There are two culminating activity options for M.Ed. students.

• CIG 697 Curriculum and Instruction Culminating Experience (1 credit)
• CIG 698 Professional Paper/Project in Curriculum and Instruction (3 credits)

CIG 697 (formerly CIG 715) Curriculum & Instruction Culminating Experience (1 credit)

• The culminating experience activity provides students with the opportunity to synthesize knowledge and experience gained throughout their master's program of study. Students will demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge in their major emphasis concentration of study. The culminating experience project (paper or e-portfolio) will focus the application of theory, research, content, pedagogy, and standards for effective educational practices. It is recommended that students keep copies of coursework from all master's program of study classes in preparation for the culminating experience. Within the project students are required to use the American Psychological Association (APA) writing style format.
• The T&L Culminating Experience is offered every Spring, Summer and Fall semesters.
• Eligibility for the culminating experience requires the completion of 30-36 graduate semester hours in the C&I Master of Education degree program. If you register for the culminating experience before 30-36 hours of your program have been completed, you will be asked to disenroll.
• An application is no longer required for the culminating experience. Once a student has completed 30-36 hours of their program, they may register themselves for the culminating experience. Student must register under their assigned advisor for CIG 697. Once registered, students are required to meet with their advisor to review the culminating experience requirements as per each student's M.Ed. emphasis concentration program of study.
• Once enrolled in CIG 697, student should apply for graduation.
• Due dates for CIG 697
  • Spring: submit to your advisor on or before April 1st
  • Summer: submit to your advisor on or before July 1st
  • Fall: submit on or before November 1st
• NOTE: If due date is on a weekend or holiday, the due date will be next business day.

CIG 697 Forms

All culminating experiences will be evaluated according to this Assessment Rubric.

TFA/ARL students please refer to the following documents:

• TFA/ARL Culminating
• Example of a well-done TFA/ARL Culminating Experience Paper

All other master’s students please refer to the following documents:

• Master’s English Education Culminating Experience
• Example of a well-done M.Ed. English Culminating Experience

CIG 698 - Professional Paper/Project in Curriculum & Instruction (3 semester hours)

• The Professional paper/project in C&I is offered every Spring, Summer and Fall semesters.
• Any graduate student who selects the Professional Paper/Project option for the M.Ed. must seek an academic advisor (T&L faculty member) who agrees to guide the student through the two-semester culminating process (CIG 689 C&I Seminar for a minimum of 1 semester hour followed by CIG 698 C&I Professional Paper/Project for 3 semester hours).
• In the M.Ed. program of study, CIG 689 replaces one semester hour of CIG 697 Curriculum and Instruction Culminating Experience. CIG 698 replaces three semester hours of elective or a course within the cognate; requires prerequisite of CIG 689 Seminar in Curriculum & Instruction the semester prior to CIG 698. CIG 689 requires completion of a literature review research foundation followed by filing an abstract form that must be approved by the advisor, committee members, outside representative, graduate coordinator prior to enrollment in CIG 698.
• Master's degree students may choose to complete a professional paper/design a project as the culminating activity for their M.Ed. (emphasis concentration exceptions: Graduate Licensure Program for elementary and secondary, Elementary Education Endorsement, and RPDP Mathematics or Science Education). The purpose of the professional paper/project is for students to identify an educational issue and translate theory into practice through application, within a professional setting.
• Students who are interested in culminating their master's degree experience with the professional paper/project must indicate CIG 689 Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction (minimum of 1 semester hour) and CIG 698 Curriculum and Instruction Professional Paper/Project (3 semester hours) on their program of study. Together the student and advisor will select a committee composed of the advisor who acts as chair, two C&I faculty who are committee members, and one faculty outside of the C&I who represents the Graduate College. If CIG 698 does not appear on the original program of study, students must formally declare their intention to complete a professional paper/project before 18 hours of coursework has been completed by filing a "Program of Study Change" form.
• The professional paper/project is accomplished as a multi-step process:
  1. Students enroll in the appropriate CIG 689 for a minimum of 1 semester hour seminar the semester prior to enrollment in CIG 698. Preferably before and/or early in the semester in which students take the seminar, they should meet with their advisor to discuss and ultimately determine a focus topic. In the seminar, students will begin to identify an educational issue of interest, conduct a thorough literature review, and be introduced to the paper/project organizational format. If the CIG 698 paper/project requires human subjects approval, this process should be initiated during the semester that CIG 689 Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction is taken.
  2. After midterm of the CIG 689 seminar semester, students must meet with their advisor to complete and file the "Professional Paper/Project Abstract" form. The "Professional Paper/Project Abstract" must be completed by the student in conjunction with their advisor, signed by the student's advisor, and returned to the C&I Department's Graduate Program Office three (3) weeks prior to the last day of instruction of the semester before enrolling in CIG 698. The C&I Graduate Studies office will obtain signatures from the committee members and forward the form to the Graduate College.
  3. The semester after completing CIG 689 and filing the "Professional Paper/Project Abstract," students enroll in CIG 698 Curriculum and Instruction Professional Paper/Project . The call number for registration is available in the C&I Graduate Studies office, but will not be given unless the student has filed an approved "Professional Paper/Project Abstract" form.
  4. During the CIG 698 semester, students will complete the paper/project under their advisor's supervision. The paper/project must be read and approved by all committee members and the student may be requested to give a committee presentation. It is the student's responsibility to allow sufficient time for the committee to read the professional paper/project. The student should also allow time to make content and editorial corrections requested by the committee.
• Three (3) weeks prior to the last day of instruction in the semester the student is enrolled in the professional paper/project hours (CIG 698), two (2) completed and approved final copies of the Professional Paper/Project must be delivered to the C&I Department's Graduate Studies office (CEB 368A).
• General Outline for CIG 698 C&I Professional Paper/Project

This outline serves as a general guideline for students and advisors. Students may make modifications to fit the needs of their specific paper/project with the approval of their advisor and committee members. All paper/projects should be written in American Psychological Association (APA) style. First person is acceptable.