About the Curriculum Studies Department
The Curriculum Studies (CS) department provides educators with opportunities for advanced scholarship and preparation within their chosen fields. CS offers several graduate certificates, two master’s degrees and the PhD in Education, Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) specialization.
The Curriculum Studies department is also proud to house the Hawai‘i Writing Project and numerous grants in Early Childhood education, indigenous education, place-based education, and other major educational areas.
Vision
O ke kakoo ana i na alakai i makaukau me ka pono no ko Hawaii Pae Aina a puni, me ka hookumu ana i na hana e pono ai ka aina, a me ka noho maluhia ana o Kanaka.
Curriculum Studies supports curricular leaders who are committed to collaborating with their communities, particularly in Hawai‘i and the Pacific, to build a more socially just, sustainable, and equitable society.
Mission
E malama i ka olelo, i kuleana e kipa mai ai. (Pukui, 1983, p. 348)
Remember the invitation, for it gives you the privilege of coming here. A person feels welcome when accepting an invitation and friendly promises.
The Department’s mission is to (1) foster and engage communities in respectful dialogue and critical examination of curriculum, with Hawai‘i’s multiple histories at its core and (2) develop and implement programs supporting the Pacific’s diverse communities, with special emphasis placed on Hawaiian language, culture, and people.
Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificates are graduate-level programs that are available to classified graduate students who are enrolled in graduate degree programs or to non-degree seeking students. Certificates require a minimum of 15 credit hours of specified courses and a 3.0 GPA in those courses. Students may study for the graduate certificate with or without the MEd-CS degree. A culminating experience is required. The Department currently offers five graduate certificates that range from 15-18 credits: Ethnomathematics, Literacy Leader: Literacy Specialist, Literacy Leader: Reading K-12 (not currently accepting students), Multilingual Multicultural Professional Practice, PK3 (not currently accepting students), Sustainability and Resilience Education, and Teacher Leader. Students have the option to Add-a-Field to an existing Hawai‘i teacher license in Ethnomathematics and Teacher Leader.
Master's - MEd-CS
The Master of Education in Curriculum Studies (MEd-CS) degree is a 30-credit program designed to serve educators who wish to inquire into school levels K-12 education or informal education spaces. The program offers diverse focus in content area or interdisciplinary approaches to education. It equips educators to fill a variety of teaching, resource, and leadership roles at an advanced level. The program does not lead to initial teacher licensure; however, students have the option to Add-a-Field to an existing Hawai‘i teacher license in PK3 and Literacy Specialist. Students engage in a: 12-credit curriculum studies core, 18 credit student-selected specialization, and Plan A thesis or Plan B project. Students may attend part-time, and the average completion time is just over two years.
Explore the Master’s drop down menu on our website menu to access our various MED-CS tracks.
Master's - Early Childhood Education
The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (MEd-ECE) is a 30-credit interdisciplinary master’s degree offered by the departments of Curriculum Studies and Special Education in the College of Education and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). The program focuses on settings that serve children (birth-5 years) and their families. The MEd-ECE is designed to support professional development and promote leadership in the field of ECE. Students have the option to Add-a-Field to an existing Hawai‘i teacher license in early childhood education.
PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)-Curriculum and Instruction specialization in the college-wide PhD degree program is awarded for distinguished academic preparation for professional practice in the field of education. The 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.
