Curriculum & Instruction
The Morgridge College of Education's EdD program is perfect for anyone interested in problems of practice in educational settings. Our program gives you the opportunity to approach these issues by collaborating with community partners in a variety of settings. You'll explore issues around development, implementation, and assessment in curriculum and instruction. Working closely with our renowned faculty, you'll have the opportunity to develop the expertise and applied research skills needed to be a leader in education. EdD areas of specialization include curriculum studies, mathematics education and gifted education.
Our EdD program follows a cohort model and is affiliated with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). This means we follow the best practices of the CPED and provide coursework and opportunities to help you dive into the issues, theory and matters of practice surrounding equity and social responsibility in education. You'll take most of your classes with the same group of people over the course of three years, allowing you to function as a community as you explore problems of practice and develop solutions while also supporting your individual interests and perspectives.
Our Ed.D. program is ideal for any scholar interested in problems of practice that emerge in educational settings.
Explore important issues of development, implementation and assessment in curriculum and instruction. Our Ed.D. program gives you the opportunity to tackle these issues head-on by working with community partners in formal and informal education settings.
Our Ed.D. program is affiliated with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED). This means we follow the best practices of the CPED, and provide exceptional coursework and learning opportunities to help you delve deeply into issues, theory and matters of practice surrounding equity and social responsibility.
Working closely with our nationally recognized faculty, you will develop curricular expertise and applied research skills that will prepare you to become a leader in the field of education.
Our Ed.D. program follows a cohort model. You will take most of your classes with the same group of people over the course of three years. This model allows you to work as a community to explore problems of practice and develop solutions, while also supporting your individual interests and perspectives around particular educational challenges and opportunities.
Areas of Study
Curriculum Studies
- Students learn about curriculum design, models of curriculum, instructional strategies, assessment and student engagement.
- Students explore themes including (but not limited to) diversity, teacher education, aesthetics, urban education, family studies, social work, library and information science, zoo and museum education, and international education.
Mathematics Education
- Students learn about ambitious and equitable instructional practices that support meaningful learning experiences for all students, particularly those in historically marginalized groups.
- Students learn various research designs and methods to address problems of practice within mathematics education.
Gifted Education
- Students learn about gifted education and leadership theory so that they can become leaders in gifted education.
- Students develop research skills that are focused on problem identification and interventions.
- Leads to eligibility to apply for Colorado Department of Education Endorsement in Gifted Education.
Special Education
- Students learn about social-emotional, cognitive, academic and behavioral outcomes for children with special needs.
- Students collaborate with families, community partners and school personnel to enhance learning opportunities for children with special needs.
- Leads to eligibility to apply for Colorado Department of Education Endorsement in Special Education.
Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education
- Students learn about culturally responsive pedagogy and the cultural, language, cognitive and academic needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners.
- Students apply knowledge of language acquisition, culturally relevant literature, curriculum and assessment practice, and funds of knowledge to bridge communities, classrooms and schools.
- Leads to eligibility to apply for Colorado Department of Education Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. Visit Endorsement Requirements on the Colorado Department of Education website for more information.
Twice-Exceptionality
- Students learn about social-emotional, cognitive, academic and behavioral needs for children with both special needs and giftedness.
If your interests lie outside of these areas, you still have many options. Our experienced faculty will help you develop a coursework plan that supports your learning needs and professional goals.
Learning Outcomes
The program learning outcomes for the Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction are as follows:
- Inclusive Excellence: Create systems of empowerment to improve educational outcomes for diverse students, families, and communities, especially those who are or have been marginalized.
- Research: Critically analyze and conduct rigorous research to address educational inequities.
- Leadership & Advocacy: Act as an agent of change.
- Curriculum: Design, implement, and evaluate curriculum that supports learning for all students.
- Instruction: Design, implement, and evaluate effective and equitable instructional practices.
- Assessment: Design, implement, and evaluate assessments to guide instruction and improve student learning.
Program Requirements
65-quarter credit hours (9 to 24 of these quarter credit hours must be in a specialization area)
- Comprehensive exam
- Dissertation in practice