Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching
Students pursuing a master of education degree (MEd) are admitted to the curriculum and teaching major through the K–12 licensure program, UO Teach, which emphasizes the sociocultural context of teaching and learning, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and supportive learning communities. Completion of the program leads to a teaching license and a master of education degree (MEd) in curriculum and teaching.
The UO Teach program offers general-education specializations in elementary multiple subjects and middle-high school education in the following content endorsement areas:- English language arts
- Social science
- Science education (biology, chemistry, physics, or integrated general science)
- Mathematics (advanced and foundational)
- World languages (French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish)
To ensure all graduates are trained to teach culturally and linguistically diverse youth, both specializations include embedded preparation for the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement.
UO Teach is a four-term, full-time program, though students may be accepted for a two-year, part-time program. The graduate program begins in June, preparing students for 34 weeks of progressive field experience in local schools, starting in the fall. It is a cohort-based program (students are taught as a community rather than as individuals) in which students explore approaches to teaching and learning that advance equity and access, value individual student’s strengths, facilitate critical thinking, and reflect culturally responsive methods and practices that serve all learners. Study plans are based on endorsement area sequential courses.
Upon successful completion of related course work, field placement, and licensure requirements, candidates are eligible to apply for a Teacher Standards and Practices Commission Oregon teaching license. The preliminary teaching licenses and subsequent renewals and out-of-state transfers require a College of Education recommendation.
More information on the program is available at the website.
Application and Admission
The program is competitive, with limited enrollment. Admission criteria include a bachelor’s degree with required content preparation, a 3.00 grade point average (GPA), demonstrated working experience with school-age youth, passing subject-area test scores for Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA), a commitment to working with diverse populations, and strong communication skills. See the website for application details.
Master of Science in Curriculum and Teacher Education
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Foundations of education courses | 8 | |
| Teacher professionalism courses | 8 | |
| Research methodology courses | 8 | |
| Specialization Courses | ||
| Program courses | 16 | |
| Electives | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 56 | |
This program is designed for those who already hold a teaching license but want to build on their knowledge by adding a master's degree. Study plans are individualized based on an applicant’s educational pursuits. The program accepts applicants on an annual basis. Interested applicants may access the application from October through January 30; the program begins summer session, in June.
Enrollment is limited. Program admission is based on grade point average, recommendations, need in the field, and the results of an interview. See the website for application details.
Application and Admissions
Enrollment is limited. Program admission is based on grade point average, recommendations, need in the field, and the interview. See the website for application details.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement
English learners and emerging bilinguals face linguistic and cultural barriers when acquiring context knowledge in a mainstream classroom. The add-on endorsements in ESOL and ESOL–bilingual education prepare educators to serve students who enter the public school system with a native language other than English. In addition, this endorsement equips teachers with an awareness of the challenges students face in developing English language proficiency and content simultaneously, and how effective use of culturally relevant materials and teaching strategies can help to counteract this challenge.
Licensed teachers who complete the ESOL program demonstrate the following:
- proficiency in planning, delivery, and assessment of English language development instruction
- knowledge of effective inclusive language development program models
- ability to serve as a resource to classroom teachers to ensure a student's successful transition from an English language development program to mainstream classrooms
- ability to serve as an advocate for emerging bilinguals who supports equity and access in educational settings
ESOL Endorsement Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | 16 | |
| Practicum | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
The program for the ESOL endorsement requires satisfactory completion of 19 credits, including four courses and a practicum. This endorsement allows licensed teachers to become ESOL specialists.
Students who have completed an ESOL endorsement and are proficient in another language may add the bilingual endorsement by passing the appropriate Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments–National Evaluation Series language test. No course work is necessary for the bilingual endorsement.
Reading Endorsement Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | 16 | |
| Practicum | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
The reading endorsement is an option available to those who already hold an Oregon teaching license and want to become reading interventionists. The program has a multilingual-multicultural emphasis that offers a linguistically and culturally inclusive approach to literacy education, including attention to the needs of speakers of other languages and nonstandard English. Students complete six courses and a practicum for a total of 27 credits.
The program is designed to provide educators with the fundamental skills and knowledge they need to
- provide intensive, research-based reading intervention to individuals and small groups of children in a classroom setting
- understand student literacy learning and assessment from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including behavioral, cognitive, linguistic, social-psychological, and cultural
- develop, administer, and interpret a variety of reading-skill assessments
- understand the politics, policies, and practical realities associated with language and literacy in education settings and how these issues affect students
Students complete five courses and a practicum for a total of 19 credits.
Application and Admissions
Applicants must hold a teaching license. Students are admitted on a rolling basis but typically begin the program in summer or fall. For application information and deadlines, visit the website.
Licensure
Licensure programs of the Department of Education Studies meet the requirements for the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission for a preliminary teacher license in elementary multiple subjects and middle or high school education content areas. Endorsements are available in ESOL and ESOL-bilingual specialization and reading.Doctor of Philosophy in Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education
The University of Oregon doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) in critical and sociocultural studies in education (CSSE) emphasizes the development of expertise in research on curriculum, instruction, and teacher education. It provides a comprehensive approach to educational research that considers the consequences of contemporary schooling systems while developing alternatives to current practices that result in systemic change. The development of empirical work is supported through a course of study that includes a strong foundation in qualitative and quantitative research methodology.
The program is designed to prepare candidates for work as faculty members at universities. Graduates may also pursue careers as researchers at state agencies or private research centers. The program requires disciplined study of the processes of teaching and learning as well as critical discussions about worthwhile teaching subjects. Courses of study in the program focus on
- the existence of injustice in schools and the promotion of equity and access of opportunity in and through educational scholarship
- the development of teachers as curriculum designers, critical and creative thinkers, and scholars of their practice
- the cognitive foundations of teaching practice
- the social and cultural context in which teaching and teacher education takes place
- the ideological, cultural, and philosophical foundations of educational practice
- extensive and rigorous preparation in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
The program requires a minimum of 135 graduate credits, at least 84 of which must be earned after admission to the program.
Admission
The program is small—fewer than 10 students are typically admitted every two years. Applications are accepted from early fall through mid-January for admission in odd-numbered years. The next cohort will be admitted for fall 2019. Application details are available online.
