Curriculum Studies

The MEd-CS is a 30-credit program leading to the degree of the Master's  of Education in Curriculum Studies.  It is designed to serve already licensed teachers who wish to learn about and inquire into the areas of elementary, middle level, secondary, or K-12 education.  Students may attend part-time, but the program must be completed within seven years from the date of admission. Two certificates are available:

1. The Early Childhood PK-3 Certificate is a leadership program designed for those who work with children from preschool through grade three. Upon completion of 15 required credits of early childhood coursework and a professional portfolio based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children national standards, students receive a Certificate in Early Childhood PK-3 from the College of Education. For the MEd-CS, students need only to complete an additional 12 credits, including a required course in child development and three core classes.
2. The Reading, K-12 Certificate is designed to prepare reading specialists, literacy coaches and teachers who are literacy leaders. Based on International Reading Association Standards, students complete 15 credits of reading education courses and a standards-based Professional Teaching Portfolio. Students may receive the Certificate and the MEd-CS by successfully completing the 12-credit core in addition to the Reading, K-12 specialization requirements, or they may pursue the Certificate without a Master’s degree.

Certificates may improve recipients' job prospects in the respective teaching fields, but do not prepare students for State licensure.

The MEd-ECE is a leadership program designed for those who work in settings from birth to age five. Students complete a core of six interdisciplinary courses and then curriculum or a policy and advocacy track for their specialization. Students may choose a Plan A Thesis or a Plan B Standards-Based Portfolio. Students attend required classes for three consecutive summers on ground with additional coursework completed online or on ground.

The PhD in Education, specialization in Curriculum and Instruction develops educational leaders in curriculum development, teaching, curriculum evaluation, and/or teacher education and professional development. The program varies in the number of credit hours required, depending upon the candidate's qualifications, and includes courses required for all doctoral students enrolled in the College of Education; courses in an area of specialization, such as issues and trends in curriculum, teaching and learning, curriculum and program evaluation, and research on teacher education and professional development; breadth courses; a field project or an internship in college teaching; and the dissertation.

Students who obtain a degree from Curriculum Studies from the University of Hawai'i can look forward to expanding their opportunities within the field of education. The program prepares teachers to fill a variety of teaching and resource roles at an advanced level. Those who obtain their Master of Education (MEd) degrees or college-endorsed certificates are often educators who have worked in the field of education before and are able to achieve better pay after completing the program. Those in the College-wide PhD program, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction, are usually well-seasoned educators who, after completing the program, are qualified to pursue academic careers or seek different positions within the Hawai'i State Department of Education and/or private and charter schools.
For those seeking an initial teacher preparation at the masters level the college offers such a degree: the Master of Education in Teaching (MEdT) program.