Courses
Choose a Career-Based Learning Track
The curriculum in Purdue University’s Master’s in Education (MSEd) in Curriculum and Instruction prepares you to incorporate key topics proven to develop successful learners and offers six concentrations that speak directly to your career focus.
The online MSEd Curriculum and Instruction program does not lead to licensure in the state of Indiana or elsewhere. Through a separate application process, the English Language Learning concentration may offer optional licensure preparation for teachers in Indiana. Contact the College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Licensure (OTEL) before continuing with the program application if you have questions regarding licensure.
Core Courses
Take these 7 core courses for 15 credits.
Concentration Courses
English Language Learning
The ELL concentration consists of 5 courses (15 credit hours) that address the specific curriculum needs of students who are learning English as an additional language in the U.S. and around the world. Each course also requires students to complete field experiences in a K-12 classroom that enrolls English Language Learners.
EDCI 51900: Teaching English Language Learners
This course addresses second language instruction and subject-matter instruction in English for ELL students. You’ll be provided with information necessary to design materials and instructional strategies for English language learners P-12. The course considers the nature of immigrants’ experiences of a new country and school context while focusing on the current issues and techniques in instruction for students who are at the beginning or intermediate stages of English language acquisition in the school context. This course requires field experiences in schools.
Total Credit: 3
EDCI 52600: Language Study for Educators
You will gain information about central concepts from descriptive and applied linguistics, applying these to analyze language and interaction between teachers and ELs for effective teaching. The major assignments for the course are two classroom observations and the planning, teaching, and evaluation of two lessons conducted with small groups of ELs. This course requires field experiences in schools.
Total Credit: 3
EDCI 53000: English Language Development
Learn how second languages are learned so you can link English-language development to teaching and learning strategies. In addition to a case study and final report, students will collaborate in small groups to create online multimedia poster presentations that summarize key points and issues. This course requires field experiences in schools.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 55700: Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
This course provides a critical review of research and practice in language proficiency and content-area assessment of English Language Learners (ELLs) and other culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in K-12 education. We will explore the sociocultural dimensions of standardized testing, academic achievement, and accountability. Students will conduct critical analyses of standardized testing instruments and learn to develop alternative classroom-based language, literacy and content-area assessments appropriate for ELL and CLD students.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 55900: Academic Language and Content Area Learning
This course focuses on the linguistic challenges faced by English language learners in the content areas of science, language arts, mathematics, and the social studies. The course links these challenges to English language instruction and subject-matter instruction in English for ELLs. The course emphasizes assessment tools designed to assess content knowledge and links these to issues of language development. This course requires field experiences in schools.
Total Credits: 3
Educational Technology
The Educational Technology concentration consists of 4 courses (12 credit hours) and the choice of an elective (3 credit hours) and focuses on integrating technology into curriculums and classrooms.
EDCI 51300: Foundations of Learning Design and Technology
This course provides an historical overview of the field and delineates the foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by professionals in the field of educational technology and instructional design. Students explore the field by engaging in collaborative projects along with thinking and writing about various aspects of educational technology and the underlying instructional design theories.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 53100: Learning Theory and Instructional Design
This course helps students learn how theories of human learning and motivation can be applied to the instructional process in order to make the process more effective, efficient, and/or appealing. The focus of the course is on two areas: 1) the theoretical principles that have contributed to the field of Instructional Design (ID), and 2) how those principles can be applied within practical settings.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 57200: Introduction to Learning Systems Design
This course is an introduction to the principles of designing instructional materials and to instructional communication theory and techniques. Topics include objectives, student characteristics, media selection, communication variables, message design, and systematic evaluation.
Total Credits: 3
Choose One:
EDCI 52800: Human Performance Technology
This course provides an introduction to the field of human performance technology (HPT). It examines basic concepts and principles of human performance, the theoretical underpinnings of the field, research and application literature, and various approaches to solving human performance problems. A systematic approach to the analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation of performance improvement interventions within organizations is emphasized.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 56400: Integration and Management of Technology for Learning
This course focuses on techniques for and issues related to integrating computers in learning environments. Topics covered stem from literature in the field and include (1) theoretical foundations of technology integration, (2) teaching and learning issues with technology integration, (3) designing the application of learning technologies for use in educational settings, and (4) emerging issues in research and practice with technology integration. Class activities are designed to model applications of learning technology, while class projects allow individuals to develop skills and knowledge in areas of your personal need or interest. The goal of the course is to help you develop an understanding of important issues associated with the integration and management of technology in learning and to effectively plan, design, implement, and evaluate technology-based instruction.
Total Credits: 3
Integrated STEM Education
The Integrated STEM Education concentration consists of 4 courses (12 credits) and the choice of an elective (3 credit hours) and focuses on the skills necessary to teach STEM disciplines effectively by leveraging the integration of engineering and technology design.
EDCI 53900: Intro to K-12 Integrated STEM Education
Explore the implications for teaching, learning and teacher education through an evaluation of integrated approaches to STEM, national teaching standards and current research. This course introduces common learning theories and integrated STEM pedagogies, including project/problem-based (PBL), design-based and inquiry-based approaches to teaching. Learn to plan and create integrated STEM instruction for K-12 classrooms. In this course, you will also critically examine current trends in the research, policy and practices of STEM education to identify sources of inequities across classrooms, schools, districts and communities.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 55800: Methods of Integrated STEM Education – Secondary
This methods course focuses on operationalizing the theoretical pedagogical approaches to integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Agriculture (STEM) education. Collaboratively and cooperatively investigate, plan and deliver integrated learning experiences appropriate for secondary education through coursework that blends philosophical considerations with practical application.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 55850: Introduction to Teaching Engineering and Technology Design in the Context of K-12 Integrated STEM
Engineering and technology design has gained considerable traction in many K-12 schools. In this course, we will examine principals of engineering design and technology as well as where and how engineering and technology design best fits in a K-12 integrated STEM curriculum. Course participants will engage in authentic engineering and technology design experiences. Course participants will also design, develop, deliver integrated lessons that help K-12 students develop the knowledge, skills, and practices of engineering and technology design.
Total Credits: 3
EDCI 54900: Assessment in STEM Education
Learn to recognize the link between productive assessment and productive instruction, using STEM education standards for teacher competence in educational assessment. This course will also help you meet professional standards and understand the public pressure as well as the instructional need for effective formative and summative assessment.
Total Credits: 3
Electives
All concentrations except ELL and SPED, choose one elective. Elective options are subject to availability and are not guaranteed.
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