Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction
Degree overview
The CA&I programs are designed for practicing teachers and/or those with existing teaching licenses. For individuals with an undergraduate degree in a subject other than education or who do not have a teaching license, UMaine offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
Program overview
The graduate programs in Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction are designed for elementary, middle and high school teachers, who want to assume more responsibility and larger leadership roles while continuing a career in the classroom. These programs are designed to help teachers enhance learning and development of students, while addressing state and federal standards in the areas of curriculum, assessment and instruction. We offer a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, which can be completed entirely online or through a hybrid of online and on-campus courses. We also offer an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, which provides a cohesive program of professional development beyond the master’s level.
Careers in Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction
Our graduates have gone on to be teacher leaders, curriculum coordinators and specialists in areas such as literacy, science and special education.
Program delivery
The M.Ed. degree requires a minimum of 33 credits and can be completed either entirely through UMaine Online or through a mix of online and on-campus classes. The following courses are required:
- EHD 519: Formative Assessments: Research, Practice and Policy
- EHD 521: Classroom Practice to Improve Learning
- EHD 533: Dynamics of the Curriculum
- EHD 541: Prevention and Intervention in School Settings
- EHD 586: Seminar — Action Research in PreK-12 Schools
- EHD 587: Practicum — Action Research in PreK-12 Schools
Students select an area of specialization. They may choose one of the existing Graduate Certificates as a specialization or create an individually designed specialization in consultation with an advisor. Students currently enrolled in a master’s degree program through the Graduate School who wish to pursue an approved graduate certificate program simultaneously must apply for admission to the certificate program before one-half of the required credits are completed. There will be no additional charge for this application once an application has been made to the CA&I M.Ed.
- Response to Intervention for Behavior (9 credits)
- High Leverage Practices to Support Inclusion (12 credits)
- Instructional Design (12 credits)
- Classroom Technology Integrationist (12 credits)
- Early Childhood Teacher (12 credits)
- Teacher Leadership in the School and Community (9 credits)
- Individually designed concentration (9-15 credits to be created in consultation with advisor)
One’s area of specialization plus elective credits must equal 15 credits so if the area of specialization has 9 credits, 6 credits of electives (or courses brought in) are required. If the area of specialization equals 15 credits, there are no electives.
The Ed.S. in curriculum, assessment and instruction is available for students who have completed a master’s degree in an education field. This program is individually designed with an advisor and requires a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the master’s. Candidates must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours in professional education coursework at the 500- and/or 600-level at the University of Maine. Students also are required to complete a capstone experience, such as an action research project or internship. All work for the Ed.S. must be completed within a six-year period.
Tuition and fees
For current information about tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s office.
To apply
Applications are processed through the University of Maine Graduate School. A bachelor’s degree is required. Please include an essay detailing the reasons for graduate study and indication of an area of specialization to help assign advisors and plan programs of study.
Priority deadlines:
- For Fall Semester admission: May 1
- For Spring Semester admission: Oct. 1
- For Summer Semester admission: March 1
Applications may continue to be reviewed after these dates, but acceptance may be deferred to the following semester.
For questions about applying to the program, please contact program coordinator Rebecca Buchanan. For general queries, coehd@maine.edu.
Request Information
Program faculty
Shihfen Tu, School of Learning and Teaching Director and Professor of Education and Applied Quantitative Methods
Rebecca Buchanan, Program Coordinator, Associate Professor of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction
Courtney Angelosante, PBIS Initiative Coordinator
Susan Bennett-Armistead, Associate Professor of Literacy
Janet Fairman, Associate Professor
Justin Dimmel, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and Instructional Technology
Diane Jackson, Principal Lecturer of Special Education
Craig Mason, Professor of Education and Applied Quantitative Methods
Tammy Mills, Senior Lecturer of Education
Mia Morrison, Lecturer of Instructional Technology
Timothy Reagan, Professor Foreign Language Education
Asli Sezen-Barrie, Associate Professor of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction
Professional Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Plan information
The professional learning outcomes (PLOs) for the Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction degree programs are adapted from the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC), a group of state education agencies and national educational organizations dedicated to the preparation, licensing and ongoing professional development of teachers. To view the PLOs, click “download” below.
Click on one of the links below to access a program of study form for our master’s and education specialist degree programs.