Develop curriculum to benefit all learners

The Curriculum Studies (EdS) program gives you the chance to analyze and develop successful and impactful instructional options for your students. With a thorough understanding of the sociocultural and political context of your environment and knowledge of a variety of approaches, you will be positioned to create learning opportunities for students from preschool to the university level.

The Curriculum Studies Education Specialist program provides advanced study beyond a master’s but does not require a dissertation.

All classes meet in the evenings at the Lincoln Park Campus. The degree program can be completed in two and a half years.

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Study curriculum development in a dynamic city

Pursuing your degree in Chicago gives you the chance to work and learn in urban, suburban and rural schools. You’ll impact wealthy and impoverished communities made up of students from all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: August 15
• Winter: December 1
• Spring: March 1
• Summer: May 1

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, résumé, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a writing sample.

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Required Courses

You’ll take six core courses, three research courses, one elective and five concentration courses.

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100%

of Curriculum Studies graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Passionate faculty driven to make a difference

Joby Gardner, an associate professor and director of the Curriculum Studies master’s and doctoral programs, has long specialized in the education of non-traditional students. In his teaching experience, research and work with the Peace and Education Project, he focuses on helping students who are returning to school after a prolonged absence. Gardner also has an interest in teacher education and retention, which he works on with the Teachers’ Inquiry Project (TIP) in association with Francis W. Parker School in Chicago.

Alumni Network

Your degree connects you to nearly 17,500 fellow educators, most of whom live in the Chicago area. The College of Education has a variety of alumni resources, like networking, workshops and continuing professional development unit (CPDU) opportunities.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

EdS Program Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

To be eligible for the Education Specialist program, students must hold a both a bachelor's and master's degree from an accredited college or university and have a previous GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.

Application Requirements

A complete application to the EdS program will include the following materials:

• Graduate admission application
• $40 application fee
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• Résumé or curriulum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be from faculty in your master's program
• A personal statement in which you discuss your interest in further study and articulating an issue or problem of interest or concern (approximately 3 pages)
• Writing sample from a master's-level class; alternatively, you can write a 3-5 page response to readings provided by the Curriculum Studies program - Alternative Writing Prompt

Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with EdS program faculty as part of the application process. Interviews are held either at the Lincoln Park campus or by phone, depending on an applicant's availability. The Office of Graduate Admission contacts applicants to schedule the interview if one will be required.

Applicants who have earned a degree outside of the U.S. or who will be considered international students must submit additional materials. Visit our International Students page for more information.

Applicants can upload supplemental application materials, send requests for letters of recommendation, and pay the application fee through our online application system.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to program and admission requirements for the educational specialist program, students choosing to apply to one of the additional endorsement options are required to fulfill the following requirements.

Teacher Leader Endorsement

• A copy of a valid Illinois teaching license
• Proof of at least two years of full-time teaching experience
• Evidence of a passing score on the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly the Illinois Test of Basic Skills) or ACT/SAT equivalent as established by ISBE
• Two letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors
• Statement of purpose indicating professional development goals and related experience (750 words)

Principal Endorsement

• A copy of a valid Illinois teaching license
• Proof of at least two years of full-time teaching experience within the last five
• Evidence of a passing score on the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly the Illinois Test of Basic Skills) or ACT/SAT equivalent as established by ISBE
• One letter from district office recommending entrance into the principal preparation program
• Two letters of recommendation (one from your supervisor and one from a colleague) - These take the place of the three letters of recommendation required for admission to the EdS program
• Statement of purpose indicating why you want to be a principal
• Upon initial review, the process will include a required interview. Candidates will be expected to complete on on-site writing sample during the interview and submit a teaching portfolio.

Superintendent Endorsement

• Students must already have the general administrative (K-12) or principal (preK-12) endorsement added to their professional educator license
• Proof of at least two years of full-time administrative experience on a valid administrative license with the general administrative endorsement
• Evidence of a passing score on the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency (formerly the Illinois Test of Basic Skills) or ACT/SAT equivalent as established by ISBE

Application Deadlines

The EdS program admits new students every quarter: fall, winter, spring and summer. It offers rolling admission, but regular deadlines are set for each term to assure students full consideration for admission and financial aid. The program will continue to accept and process applications after the regular deadline if space is available.

Term	Deadline
Fall	August 15
Winter	December 1
Spring	March 1
Summer*	May 1

*The EdS program admits students all year on a rolling basis; however, most students admitted for the summer term will begin classes the following fall quarter.

Applicants typically receive an admission decision 4-6 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Education Specialist program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 prior to the completion of 36 credit hours and 3.3 after the completion of 36 credit hours. Students are allowed no more than two grades of “C.” Upon receiving a third grade of “C,” students must retake the class in which the grade was received. Grades of “D” and “F” require that the course be retaken.

Course Requirements

Core Courses: 24 quarter hours required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
A&S 801	LEADERSHIP: THEORY AND PRACTICE	4
CS 704	CURRICULUM DISCOURSES/PERSPECTIVES OVER TIME	4
CS 751	CURRICULUM FOR HUMAN AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT	4
SCG 701	SEMINAR: PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION	4
SCG 711	CULTURE, POWER AND EDUCATION	4
SCG 721	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS	4

Research Courses: 12 quarter hours required

These courses are sequenced and must be taken in the following order:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SCG 775	FOUNDATIONS OF INQUIRY AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH	4
Select two subsequent research courses from the following:		8
SCG 735	QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS I
SCG 745	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS I
SCG 755	QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS II
SCG 765	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS II

Elective Requirement: 4 quarter hours required

One elective (4 quarter hours) from the following list:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Any doctoral course (700 or above) for which the student qualifies
SCG 527	GLOBAL STUDIES IN EDUCATION SEMINAR
SCG 611	PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES IN EDUCATION, CULTURE AND ETHICS SEMINAR
CS 470	TEACHERS AS LEADERS
CS 472	ETHICS, CURRICULUM AND SOCIAL CHANGE
CS 473	ASSESSMENT
CS 481	THE STUDY OF TEACHERS AND TEACHING
CS 482	THE HISTORY OF CURRICULUM PRACTICE
CS 485	CURRICULUM/PROGRAM EVALUATION
CS 488	CURRICULUM DESIGN
CS 591	CURRICULUM THEORIZING: MULTIPLE LENSES
CS 489	CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING - VYGOTSKY, BAKHTIN, MAKIGUCHI, IKEDA
CS 588	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN CURRICULUM STUDIES
A&S 598	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
BBE 404	LANGUAGE, LITERACY AND CULTURE
BBE 466	FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
BBE 406	SOCIOCULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION
BBE 510	SPECIAL TOPICS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND CULTURE
BBE 526	THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING ESL AND WLE
BBE 530	LATINOS AND EDUCATION
Other options need to be approved by the EdS Program

Concentration Courses: 20 quarter hours required

Choose five courses from the following list:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
CS 754	CURRICULUM THEORIZING: MULTIPLE LENSES
CS 761	ASSESSING SCHOOL CURRICULUM
CS 764	YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,IDEOLOGY, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY
CS 774	ENGAGING IN CURRICULUM DELIBERATION
CS 784	CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM DESIGN
CS 794	SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM (since topics vary, this course may be taken more than once)

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