College of Education & Human Services

Frequently Asked Questions

1.   Does the Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Program lead to initial licensure?

No. Candidates at WIU must complete the undergraduate program in Curriculum and Instruction in order to receive initial licensure.  If a candidate already holds a teaching license, it is possible to earn an endorsement in elementary education or early childhood education and to have some of that coursework count toward their graduate degree.  Candidates should inquire with their advisor or contact the COEHS advising office at 309-298-1438.

2.   What is the difference between the Curriculum and Instruction and Reading Graduate Programs?

The Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction and the Master of Science in Education in Reading are two different graduate degree programs.  The Reading graduate program is designed to lead candidates into completing an endorsement as a reading specialist or as a reading teacher.  Reading is the major focus of the program.  On the other hand, the Curriculum and Instruction graduate program is designed with areas of specialization in mind.  Areas of specialization provide in-depth study of a specific content area.  Candidates are given the opportunity to expand both their content and pedagogical knowledge.  Presently, the Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Degree offers areas of specialization in literacy education, elementary curriculum, early childhood education, social studies education, science education, and math education. Candidates also complete a core designed to broaden the candidate's experience, and includes coursework on recent trends and research, assessment and differentiation, and methods of research.  For the Early Childhood area of specialization, the core courses include curriculum, child development, intervention, family engagement, language development, play, and literacy in early education.

3.   What is the difference between the different areas of specialization?

The Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for practicing teachers who teach from pre-kindergarten through the middle grades.  The areas of specialization are as follows: Elementary Curriculum, Literacy Education, Science Education, Social Studies Education, and Early Childhood Education.  Below are the specific characteristics of the different areas of specialization:

  • The Elementary Curriculum area of specialization offers a balanced program of courses in each major subject area of the elementary school curriculum.  Candidates take courses from all four content areas: literacy education, mathematics, science, and social studies. 
  • The Literacy Education area of specialization is designed to extend candidates' knowledge, skills, and understanding of literature and language arts in the elementary and middle grades.  This specialization focuses on major theories, current research, and practical classroom application of strategies for supporting the development of children/adolescents' speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities.
  • The Social Studies, Mathematics or Science area of specializations each offer a balanced approach of courses to the respective content area. For each of the areas, most of the courses will be in that particular area and addresses instruction, assessment and other topics. 

4.   How do I revalidate courses?

If you have coursework that has become outdated (more than 6 years old for master's and specialist degrees), you may petition the Graduate Council for an extension of time.  Evidence must show that such courses have been revalidated by examination or some other means as determined by the department. Transfer credits must be revalidated by instructors from the credit-granting institution.  Graduate courses with grades of C or lower may not be revalidated.  Revalidated courses will not be included in the calculation of grade point average (GPA) once an extension of time has been granted. Contact your advisor for more information.  A maximum of six credit hours may be revalidated.

5.   What is the C&I 600 and/or SCED 602 Capstone experience?

The capstone course is primarily a research-writing course, which is taken as the last course in a candidate's program. This course includes an intensive action research project or advanced literature review. Each candidate will be expected to identify an appropriate research topic, investigate their topic, and present the issue in an in-depth paper.  This is a core course and is the capstone course in the Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Program.  Prerequisites for this course are 24 semester hours in graduate work, including EDS 500, C&I 574, and C&I 566.

6.   When do I need to file a degree plan?

A degree plan is filed with the Office of Graduate Studies after the completion of 9 semester hours and before the complete of 15 semester hours. In many cases, the completion of the degree plan is completed when the candidate completes nearly 80% to 90% of course work. The reason for this is to avoid having to complete additional paperwork should something change with the initial course of study that is established upon entry into the program. 

7.   How many courses should I take at once? How does financial aid impact the course of study? 

We recommend that you take one course in the fall semester, one course in the spring semester, and two courses in the summer term.  If you follow this schedule, you can complete your graduate program in about three years.  If you need some flexibility you do have six years to complete your program before you must revalidate courses.  Depending on financial aid, the course schedule can be different because with financial aid, 2 courses per semester are required to maintain aid. This included fall, spring and summer semesters. 

8.   How long do I have to finish my graduate degree?

You have six years to finish your master's degree before coursework begins to become outdated.  Once a course becomes outdated, it must go through a revalidation process in order for it to be put towards your master's degree course requirements.  A maximum of six credit hours of coursework may be revalidated.

9.   Is this program online or face-to-face?

Courses for the Curriculum and Instruction master's degree program are offered 100 % online only. The only time you can visit campus is for walking for graduation - which is optional. 

10.   Can I use financial aid for online courses?

Yes! emester-based, online courses are eligible for most federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.  In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be:

  • Fully admitted in a degree or approved graduate certificate program
  • Registered for at least 6 credit hours for each semester you towards which you apply the aid
  • To determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Call the Office of Financial Aid at WIU for more information at 309-298-2446.  Graduate assistantships are often available also.  

11.   Do I have to take admission tests to be admitted to the WIU Curriculum and Instruction graduate program?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for applicants to the WIU Curriculum and Instruction graduate program; however, you must apply for and be accepted to the School of Graduate Studies in order to be accepted into the Curriculum and Instruction graduate program.

12.   When do I register for courses?

Summer and Fall advanced registration begins in April, and Spring advance registration begins in November.  Each student is assigned a date they may begin enrolling in classes.  To find out your earliest date and time to register, check your STARS account upon acceptance into the program. 

13.   When do I need to apply for graduation?

Before March 10 (spring semester), June 10 (summer term), or October 10 (fall semester).  It is important to meet these deadlines to prevent your degree from being recorded the following semester.

14.   How do I make changes to my approved degree plan?

You must submit a petition if you want to make changes to your approved degree plan.  Once you complete the petition, you must send it to your degree department for signature.  The form is then sent to the School of Graduate Studies where the change is made on your plan. 

15.   How do I know which courses to take?

When you apply to the Curriculum and Instruction graduate program, you will be assigned an advisor.  Dr. Andrea Hyde is the advisor for the Curriculum & Instruction MSED for areas of specialization in Elementary Curriculum, Literacy Education, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Dr. Boh Young Lee is the advisor for the Early Childhood area of specialization for the Curriculum and Instruction MSED.

16. Do we accept international students?

International students are encouraged to apply. However, keep in mind that the program is 100% online, and this does not require students to attend on campus courses in any capacity. As such, the program can be completed from your home country. Assistantships are not offered for this 100% online program.  

17. When I graduate, what type of information is found on my transcript?

Upon graduation, the transcript includes the name of the degree, which is listed as: Master's of Science in Education along with the name of the program - Curriculum & Instruction. The name of the area of specializations are not included. The words "online" are not included anywhere on the transcript. Additional information for school districts can be provided that include the area of specialization language upon request.

18. What is the cost of the graduate program?

Click here for details regarding tuition and costs.