Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

About this Program

Are you interested in building and leading comprehensive, proactive, and responsive preK-12 school support systems that meet the needs of the whole student? Do you have a desire to build your knowledge, skills, and experience to facilitate equitable classrooms and support student learning?

We believe that equity in education becomes a reality when systems are put in place to ensure that every student has an equal chance for success.

MSU Denver’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction degree will prepare you to be an innovator and a leader in the educational setting in which you work by exploring new methods of teaching and leadership to develop and lead educational environments that are equitable, sustaining, and responsive to the needs of every student.

This degree can be completed in a face-to-face setting or in a hybrid online (synchronous/asynchronous) setting.  Some classes may mix these formats, with some students joining the class through a virtual online platform while others are physically present in the classroom with the instructor.

Subjects covered in the core courses include educational equity, educational leadership, responsive pedagogy, and action research

We offer concentrations in:

• Trauma-Informed Practices
  • This concentration focuses on equity in education as it relates to recognizing and addressing the learning and behavioral needs of children who have experienced trauma.
• Inclusive Practices
  • This concentration focuses on equity in education as it relates to access and inclusion for all students.

Benefits of Earning Your Degree at MSU Denver

Our Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction degree is unique in its offering of concentration areas in trauma-informed practices and inclusive practices.  In our program, students will:

• Build expertise and leadership skills;
• Increase their focus on equitable, sustaining, and responsive curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of every student;
• Collaborate with a diverse student population;
• Engage in topical coursework;
• Experience incredible value;
• Interact with supportive faculty and staff who value diversity, equity and inclusion; and
• Find convenience in course delivery format options.

Career Opportunities for Our Graduates

The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction can distinguish you as an leader and innovator within your educational context. In addition to your licensure area and/or your area of educational focus, you will obtain the knowledge and skills to strive toward equity and inclusion across your work with students.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply to the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Students must indicate completion of an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.50.

In addition to the above requirement, applicants must submit the following materials:

• Completed MSU Denver Graduate Application
• Graduate Application Fee
  • $50 fee paid online through the online MSU Denver Graduate Application
• ALL official transcripts. (Please note: you do not need to provide MSU Denver transcripts if you attended here in the past)
  • Electronic submission is the preferred method. Have official electronic transcripts sent directly from the institution to: [email protected]
  • Official hard copy transcripts can be mailed to:
    MSU Denver
    The Office of Graduate Studies
    P.O. Box 173362
    Campus Box 48
    Denver, CO 80217

Supplemental Documents (uploaded as part of the MSU Denver Graduate Application):

• Detailed 2-page Letter of Intent (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt font) that describes your reasons for interest in the M.Ed. Program, and in particular your concentration area (Trauma-Informed Practices or Inclusive Practices) and the current educational context for the application of coursework in this program. Describe how well you, your experiences, and your hopes align with the School of Education’s mission and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement.
• Two (2) letters of support/recommendation that demonstrate readiness for graduate level coursework, professional dispositions, and commitment to innovation in the field of education.
  • You will need to provide the email addresses and other details (name, title, relationship, phone #, etc.) of two personal or professional references .
  • These people will receive a request to submit a recommendation letter directly to our application system.
  • You will be able to include a personal message to your references during the application submission process.

Featured Faculty

Dr. Ofelia Schepers

Dr. Schepers is an Associate Professor of Elementary Education. Along with Dr. Kathryn Young, Dr. Schepers recently received a prestigious Spencer Grant to conduct research about the impact of Trauma-Informed Practices (TIP) on secondary traumatic stress in novice teachers. Preliminary research by Drs. Schepers and Young indicates pre-service teachers that participate in two or more TIP professional learning sessions have statistically significantly reduced secondary traumatic stress as compared to teacher candidates who do not participate in any sessions.