Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.)

Faculty and Administration

Dr. Christine Carrino Gorowara, Dean of the School of Education
Ms. Cachanda Orellana, Assistant Dean of the School of Education
Ms. Yema Gbondo, Program Coordinator and Education Advisor
Dr. Steven Thorne, Distinguished Professor and Program Chair
Dr. Marie Celeste, Associate Professor
Dr. Jennifer Lee, Associate Professor
Mr. Michael Rowe, Assistant Professor
Dr. Randi Stone, Assistant Professor
Faculty in the School of Education also support Trinity’s undergraduate education programs.

Program Description and Degree Requirements

Trinity’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) is an online degree designed for educators and education professionals who are passionate about transforming schools, school systems, and education programs. This degree prepares education personnel for leadership roles that include increased responsibilities in research, instructional design, and program evaluation.

The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is a 36-credit hour primarily online program with more than 50% of courses offered in the virtual modality. Students have the opportunity to focus their program of study by choosing one of five concentrations: Administration, Education Policy and Leadership, Mathematics for Educators, Science of Reading, and Social Justice. Students in all concentrations participate in an individualized capstone research project through which they can apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout their coursework.

The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is not a state-approved program for teachers, administrators, or specialists.

Core Curriculum 

The below core curriculum applies to the five areas of concentration: Administration, Education Policy and Leadership, Mathematics for Educators, Science of Reading, and Social Justice.

ALL of the following courses (24 credits):

EDCC 600 Research in Education
EDCI 505 Psychology of Children and Youth Facing Poverty
EDCI 611 Role of Social, Economic, and Political Systems in Education
EDCI 650 Global and Ethical Perspectives
EDCI 653 Current Issues in Urban Education
EDCI 654 Curriculum and Program Design
EDCI 656 Principles of Educational Assessment and Evaluation
EDCI 699 Capstone in Curriculum and Instruction

Areas of Concentration

Administration

This concentration prepares education professionals for P-12 school leadership and supervision.  The curriculum is aligned to the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), which is required for licensure in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Students wishing to complete an internship can do so through the Trinity Office of Continuing Education.

Core curriculum plus ALL of the following courses (12 credits)

EDAD 601 Leadership, Management, and Supervision
EDAD 604 Staff and Group Development
EDAD 633 Finance and Resource Management
EDAD 634 Legal and Ethical Issues in School Administration

Education Policy and Leadership 

This concentration prepares education professionals to serve as leaders in schools or organizations (including school districts, federal and state agencies, and non-profits). It provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to critique current standards and use data analysis and evidence to implement education policies and programs to support teachers and impact the future of education.

Core curriculum plus ALL of the following courses (12 credits)

EDCI 612 Conflict Management and Resolution
EDCI 651 Education Leadership
EDCI 657 Education Law & Policy
EDCI 658 Politics & Education Policy

Mathematics for Educators 

This concentration deepens practitioners’ understanding of the mathematical concepts they teach and how PK-12 students think and reason about those concepts, utilizing a case-study approach. Based on the Developing Mathematical Ideas series from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the curriculum examines how mathematical concepts are situated in the trajectory of learning, how connections are built among different concepts, and how to analyze student thinking from a mathematical perspective.  Designed for those who teach, coach, or supervise mathematics instruction.  The Mathematics for Educators track does not lead to teacher licensure.

Core curriculum plus ALL of the following courses (12 credits)

EDCI 661 Developing Mathematical Ideas I: Number Systems and Operations
EDCI 662 Developing Mathematical Ideas II: Algebra
EDCI 663 Developing Mathematical Ideas III: Geometry
EDCI 664 Developing Mathematical Ideas IV: Statistics & Mathematical Discourse

Students in the Math for Educators concentration may substitute EDAD 604 Staff and Group Development Staff and Group Development for EDCI 653 Current Issues in Urban Education Current Issues in Urban Education in the Core Curriclulum.

Science of Reading

This concentration is designed to build the capacity of teachers, coaches, and instructional leaders to deliver high-quality literacy instruction across grade levels. This certificate program deepens foundational literacy knowledge and enhances instructional strategies aligned with the science behind how students learn to read. The curriculum is built on the most current research in the field, with an emphasis on the five pillars of reading: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as oral language development and writing.

