M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction Program Options

View Course Catalog for a complete list of courses and detailed descriptions.

CCU’s Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MACI) offers a variety of program options, ranging from 36 credit hours to 42 credit hours, to help tailor your master's degree to your specific educational goals. The scope and sequence of courses are planned to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in your professional field. In the final performance-based assessment, the capstone, you must demonstrate proficiency in instructional design and its delivery methodologies.

Option 1: M.A. Curriculum and Instruction Path for CCU Graduates

If you have completed a teacher education program through CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies, you may apply graduate credits completed through that program toward a MACI degree.

• Early Childhood Education path (36 credit hours) – Students may apply two of their CCU Early Childhood Education courses toward a MACI degree; will need 10 additional courses to complete the MACI degree.
• Elementary Education path (36 credit hours) – Students may apply three of their CCU Elementary Education courses toward the MACI degree; will need nine additional courses to complete the MACI degree.
• Special Education Generalist path (36 credit hours) – Students may apply three of their CCU Special Education Generalist program courses toward a MACI degree; will need nine additional courses to complete the MACI degree.
• Alternative Licensing Education path (36 credit hours) – Students may apply five of their CCU Alternative Licensing Education program courses toward the MACI degree; will need seven additional courses to complete the MACI degree.
• Alternative Licensing Program: Special Education Emphasis path (42 credit hours) – Students may apply seven of their CCU Alternative Licensing Program in Special Education courses toward a MACI with an emphasis in Special Education; will need seven additional courses courses to complete the MACI degree.

Option 2: M.A. Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis

If you have not completed a teacher education program through CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies, you must choose one of the emphases below as part of your MACI degree.

Note: If you have completed a teacher education program through CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies, you may choose to complete a MACI degree in an emphasis that differs from your original program path. You will need to complete the additional course requirements associated with the emphasis. Choose from any emphasis below except Master Educator.

• Master Educator emphasis (36 credit hours) – Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to become leading educators and mentors who can make a significant impact on individual learners and foster teaching success. Students learn to apply educational research and theory, and are trained in educational technology and visual literacy to enhance the learning experience. There are multiple opportunities for practical application, especially in the final capstone course project.
• Corporate Education emphasis (36 credit hours) – Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective corporate education and training leaders who have the ability to make a significant impact on individual learners and on their organizations' success.
• Instructional Technology emphasis (36 credit hours) – Provides students with advanced education technology knowledge and application skills. Students are required to integrate educational technology into their Practicum in order to acquire this emphasis.
• Online Course Developer emphasis (36 credit hours) – Provides students with the knowledge, skills, and theoretical basis to effectively design, develop, and evaluate online courses in educational or corporate settings. Students are exposed to the latest educational technology and research; learn various techniques to move the initial course design from a text-driven format to a dynamic, integrated online class; and study the psychology of Web-based learning to gain a better understanding of how to design a course to meet individual learners' needs.
• Online Teaching and Learning emphasis (36 credit hours) – Provides students with the necessary education to become an effective online teacher. Students learn teaching strategies that will enable them to significantly impact learners. Students are exposed to the latest educational research and theory; the unique dynamics of online content delivery; and learn how to integrate appropriate technologies into curriculum.
• Special Education emphasis (42 credit hours) – Provides licensed teachers with an opportunity to earn a master's degree and meet the Colorado requirements for adding a Special Education Generalist Endorsement to their teaching license.

Graduate Certificates

Graduate-level certificates are offered in conjunction with CCU's MACI program. Each certificate program consists of three 3-credit courses for a total of nine credits toward your MACI degree:

• Corporate Education Certificate – Prepares students to teach in almost any business environment.
• Instructional Technology Certificate– Provides exposure to instructional approaches and technology tools for developing effective strategies to deliver training to learners.
• Online Course Developer Certificate – Trains students to effectively design, develop, and evaluate online classes in educational or corporate settings.
• Online Teaching and Learning Certificate – Gives students the tools they need to develop an online teaching strategy that enables them to significantly impact individual learners.