̽̽'s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction develops innovative leaders in teaching, curriculum theory and development, and related areas of research for schools and other educational settings. Students can pursue specialization tracks in Education for Sustainability, Reading and Literacy, Resiliency-Based Approaches, School Library Media Science, or an individually-designed program.
All courses are available fully online, with the exception of select field-based coursework in the Education for Sustainability track. An accelerated master's degree pathway is available for current ̽̽ undergraduate students.
This fall, the program welcomed Dr. Cee Carter, a nationally recognized scholar who strives to improve educational equity and justice in K-12 schools throughout the country. To expand critical literacy practices and challenge oppressive systems, Carter co-creates curricula with educators and youth to highlight how language, discipline, and discourse are socio-politically constructed.
"The critical lens that Dr. Carter brings to developing and implementing curriculum, paired with a strong focus on relational learning, is already elevating the experience of our C&I students," said Program Coordinator Kathleen Brinegar.
In her first month at ̽̽, we asked Dr. Carter to respond to a few questions.
What attracted you here?
A decade ago, I visited ̽̽ and met Beverly Colston, former director the Mosaic Center for Students of Color. I was so inspired by the critical lens she brought to her work and her passionate support for students of color at the university. Our brief conversation left such an impression on me that ̽̽ was among the top universities I scouted after graduate school.
Given the emphasis on culturally responsive instruction and community engagement, I was specifically drawn to College of Education and Social Services and the Curriculum and Instruction program. I appreciate the warm welcome and comprehensive support that I’ve received as a new faculty member, which has also been bolstered by the faculty mentorship programming led by Vice Provost Jane Okech.
Also, who wouldn’t be attracted to a campus with such beautiful mountain and lake views?
What inspires you as an educator and as a researcher?
As bell hooks says, “the classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy.” I’m also a gardener, so for me, teaching is the act of welcoming possibility and sowing seeds with faith that they will provide sustenance in the future. I am inspired by the Vermont educational practitioners I work with because of the role they play in shaping future generations.
In my work as a researcher, the opportunity to overturn and rethink knowledge systems that shape a deficit pursuit of equity drives me. I am also inspired by the opportunity to practice liberatory approaches to curriculum and pedagogy with practitioners in an array of contexts.
What impact do you strive to make on our community, the state, and society?
In my work as a faculty member, I hope to support educational practitioners to create liberatory curriculum as means of honoring and cultivating the imaginative potential of economically, culturally, and linguistically diverse learners.
More about the Program
̽̽'s Curriculum and Instruction program includes 30 graduate credits (12 core credits and 18 credits of electives) emphasizing the development of knowledge and skills related to educational justice, building criticality to transform education, centering humanistic pedagogies, and building a reflective practice. Online courses are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Students complete a capstone portfolio showcasing their learning and the impact on their professional practice. The portfolio is presented to a small committee of enthusiastic and supportive program faculty as a final comprehensive exam.
Graduates can apply for additional licensure endorsements through transcript review with the Vermont Agency of Education.
Prospective students can visit the program website or register to attend an hosted by program faculty and staff.
