Texas Tech University

Curriculum and Instruction

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About the Department

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction is committed to serving diverse stakeholders in K-12 and beyond through excellence in teaching, research, and service in order to improve education using innovative practices to create positive change in the dynamic global society in which we all live.  

The core values of the Curriculum & Instruction department include social justice and fairness for all, regardless of differences in race, ethnicity, gender, class, religion, age, (dis)ability, sexual orientation, language, and culture.

We believe that our role as educators and researchers is not only to foster the well-being of our stakeholders but also to create a learning environment in which everyone can succeed.

The Masked Rider (Caroline Hobbs) and Centennial Champion (left); Dr. Jeong Hee Kim, Department Chair (center left); Dr. Rebecca Hite, Associate Department Chair (center right); Raider Red (right)

The Masked Rider (Caroline Hobbs) and Centennial Champion (left); Dr. Jeong Hee Kim, Department Chair (center left); Dr. Rebecca Hite, Associate Department Chair (center right); Raider Red (right)

Doctoral applications for Fall 2024 open October 1st. The Ph.D. programs' application deadline for Fall 2024 has been extended to January 8th. The Ed.D. program application deadline is December 1st.

We are accepting applications for the Master's programs on a rolling basis. Apply Now

Dean's Executive Fellowship Cohort Program

Texas Tech University's Department of Curriculum and Instruction is pleased to announce the Dean's Executive Fellowship Cohort Program as part of TTU's ongoing efforts to promote the internationalization of the TTU community and increase the representation of historically underrepresented students. By recruiting and retaining students within these areas, we seek to enhance the quality of education and research for all students and faculty while making a meaningful contribution to society and the world. 

Learn more about the Dean's Executive Fellowship Cohort Program

Contact Us

C&I Department Group Photo at Summer Departmental Retreat

Chance WebbAcademic Advisor / AdmissionsOffice of Graduate Admissions & Enrollmentgradadmissions.educ@ttu.edu 806-834-6768

Teresa NealAdmin. Business AssistantCurriculum & Instructionteresa.neal@ttu.edu 806-834-2733

Summer 2023 C&I Writing Retreat for Faculty and Students Photos

 
 
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Summer 2022 Departmental Retreat Photos

 
 
C&I Department Retreat Photo 1C&I Department Retreat Photo 2C&I Department Retreat Photo 3C&I Department Retreat Photo 4

Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral applications for Fall 2024 open October 1st. The Ph.D. programs' application deadline for Fall 2024 has been extended to January 8th. The Ed.D. program application deadline is December 1st.

Graduate Certificates

The College of Education offers Graduate Certificates, which provide an additional credential in your field of study but do not necessarily lead to licensure. Graduate Certificates can also be used as an introduction into your chosen master's degree program.

Graduate Certificate options in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction include:

View all Graduate Certificates

Faculty

Departmental Highlights

Student Engagement: International Mother Language Day Celebration 2024

C&I graduate students organized an International Mother Language Day event on Feb. 21st. According to the UN, “Multilingual education…is a cornerstone for achieving equitable access to education and lifelong learning opportunities for all individuals”.

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Student Spotlight: Miranda M. Allen

Miranda M. Allen

Miranda M. Allen is a doctoral candidate in STEM Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at Texas Tech University. Her research explores secondary science education for grades 9-12, advancing Black girls in STEM education, and the development of informal STEM learning environments. Bringing a wealth of experience from her 12-year career in education, Miranda has made significant contributions as a high school science teacher, a K-8 STEM coordinator, and a director of after-school and summer STEM initiatives. Her dissertation research delves into the experiences and identity development of Black girls in high school science, investigating how their stories, shared both formally and informally, can transform our understanding and practice of science education. Through her work, Miranda is dedicated to influencing the current academic discourse, aiming to reshape the narrative and perception of Black girls in STEM fields.

We are excited to feature Miranda, as she has achieved remarkable success in her research endeavors, showcasing her dedication and passion for advancing knowledge in STEM education.

Recently, Miranda accomplished the following milestones:

Journal Article Publication: Miranda published an insightful article in School Science and Mathematics.

Allen, M. M. (2023). High school Black girls' experiences in a STEM after-school program: A qualitative case study. School Science and Mathematics, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12624

AERA Presentation: Miranda's research excellence extends to conference presentations. She has had a paper accepted for presentation at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Allen, M. M. (2024, April 11-14). High School Black Girls' experiences in a STEM after-school program: A qualitative case study. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia.

Admission into CADRE:

Miranda has also been admitted into CADRE (Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education), an NSF project supporting researchers in establishing valuable networks to enhance their research methods and findings. This opportunity not only fosters collaboration but also provides visibility for researchers' work among external audiences.

Miranda's achievements exemplify her commitment to advancing STEM education research. We look forward to witnessing her continued success in her academic journey. Congratulations, Miranda!

Research & Honors

Dr. Comfort Pratt, Associate Professor of Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language, received the 2022 YWCA Women of Excellence Award for Education, and was inducted into the Women of Excellence Academy on March 3, 2022. The Women of Excellence program honors women of Lubbock who have achieved excellence in their careers and whose contributions have been crucial to the success of business, industry, community organizations, and the community. Among Dr. Pratt's accomplishments that were highlighted were her numerous awards in all aspects of her career and her passionate devotion to the creation of language programs that benefit not only higher education but also PreK-12 students. Her Lubbock Spanish Spelling Bee and poetry competitions have contributed tremendously to the enhancement of Spanish in the school districts, and her publications have provided crucial information for the teaching of Spanish and French and brought into focus issues related to African Americans in Spanish programs. She has established various programs at Texas Tech University including a Spanish program, a master's program in Bilingual Education and ESL, and 5 study abroad programs. She is also the advisor of the university's chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, which organizes many programs in the university and the community and has won 17 consecutive National Honor Chapter Awards under her leadership.

Comfort Pratt with Award

Dr. Jongpil Cheon has been selected as an Integrated Scholar for 2022. Integrated Scholars are faculty who dedicate themselves to a course of lifelong learning and advance Texas Tech's role in educating, serving and inspiring others to do the same. Integrated Scholars are not only outstanding in teaching, research and service, but they are also able to generate synergy among the three functions.

Dr. Jongpil Cheon

The “Texas Education Policy Fellowship Program (TX-EPFP)” project was selected for the Texas Tech's 2022 President's Emerging Engaged Scholarship Award. The award recognizes the commitments made by Drs. Rebecca Hite, Jon McNaughtan, and Jessica Gottlieb to engage meaningfully with community partners and to produce positive impacts on the university and the greater Texas community. The TX-EPFP is a nine-month intensive professional development program for emerging and mid-level leaders in education and education related fields. We provide rich and robust a/synchronous and in-person experiences to both educate and empower fellows in their work for sound education policy and practice in the state of Texas. The TX-EPFP fellows participate in a variety of unique activities to discover the multifaceted aspects of education policy with experts across the state, develop their leadership skills through practice, expand their professional networks, and explore equitable avenues for fostering positive impact for stakeholders and communities within Texas education. TX-EPFP is affiliated with the Center for Research in Leadership and Education at Texas Tech University.

Award image for EPFP Faculty

News

Joseph Acaba

December 11, 2020

Joseph Acaba, who earned a master’s degree in 2015 from the Curriculum and Instruction program, was one of 18 astronauts selected for the team.

Read the full story

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