Curriculum & Instruction, M.A.Ed.

Curriculum & Instruction Requirements (33 credit hours)

• ED 609 - Data Literacy & Assessment (3)
• ED 615 - Theories of Learning (3)
• ED 616 - Responsive Teaching (3)
• ED 626 - Teacher Leader (3)
• ED 630 - Advanced Curriculum & Instruction (3)
• ED 689 - Educational Research (2-3)
• 15 hours in Graduate Level Electives

• (Note: Students in the current initial certification program at Avila, may transfer in 15 credits of graduate coursework. Students not in the initial certification program, may transfer in up to 9 graduate level Education courses, and will be required to take 6 hours of graduate electives at Avila.)

School of Education Master’s Program Policies

Admissions Requirements

The admission requirements for graduate programs in the School of Education can be found on the Admissions  page. Students must also meet the following:

• Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate or graduate-level coursework. Students with a GPA less than 3.0 or at least 2.75 may be admitted provisionally. Students admitted provisionally to the program must achieve a 3.0 GPA on the first nine credits in their program of study.
• The admissions committee will consider all applications to evaluate any additional prerequisite courses needed.
• Submit official transcript/s of the bachelor’s degree.

Student Status within the Graduate Program

Student in Good Standing

• Has successfully met all entrance requirements.
• Has maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 or better with no grade below “C” (only one course with “C” grades is allowed; students may retake a class with a grade below a “C” once).

Probationary Status

• A student may change status from “Student in Good Standing” to “Student on Probation” if any of the following criteria are met: overall GPA falls below 3.0 or student receives a grade of “C” or lower in any course.
• Students on probation due to GPA have six credit hours to return their GPA to 3.0 or above to regain “Good Standing”. Failure to raise the GPA may lead to dismissal from the program.

Professional Conduct

Students in the program are expected to conduct themselves as professionals-in-training both inside and outside the virtual classroom. We encourage and expect students to treat others (including classmates and instructors) with sensitivity and dignity. Impairment, incompetence, ethical misconduct, and/or problematic behavior may be identified and addressed in a variety of ways and by a variety of persons, including but not limited to students, faculty, supervisors, clients, and/or members of the community. If student behaviors or attitudes are egregious, he or she may be dismissed immediately. If student behaviors or attitudes are less dire, they will be addressed in a confidential meeting with the student’s faculty advisor and/or Dean of the College of Professional Schools who will make a plan for remediation in an articulated time frame. At the end of the stated period, during which time the students would be placed on probation, he or she could return to Student in Good Standing status, continue on probation, or be dismissed depending upon the ability to successfully complete the corrective action. Students may appeal this process at any time.

Academic Policy for the Curriculum and Instruction Master’s Program

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework that students must complete within seven years, maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 in order to graduate.

To maintain enrollment the student must:

• Maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all graduate coursework with no grade below a “C.”
• Only one grade of “C” is accepted in the program.
• Only one course may be repeated one time in the entire program.

Students who are unable to maintain these academic standards will be dismissed from the program.

To receive a Master of Arts in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction students must:

• Complete a minimum of 33 credit hours of coursework.
• A maximum of 9 credit hours may be transferred in from other accredited universities/colleges.

Assessment

Outcomes for the Master of Arts in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction are assessed through signature assessments, and research action projects as indicated on course syllabi. 

Alignment matrices showing the assessment of outcomes in each graduate concentration are located in the School of Education Office.

Outcomes

1. Master of Arts Candidates will demonstrate effective leadership and facilitation skills through the integration of theory, professional practice, and applied research.
2. ​Master of Arts Candidates will demonstrate knowledge in the theoretical concepts describing human learning and motivations and their application to lesson design, instruction, evaluation and assessment.
3. Master of Arts Candidates will evaluate and analyze quantitative and qualitative research and student data.
4. Master of Arts candidates will demonstrate knowledge of effective instructional strategies and curriculum planning with an emphasis on the areas of differentiation and cultural responsiveness.
5. Master of Arts candidates will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze scholarly work in the field of education.