Program Requirements — Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
The Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction degree is geared toward excellence in teaching and designed for experienced classroom teachers. The M.A.C.I. provides a program of selected graduate studies to improve and enhance the delivery system of classroom learning experiences for the practitioner. The M.A.C.I. can also be developed to support the achievement of National Board for Professional Standards certification.
Students may enroll for part-time study. The program combines classroom study with on-the-job assignments that enable students to test theory against practical reality. This program is delivered in an 8-week format and during the summer.
In addition to the general University "Graduate Admission Requirements and Procedures," the following are required for entrance into the M.AC.I. program:
- Current teaching certificate.
- Two years of teaching experience prior to completion of graduate studies.
- Letters of recommendation*, including one from the student's immediate supervisor for the M.A.C.I. program.
Attendance Policy: All Graduate Education Programs
Attendance is mandatory at all class sessions. If a student is to be absent for any reason he/she must discuss the expected absence with the course instructor before it occurs.
Academic Standards and Evaluation in Graduate Education Programs
Upon completion of each course, letter grades are assigned to each student. At the graduate level, a "C" grade indicates less-than-complete mastery of the content and methods of the course. Only two grades of "C" are accepted at the graduate level in the M.A.C.I. program, and they must be balanced by two course grades of "A." If a "C" is received within the first three courses, the student may be removed from the program by action of the program faculty.
Program Requirements
Thirty-six (36) semester hours are required for the M.A.C.I.. Twenty-seven (27) of these semester hours must be taken as core-residency courses taught by Aurora University faculty on campus or at designated off-campus sites. The remaining courses in the degree may be satisfied through transfer coursework, on-campus graduate education coursework, or Aurora University coursework offered in conjunction with Aurora University's network of collaborating academic partners.
The College of Education Graduate Faculty Committee may accept a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning for application toward elective-degree requirements. Transfer credit must be accepted prior to enrollment in the first M.A.C.I. course. Graduate faculty reserve the right to decide on the applicability of any and all transfer credit.
Students requesting transfer credits must submit a "Request for Transfer Credit" form with their admission application. All courses must be less than five years old at the time of admission and must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. An official transcript must be provided. It is university policy that no more than six (6) semester hours taken as a "student-at-large" may be applied toward a graduate-degree program.
Degree Requirements for Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
- 27 semester hours in core courses
- 9 semester hours in courses selected in conjunction with graduate program advisor
General Core Courses: 27 semester hours required for all programs
| EDU6020 | Assessment in Schools (3) |
| EDU6030 | The Individual, Cognition and Learning (3) |
| EDU6040 | The Learning Environment (3) |
| EDU6050 | Technology in the School of the Future (3) |
| EDU6060 | Scholarship Applied to Teaching (3) |
| EDU6070 | Introduction to Action Research (3) |
| EDU6090 | Contemporary Issues in Curriculum & Instruction |
| EDU6200 | Curriculum for Diversity |
| EDU6630 | Curriculum Development & Evaluation |
Education Electives: 9 semester hours from the list below
| EDU5370 | Adolescent Development and Learning (3) |
| EDU5440 | Middle School: Mission and Methods (3) |
| EDU5610 | Survey of the Exceptional Individual (3) |
| EDU5810 | Conflict Mediation (3) |
| EDU6110 | Foundations for Language Minority Education (3) |
| EDU6120 | Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL (3) |
| EDU6130 | Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching ELLs (3) |
| EDU6140 | Assessment of Bilingual Students (3) |
| EDU6150 | Linguistics for Teaching English Language Learners (3) |
| EDU6170 | Methods and Materials for Teaching ELLs in Bilingual Programs (3) |
| EDU6320 | Effective Comprehensive Instruction (3) |
| EDU6330 | Literacy in the Content Area (3) |
| EDU6610 | Educational Leadership (3) |
| EDU6620 | School Supervision (3) |
| EDU6630 | Curriculum Development and Evaluation (3) |
| EDU6640 | School and Community Relations (3) |
| EDU6650 | School Law (3) |
| EDU6660 | School Finance (3) |
| OEDS5005 | Talented Students in Regular Classroom (3) |
| OEDS6831 | Advanced Applications of Educational Technology (Tech II) (3) |
| OEDS5030 | Technology and Engaged Learning (Tech III) (3) |
| OEDS6572 | Cooperative Discipline (3) |
| OEDS6360 | Differentiation of Instruction (3) |
| OEDS6441 | The Collaborative Classroom (3) |
Many additional electives are available through the university's network of collaborating academic partners. Complete listings are available in the M.A.C.I. office.
M.A.C.I./Secondary Certification ProgramUpon completion of the Aurora University's Secondary Certification Program, certified teachers may continue coursework to complete a full Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.
The following courses may apply from the Secondary Certification Program:
| EDU5206 | The Secondary School: Foundations and Assessment Replaces M.A.C.I. core course requirement: EDU6020 |
| EDU5106 | The Secondary School: The Learning Environment Replaces M.A.C.I. core course requirement: EDU6040 |
| EDU5106 | The Secondary School: Theories of Learning Fulfills one elective course requirement |
| EDU5106 | Reading and Writing across the Content Areas Fulfills one elective course requirement |
Assuming application of the above courses, the following courses must be successfully completed to fulfill remaining degree requirements:
| EDU6090 |
Contemporary Issues in Curriculum & Instructions (3) |
| EDU6030 | The Individual, Cognition and Learning (3) |
| EDU6050 | Technology in the School of the Future (3) |
| EDU6060 | Scholarship Applied to Teaching (3) |
| EDU6070 | Introduction to Action Research (3) |
Three (3) courses of approved electives (a minimum total of 9 semester hours)
The following courses may also be applied toward the elective requirements for the M.A.C.I. if taken as part of the certification program:
| EDU5440 | Middle School: Missions and Methods |
| EDU5370 | Adolescent Development and Learning |
Candidates for the M.A.C.I. degree must hold a valid Illinois teaching certificate and be currently employed as a teacher in a K-12 setting in order to enroll. In order to carry over credits from the Secondary Certification Program to the M.A.C.I., the courses being considered must have been taken within five (5) years and completed with a grade of "A" or "B."
