student capstone project presentations.
• Submits the Comprehensive Exam form following committee approval of student’s capstone project and presentation.

Your Committee Member(s):

• Review and provide feedback regarding student completion of the capstone project to ensure project meets ethical and departmental capstone project standards and satisfies committee specifications and timelines.
• Attend and evaluate student capstone project presentations.

Advisors are listed at the link on the C&I Graduate website. Please email the following information to your concentration area advisor:

1. Tarleton student ID number
2. Campus you will attend
3. Course(s) in which you would like to enroll this semester. (See tentative course rotations for planning purposes)
4. A brief description of work and family obligations for the semester that might impact the time available for coursework to ensure course workload is manageable
5. Other information pertinent to your enrollment

Your concentration area advisor continues advisement until you identify your Committee Chair.

1. Prior to the start of the semester you are enrolled in EDU 598 Techniques of Research, email your concentration area advisor a list of potential committee chair and committee members who you would like to consider for your capstone action research project.  You can view faculty research interests at the graduate faculty link on the C&I M.Ed. program website. Your advisor will guide you through the selection process.
2. Also submit potential topics you would like to explore for your research topic.
3. Once you have established a committee, your committee chair will submit your degree plan.
4. Once the degree plan is filed, your committee chair will become your advisor for all issues related to completion of your program.

Please feel free to contact the general program advisor or your concentration area advisor if you have questions about information presented in this orientation.