Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education

The Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education provides educational programs for individuals concerned with the development and delivery of curriculum and instruction in schools and specialized educational institutions for all learners, including those with special needs. The department provides leadership within the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation in areas related to curriculum, instruction, and special education. Programs housed in the department include: curriculum and instruction; elementary education; reading education; secondary education (English, foreign languages, math, science, social studies); special education (mental retardation, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, and severe disabilities and the training program for early childhood special education).

Most program areas in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education offer degrees at three levels: master’s (M.Ed. or M.T.), education specialist (Ed.S.), and doctoral (Ed.D. or Ph.D.).

The department offers a concentration area for doctoral students who plan to become pre-service teacher educators at a college or university. This concentration area has two tracks: generalist and specialist. The two tracks share a common core of requirements, but differ according to whether students want an in-depth preparation in a subject-matter area, or a more generalized preparation that would focus on methods of instruction, supervision, technology, and policy. Students interested in the generalist track should apply to the Curriculum and Instruction program area, and students interested in the specialist track should apply to one of the other departmental areas, e.g., mathematics education, science education, or social studies education.