Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate catalog 
    
2015-2016 Graduate catalog [Archived Catalog]

Curriculum and Instruction


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Division Chairperson and Graduate Program Director: Nicholas J. Shudak, Ph.D.

Division of Curriculum and Instruction
115 Delzell Education Center
Phone: 605-677-5210

Nicholas.Shudak@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/ci

FACULTY

 Professors:

Lisa A. Hazlett, Ph.D., University of Kansas-Lawrence. Specialization: English, Language Arts Education.
Geralyn M. Jacobs, Ed.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Early Childhood Education.
William J. Sweeney, Ph.D., Ohio State University. Specialization: Special Education.
Garreth Zalud, Ph.D., University of Georgia. Specialization: Reading Education.

Associate Professors:

Gary Cheeseman, Ed.D., St. Mary’s University. Specialization: Indian Education.
Cathy Ezrailson, Ph.D., Texas A & M University. Specialization: Science Education.
Susan Gapp, Ed.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Language Arts, Reading Education.
Kristine Reed, Ph.D., University of Nebraska. Specialization: Secondary Education.
Kevin Reins, Ph.D., University of Wyoming. Specialization: Mathematics Education.
Nicholas J. Shudak, Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Specialization: Culture, Curriculum, and Change.

 Assistant Professors:

Jing An, Ph.D., Ohio University. Specialization: Social Studies Education
Karen Kindle, Ed.D., University of Houston. Specialization: Language Arts, Reading Education.

Senior Lecturers:

Sherrie Bosse, Ed.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Early Childhood Education.

Instructors:

Pat Bruinsma, M.S., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Technology Education.
Don Versteeg, Ed.S., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Technology Education.
Andrea Wange, Ed.S., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Secondary Education.
Robin Wiebers, Ed.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Secondary Education.
 

DEGREE

Master of Arts, Plan A and Plan B
Master of Science, Plan B only
Specialist in Education
Doctor of Education

Master of Arts, Plan A and B

Elementary Education 

SPECIALIZATION

Early Childhood Education
English Language Learning
Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach
Science/Technology/Math

Secondary Education 

SPECIALIZATION

English Language Learning
Science/Technology/Math

Secondary Education Plus Certification, Plan B only 

Special Education, Plan B only 

SPECIALIZATION

Advanced Specialist in Disabilities
Multicategorical Special Education K-12
Early Childhood Special Education

Master of Science, Plan B only

Technology for Education and Training 

Specialist in Education

Curriculum and Instruction 

Doctor of Education

Curriculum and Instruction 

CERTIFICATE

American Indian Education  
Literacy Leadership and Coaching 

Division of Curriculum and Instruction

The graduate programs in the Division of Curriculum and Instruction are designed to prepare individuals for leadership positions in schools, districts, and higher education. Programs within the Division of Curriculum and Instruction prepare individuals for roles related to classroom instruction, coordination of curriculum and pedagogy, evaluation and assessment of student’s educational performance, and expanding the research knowledge base related to “best practices” and effective instruction. The Division of Curriculum and Instruction is committed to preparing its graduates to be “highly qualified” reflective decision-makers.

The Division of Curriculum and Instruction administers the Professional Development Center (PDC). The PDC is a collaborative program between area school districts and the School of Education. The purpose of the PDC is to develop the best learning environments for students and teachers. The PDC supports the learning of experienced and beginning teachers by creating settings in which novices enter professional practice by working with expert practitioners, enabling veteran teachers to renew their own professional development and assume new roles as mentors and teacher leaders. Both the mentor teachers and the newly licensed teachers are enrolled in graduate coursework in an education-related field at USD. At the end of the 15-month program, the new teachers have a full year of teaching experience and a master’s degree in education. The mentors have had a year of new experiences while working with new teachers and also at least 32 credit hours toward a graduate degree in the School of Education. In the PDC, mentors from the school districts and new teachers serving as graduate interns work together to exchange ideas, materials, teaching demonstrations and teaching technologies.

The University of South Dakota Regional Reading Recovery Training Center is located in the Division of Curriculum and Instruction. The Training Center was established in 1997 to train both Reading Recovery Teacher Leaders and Reading Recovery Teachers. The Reading Recovery Training Center provides technical assistance and professional development for Reading Recovery sites in South Dakota and the surrounding states.

Certificate Description

The coursework that leads to a graduate certificate in Literacy Leadership and Coaching is designed for Reading Specialists and Curriculum Leaders who are seeking to improve their knowledge and skill in literacy coaching, program leadership, and working with diverse learners.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://usd-web.usd.edu/apps/grad-app/login.cfm and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
  2. One official transcript verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for all students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic departments retain the right to require an Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES) evaluation for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
  3. Applicants with a baccalaureate degree may be qualified for admission into the graduate program. Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. For doctoral and specialist applicants, a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree from an accredited institution is required. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.7 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
  4. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. Applicants from or who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from these English-speaking countries (UK, Australia, Canada [except Quebec], Ireland, or New Zealand) are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score if their academic records indicate that English was the classroom language for the majority of their schoolwork.
  5. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose or goal statement.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

  1. For master’s degree or certificate applicants, a minimum score of 141 Verbal and 141 Quantitative on the GRE, or a minimum score of 403 on the Millers Analogy Test is required for full admission. For specialist and doctoral applicants, a minimum score of 143 Verbal and 142 Quantitative on the GRE, or a minimum score of 410 on the Millers Analogy Test is required for full admission.
  2. Applicant for the certificate programs must be a practicing teacher who has completed a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education/Reading Specialist, Curriculum Leaders, and/or certified Reading Specialist.
  3. All applicants must have a teaching license for all program except M.A. in SPED multi-categorical, M.S. in TET or the MA in Secondary Education plus certification program. For those individuals with a baccalaureate degree in areas equivalent in content to an approved University of South Dakota teaching major, the secondary education plus certification program provides an opportunity to become certified to teach at the secondary level. Students with degrees in Art, Music, and Physical Education will also have to satisfy the necessary requirements for K-12 certification.
  4. Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required.

Subject to faculty approval, applicants who do not meet all of the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis.

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