Program Objectives

Students who complete the Educational Researcher option of the Curriculum & Instruction Master’s degree are expected to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of a professional researcher.

Program of Study

Signature Content ~ 9 credits (choose from the following)

• EDCI 402 Statistics I
• EDCI 506 Applied Educational Research
• EDCI 507 Qualitative Methods for Educational Research
• EDCI 607 Quantitative Methods In Educational Research

Core Content ~ 12 credits

• 4 courses appropriate to student's area of specialization

Thesis ~ 9 credits

• EDCI 590 Master's Thesis

Comprehensive Exams

Educational Research Option

Students pursuing the Educational Research option of the C&I Master’s degree will complete a Master’s Thesis.

Written Comprehensive Exam
As M.Ed. students in the Educational Research option approach the end of their first year of study, they will contact their Committee Chair to discuss the format, content, and time frame of their Master’s Thesis. The content of the Master’s Thesis will be an original research project determined by consultation between the chair and the student and must be approved by the students’ Master’s Committee. Students are required to complete the Master’s Thesis using APA format.

The completed Master’s Thesis will be submitted to the student’s Committee for evaluation. Committee members will have approximately two weeks to read and evaluate the content and written competency (quality, thoroughness, and completeness of the research) of the Thesis.

Oral Comprehensive Exam
At the end of the two week period, the student will give a 1 hour oral presentation and defense of the Thesis or Professional Paper to the Master’s Committee. Students can be queried about all areas of program content during the oral presentation and Thesis defense. The presentation will be evaluated for research content and oral competency.

The Committee Chair will facilitate the meeting and the order of questioning. Committee members can ask follow up and clarifying questions in all areas. At the completion of the questioning and in the absence of the student, the entire committee will discuss their evaluation of the outcome of the examination. The Master’s Committee may also request feedback from local school or district administration regarding the student’s professional competencies. The Chair will lead the Committee to a determination regarding the passing or failing of both the Written and Oral components of the Comprehensive Examination.

Comprehensive Examinations are graded with either a passing or failing grade—determined by a majority Committee vote. The student will officially pass the Written and Oral components of the Comprehensive Examination by demonstrating evidence of knowledge of pertinent literature, academic and theoretical grounding, development of professional skills, and the ability to conduct effective educational research.

A “fail” occurs when a majority of the Committee determines that a student has not demonstrated sufficient evidence of knowledge of pertinent literature, academic and theoretical grounding, development of professional skills, or the ability to conduct effective educational research. A failure on either portion of the Comprehensive Examination is considered to be a failed exam. A failed examination may be repeated once. At least two months must elapse before the second examination takes place.
Failure to pass a second examination results in termination of graduate study and dismissal from the academic program. Students who are dismissed from the program due to a failed comprehensive examination are ineligible to reapply to the same degree program at any time.