Core curriculum plus ALL of the following courses (12 credits)

EDTE 611 Literacy Development Across the Curriculum
EDTE 624 Children's Literature
EDTE 627 Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Emergent and Early Readers
EDCI 652 Literacy Issues in Urban Education

Students in the Science of Reading concentration may substitute EDAD 604 Staff and Group Development Staff and Group Development for EDCI 653 Current Issues in Urban Education Current Issues in Urban Education in the Core Curriculum.

Social Justice 

This concentration prepares practitioners to serve as advocates for students in kindergarten-12 education, particularly in urban environments, to better understand how to work for change to improve the quality of education for all students. It provides an interdisciplinary perspective while addressing social inequalities within educational systems associated with gender, ethnicity, social class, and varying abilities.

Core curriculum plus ALL of the following courses (12 credits)

EDCI 612 Conflict Management and Resolution
EDCI 651 Education Leadership
EDCI 652 Literacy Issues in Urban Education
EDCI 655 Hispanic/Latinx Literature & Culture

Program Policies

Attendance: In all EDCC/EDTE courses, two late arrivals or early departures of 20 minutes or more constitute a single class absence.  The final grade of a student with absences that total more than 25% of class meetings will be lowered by one letter grade. This policy does not apply to absences addressed by accommodations or modifications established by Disability Support Services.

Grades in Education Courses: Students may only count three credits below a “B” towards their degree, per the Academic Policies Handbook. All other classes must be passed with a grade of B or better. EDCI 699 Capstone in Curriculum and Instruction must be passed with a B or better. The minimum cumulative grade point average required to graduate is 3.0.

Pass/No Pass: Courses fulfilling the major may not be taken Pass/No Pass.

Transfer and Experiential Credit: Graduate students can transfer up to 6 credits.  Transfer of courses counting toward the major must be approved by the appropriate School of Education chair or director or by the Dean.  For more information, see the Trinity Transfer Credit Policy.

Course Descriptions

Explanation of Course Prefixes and Numbers
Courses designated EDCC are education core and common courses across various programs in the School of Education. Courses designated EDCI are specific to the Curriculum and Instruction program. Courses designated EDTE are largely specific to the M.A.T. Teacher Education program, although students in other programs may be required to take some of these courses. Undergraduates with at least junior status may enroll in courses at the 500-level, with permission of their academic advisor. Only graduate students may enroll in courses numbered 600 and above.

EDCC – Education Core 

EDCC 600 Research in Education

EDCI – Curriculum and Instruction 

EDCI 505 Psychology of Children and Youth Facing Poverty
EDCI 611 Role of Social, Economic, and Political Systems in Education
EDCI 612 Conflict Management and Resolution
EDCI 650 Global and Ethical Perspectives
EDCI 651 Education Leadership
EDCI 652 Literacy Issues in Urban Education
EDCI 653 Current Issues in Urban Education
EDCI 654 Curriculum and Program Design
EDCI 655 Hispanic/Latinx Literature & Culture
EDCI 656 Principles of Educational Assessment and Evaluation
EDCI 657 Education Law & Policy
EDCI 658 Politics & Education Policy
EDCI 661 Developing Mathematical Ideas I: Number Systems and Operations
EDCI 662 Developing Mathematical Ideas II: Algebra
EDCI 663 Developing Mathematical Ideas III: Geometry
EDCI 664 Developing Mathematical Ideas IV: Statistics & Mathematical Discourse
EDCI 699 Capstone in Curriculum and Instruction

EDTE- Teacher Education

EDTE 611 Literacy Development Across the Curriculum
EDTE 624 Children's Literature
EDTE 627 Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Emergent and Early Readers

EDAD – Education Administration

EDAD 601 Leadership, Management, and Supervision
EDAD 604 Staff and Group Development
EDAD 633 Finance and Resource Management
EDAD 634 Legal and Ethical Issues in School Administration

Related Programs

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Education Policy

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: Mathematics for Educators