curriculum and supervision

Educational Administration: Curriculum Leadership

 

Department of Educational Leadership

Chair, Dr. J. Allen Queen

261C College of Education Building

704-687-8856

http://www.uncc.edu/colleges/education/eart/

 

Degree

M.Ed.

 

Coordinator

Dr. Corey Lock

 

Graduate Faculty

Corey Lock

Michael Jazzar

James Lyons

J. Allen Queen

Wayne White

 

MASTER OF EDUCATION IN CURRICULUM AND SUPERVISION

The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Supervision is designed to prepare highly competent program leaders for the school systems of North Carolina. UNC Charlotte is particularly dedicated to serving the 23 school districts located in the Southwestern Piedmont area of the state. To achieve its objectives, the program is designed to attract high-quality students and help them develop specific competencies to enable them to define, communicate, interpret, and assess teachers in the implementation of state and local curricula.

 

Program Objectives

The major educational objectives of the program are to develop instructional leaders who have advanced knowledge and skills in curriculum development and supervisory practices to assist the school system by:

1)       Guiding principals and teachers in the interpretation of curriculum standards and specific competencies for instructional development.

2)       Directing teachers in curriculum and instructional alignment to maximize success for the highest levels of student achievement possible.

3)       Promoting the expectations that effective teachers are masters of their subject content, highly knowledgeable of human dynamics, directly responsive to individual differences in students and are well accomplished in the art and science of pedagogy and student assessment.

4)       Encouraging participants in the program to self-direct their personal and professional growth as educators by:

a)        Taking responsibility for their own learning;

b)       Initiating professional inquiry through conversations with colleagues;

c)        Critically reading the professional literature;

d)       Participating voluntarily in personal and professional development opportunities; and

e)        Setting high expectations for their professional performance.

5)       Guiding participants to promote in teachers the skills to respond effectively to children's differences as influenced by development, exceptionalities, and diversity by:

a)        Developing and advanced understanding of human development;

b)       Expecting and respecting differences among children that are influenced by development, exceptionalities, and diversity;

c)        Promoting understanding and respect for all members of the classroom community;

d)       Helping students, parents, and colleagues develop a global perspective; and

e)        Applying their knowledge at all levels of interaction with students: from modifying instruction for individuals to creating classroom environments where all students feel welcome and can be successful learners.

6)       Demonstrating advanced knowledge of the content and pedagogy in curriculum and supervision by:

a)        Demonstrating advanced knowledge of the range of appropriate content;

b)       Helping children to acquire the knowledge and skills appropriate for specific grade levels and development through many effective instructional and assessment practices;

c)        Using technology in a variety of ways to support learning;

d)       Helping students develop competencies applicable across the curriculum; and

e)        Helping children make sense of their learning by connecting school content and students' lives outside of school and by integrating curriculum.

7)       Improving educational practice through self-refection, self-evaluation, and applied research by:

a)        Engaging in study that leads to continuous improvement of teaching and learning;

b)       Actively investigating and solving educational problems through data gathering and assessment;

c)        Continuously monitoring the learning problems and successes of each learner;

d)       Making appropriate adjustments in both instruction and learning environments based on analysis of data; and

e)        Regularly monitoring the effects of their actions on academic achievement.

8)       Serving as educational leaders by:

a)        Actively participating as leaders in areas in which they can contribute to solving educational problems, such as School Advisory Teams and committees in professional organizations;

b)       Taking responsibility for sharing in decision-making relative to school-wide and/or system-wide issues;

c)        Readily asking for and sharing successful instructional approaches and solutions with colleagues, supervisors, and educational leaders; and

d)       Providing mentoring for colleagues.

 

The Program

Today, curriculum specialist and instructional supervisors must be able to elicit support and create program structures and climates that foster the kinds of creativity, change, and innovation that will educate the most diversified group of children ever in America's schools. To meet this challenge, the M.Ed. program focuses on curriculum development. It enables candidates to develop specific competencies related to curriculum leadership, instructional practice and supervisory roles. It emphasizes performance and competence in school-based leadership and the overall quality of K-12 instruction.

 

The M.Ed. program provides for 33 credits of classroom study followed by an internship. In the cohort, a part-time student can complete the program in two years. Students average two courses per semester while the final six credit hours of each student's program are in the internship and a seminar. The internship semester is undertaken on a full-time basis (typically during the summer term just prior to graduation). The program faculty will work with students and school districts to arrange for the internships to be completed with minimum impact on their current positions.

 

General Curriculum Plan

The 39 semester-hour M.Ed. program includes nine hours of professional education core courses and 30 hours of course work in curriculum and educational administration and leadership (including academic experience in internships and seminars).

