Overview

The Department of Curriculum Studies offers a 30 credit program leading to the degree of master of education in curriculum studies. It is designed to serve licensed teachers who wish to learn about and inquire into the areas of PK-3 early childhood, elementary, middle level, secondary education, or K-12 education.

Students in elementary and secondary education select Art, Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, or interdisciplinary subjects. 

Other concentrations may be possible if advisors are available. K-12 concentrations include Aloha Kumu, Disability and Diversity Studies, Multicultural Education, Language, Literacy Specialist, Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Education Leadership, Reading, Science (Interdisciplinary Place-based, P-12), STEMS2 (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Social Sciences and Sense of Place), Social Studies Education, and Teacher Leader.

Literacy Specialist and Reading K-12 programs earn graduate certificates. Two other programs–PK12 Interdisciplinary Place-based Science and Teacher Leader–earn college-endorsed certificates, with graduate certificates in process.

The Literacy Specialist, Reading K12, and Teacher Leader programs may be used to add a field to a Hawai'i teaching license. Previously taken MEd-CS courses count, so those who already hold the MEd-CS take only certificate courses to add the field of Literacy Specialist (18 credits), Reading (15 credits), or Teacher Leader (18 credits).

The program is designed to support professional development and promote leadership for professionals who work in programs serving children, including children with disabilities, between infancy and five-years of age and their families.