Not only does an Interdisciplinary Studies in Curriculum and Instruction degree have application to your present work life, but also it provides a comprehensive view of teaching and learning. If you anticipate moving into new and emerging areas of educational practice, a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Curriculum and Instruction will help you anticipate innovation and prepare you to be an active contributor to change.

2. Who else is likely to be in class with me? The participants in this program are teachers in elementary, middle, high school, and adult educational settings. The essential issues you confront in this program cut across educational formats. Your collaboration with a wide range of teachers provides rich opportunities for exploring new perspectives.

"[This degree program] brings together a cross section of educators from many levels and locales. It gives you a different perspective in many current issues. The exposure to a wide variety of multicultural experiences was enlightening --a learning experience to remember." Valerie Boutelle, Elementary Grades

3.What are the issues addressed by the curriculum? The curriculum is woven around four central themes: Curriculum and Instruction, Foundations of Education, Human Growth and Development, and Educational Research. These recurring curricular strands weave together content and process, forming a link to direct classroom application.

Through three academic terms of instruction, you earn 26 semester hours of credit in 9 courses. Each term integrates the content of the three or four courses into a seamless whole, supported by a learning environment that encourages collaboration among peers. In addition, there are 6 semester hours of electives that must be either transferred in or taken to complete the 32-semester hour program.

4. Tell me about the faculty.  A member of National-Louis Universitys National College of Education Interdisciplinary Studies faculty leads your group. The Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty is committed to integrative curricular theory and practice. This dedication to the philosophy of interdisciplinary education is what sets this program apart from other field-based programs.

In many ways you and your classmates become peer instructors as you share insights based on your diverse experiences and interpretations of reading and research. Because you travel through the program as part of a small group of students, your studies are enriched by relationships that provide lasting lessons throughout your professional life. Visiting faculty, guest lecturers, and seminar opportunities outside the regular routine add to the wealth of viewpoints presented and discussed.

"It's a great program! It gave me a lot more confidence as a learner and teacher and made me realize I can go on from here. When I started this program, I thought this would be the end of my education, but now I want to go on learning. I don't see teaching as a job anymore - it's an evolving learning process now." Jerry Roth, Seventh Grade Science Teacher

5. What does field-based mean? National College of Education created the first field-based model in 1979 with the purpose of understanding teachers' practices and applying and generating new ideas and strategies. Course work is supplemented by the personal reflection and application you carry back to your daily teaching situation. In addition, you complete an action-based research project within your professional setting, inspired by your own vision of theory-in-practice.

6. Tell me more about the research project. Work on your research project is integrated throughout the three terms of the program. With the guidance of your core instructor, you design and implement a project that has value for you in your classroom, based on a topic of your own choosing.

"The research project was clearly designed, ample assistance was given, as well as ample time for preparation. My instructor was kind, understanding, and extremely helpful from start to finish. I highly recommend this program to [people] with a desire for expanding their horizons." Peggy DeVilla, Teacher

7. Do I really have the time for graduate study? Like any graduate program, your work at National-Louis University alters your current routines; there is no doubt about that. You read more than you have in years, write more than you think you can, discuss educational issues with a new and diverse group of people, and rediscover the real joy of intellectual challenge. The difference between this graduate program and others is that everything you do has an immediate impact on your success as a teacher. There is a lot of work, but it is effort that enhances your daily tasks. The pace of your study can be adjusted to the natural cycles of the school year. Many teachers find it manageable.

Regularly scheduled four-hour class sessions meet once per week at a location convenient to your home or workplace. The program is completed in three terms of about seven months each; most students complete their degrees in less than two years.

"This M.Ed. program has touched critical academic criteria in a facilitative manner. Professional educators can grow and learn together about current curriculum trends in a cooperative atmosphere." Margaret A. Sites, Kindergarten Teacher

8.What about grades? Letter grades are issued upon completion of each of the three terms. Each group and instructor develops criteria for evaluation.

9. I keep putting this off. Why should I start now? The benefits of this program begin immediately. You become part of a congenial and stimulating group of peers, each with a valuable personal perspective that deepens your collaborative understanding. A faculty member who is not only knowledgeable about theoretical issues, but who models the integration of theory with practice mentors you. From the first class meeting, you see the everyday challenges of your teaching life from a fresh perspective and rediscover the excitement and vision you brought with you to the teaching profession.

National-Louis University also provides a variety of flexible payment plans as well as information about low-interest educational loans.

"Twenty months flew by as friendships were established in an atmosphere of acceptance and professionalism. Never have I experienced 'educational classes' that have been so timely and useful, given by professors who are in touch with the 'real-life' situations." Carol Lynn Lang Middle School Teacher, Language Arts

10. How do I get started?  Class groups begin throughout the year, not only in September or January. Unlike conventional programs, you start pursuing your Master of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies in Curriculum and Instruction degree almost immediately. Entrance requirements include evidence of successful undergraduate preparation and completion of the Miller Analogies Test.

To find out about groups forming in your area or to get more information, call the Office of Student Enrollment at 1-888-NLU-TODAY.

"The thing I like best about National-Louis University is its attention to what interests, what stimulates, and what works for teachers. Its program allows for the flexibility to pick up and attend a school board hearing, a symposium, or any other learning experience pertinent to today's teaching." Jean Weinstock, Teacher