 

Professional Education Core Courses (9)

EIST6101       The Adult Learner

RSCH6101     Educational Research Methods

CUSU6100     Fundamentals of Educational Leadership

 

Core Courses in Educational Administration and Leadership (21)

CUSU6122     Foundations of Curriculum Theory and Development

CUSU6123     Designs in Curriculum Practices

CUSU6105     Legal Aspects of Schooling

EIST5000       Instructional Technology

CUSU6130     Supervision of Instruction

RSCH6196   Program Evaluation Methods

An elective or CUSU 6120: Instructional Leadership

 

Internship/Seminars (9)

CUSU6601     Seminar in Curriculum and Supervision

CUSU6491     Internship and Seminar: Curriculum and Supervision

 

Additional Admissions Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to the M.Ed. program, applicants are expected to submit the following materials to the Graduate Admissions Office:

1)       A written application;

2)       Evidence of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of at least 3.00;

3)       Two official transcripts of previous academic work attempted beyond high school;

4)       A score of 50th percentile or higher on the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies test taken within the previous five years;

5)       Three professional recommendations, including one from the applicant’s immediate supervisor;

6)       A description of previous relevant employment, including evidence of at least two years of successful teaching experience in K-12;

7)       Evidence of a clear “A” level license

8)       Applicant must be a full time teacher

9)       A personal statement of purpose or intent for entering the program.

 

Applications to the program will be accepted by November 1for admission the following spring semester. The November 1deadline requires a complete admissions packet. The application process is designed to ensure selection of a highly competent and diverse cohort of students. The number admitted each year will be based on current resources, but it is expected to be approximately 20 students. Upon successful completion of the program and Praxis examination, graduates will receive a recommendation for North Carolina licensure as a Curriculum-Instructional Specialist (licensure area 113 Level I).

 

POST-MASTERS GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CURRICULUM AND SUPERVISION

 

Educators who hold a master’s degree in an educational area and who possess an “M” level teaching certificate can apply for the 21 semester hour Advance Certificate in Curriculum and Supervision. The Advance Certificate leads to state licensure as an Instructional Specialist (licensure area 113 Level I).

 

The Advance Certificate program provides for 15 credits of classroom study followed by an internship.  Students average one course per semester with an internship in the final semester. The internship semester is undertaken on a full-time basis. The program faculty will try to work with students and school districts to arrange for the internships to be completed with minimum impact on their current positions.

 

General Curriculum Plan

 

CUSU 6100    Fundamentals of Educational Leadership

CUSU 6122    Foundations of Curriculum Theory and Development

CUSU 6123    Designs in Curriculum Practices

CUSU 6130    Supervision of Instruction

CUSU 6601    Seminar in Curriculum and Supervision

CUSU 6491    Internship and Seminar: Curriculum and Supervision (6 hrs)

 

Additional Admissions Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to the Advance Certificate program, applicants are expected to submit the following materials to the Graduate Admissions Office:

1)       A written application;

2)       Evidence of a master’s degree in education or its equivalent from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of at least 3.5;

3)       Two official transcripts of previous academic work attempted beyond the bachelor’s degree;

4)       Three professional recommendations, including one from the applicant’s immediate supervisor;

5)       A description of previous relevant employment, including evidence of at least three years of successful teaching experience in K-12;

6)       Evidence of a clear “M” level license;

7)       Applicant must be a full time educator;

8)       A personal statement of purpose or intent for entering the program.

 

Applications to the program will be accepted until November for admission the following spring semester. The November 1deadline requires a complete admissions packet. This process is designed to ensure selection of a highly competent and diverse group of students. The number admitted each year will be based on current resources. Upon successful completion of the program and Praxis examination, completers will receive a recommendation for North Carolina licensure as a Curriculum-Instructional Specialist, licensure area 113 level I.

 

Courses in Curriculum and Supervision

CUSU 6100. Fundamentals of Educational Leadership. (3) The developing role of educational organizations in the United States and the societal and cultural influences that affect the delivery of schooling. Structure and organization of American schools, administrative and organizational theory, legal, moral, and ethical dimensions of schooling within the context of restructuring and reform. (Spring)

 

CUSU 6105. Legal Aspects of Schooling. (3) Education law for education professionals which focuses on the legal rights and responsibilities of students, teachers, and administrators and how these legal provisions affect educational policy and practice. (Fall)

 

CUSU 6122.  Foundations of Curriculum Theory and Development. (3) Foundations of historical curriculum development, philosophic beliefs, and understanding of the development of the American public school system. (Summer)

 

CUSU 6123.  Designs in Curriculum Practices. (3) Examines the field of curriculum with particular emphasis on the change process. (Summer)

 

CUSU 6130. Supervision of Instruction. (3) Introduction to clinical supervision and development of skills in classroom observation, analysis, evaluation, and assistance. Systems of observation, principles of adult development in school settings, techniques for conducting classroom observations and conferences, and development of staff development programs to remedy assessed weaknesses. (Fall)

 

CUSU 6601.  Seminar in Curriculum and Supervision. (3) Capstone class in curricular and supervisory leadership.  Exploration of seminal topics and preparation for the internship. (Spring)

 

CUSU 6490. Internship in Curriculum and Supervision. (6) Prerequisite: Department approval. Internship under the supervision of University and on-site personnel in a setting consistent with the student's professional goals in which the student will be involved in the diverse activities expected of the professional administrator.  (Summer)