Curriculum and Instruction

Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction-Specialization in Science Education

Degree Requirements (90 cr.)

Major Requirements (39 cr.)
Science Education (12 cr.)
  • Q612 Topical Seminar in Science Education (2-4 cr., taken for a total of 12 cr.)
Science Methods (6 cr.)

Select two courses from the following:

  • J762 Topical Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching Introduction to Scientific Inquiry (3 cr.)
  • Q528 Demonstration and Field Strategies in Science (1-6 cr.)
  • Q540 Teaching Environmental Education (3 cr.)
  • Q610: Developing as Teacher Educators for Science or Mathematics
  • Q620 University Science Teaching (3 cr.)
Content Support-Graduate Level Science Courses (12 cr.)

As decided by the program committee to fit the needs of the student. They can be taken in one disciplinary area of science or be from across various disciplines of science, including multidisciplinary science programs 

Proseminars (3 cr.)
  • Q601 Professional Seminar in Science Education (1-3 cr., taken for a total of 3 cr.)
Early Inquiry Experience and Inquiry Linkage (6 cr.)
  • J705 Seminar: Inquiry in Curriculum and Instruction (3 cr.)
  • Q690 Advanced Research in Science Education (1-6 cr., taken for 3 cr.)
Inquiry Requirements (15 cr.)
  • Introductory Course (3 cr.) (e.g.) Y521: Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry
  • Statistical Techniques (3-9 cr., minimum 3 credits)
  • Qualitative Inquiry Approaches (3-9 cr., minimum 3 credits)
  • Measurement, Evaluation, and Design (0-3 cr.)
Minor Requirements (12 cr.)

The minor must have integrity in its own right and must complement the major. The minor field must demonstrate wholeness within itself and contribute to the student's overall doctoral program. Minors are normally formulated within a single program area. However, an interdisciplinary or individualized minor is also possible. Interdisciplinary or individualized minors require a written description of the minor's underlying theme along with a rationale for each course's contribution to that theme through the Minor Justification form. This form should be submitted and approved by the Graduate Studies Office prior to enrolling in the minor courses.

Elective Requirements (9 cr.)

Selected in consultation with advisory committee.  Elective courses are chosen to fill out the major and to contribute to the integrity of the student’s program.  These courses are taken in the student’s area of interest, within or outside the department, in order to fulfill the total program requirement of 90 credit hours.

Dissertation Requirements (15 cr.)
  • J795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
  • J799 Dissertation-Curriculum/Instruction (12 cr.)

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Additional program information can be found at the Office of Graduate Studies.