Should I take EDCI 5515 or EDCI 5959 credits?
EDCI 5515 credits should be taken if you want to use the National Board Certification toward your Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction. EDCI 5959 credits are for continuing education only and will NOT be accepted on your Program of Study for the Master's degree in C&I.
Will there be classes offered to help me proceed through the National Board Certification process?
Yes, a series of seminars and workshops are offered through the Wyoming National Board Certification Initiative each semester. Information about these seminars and workshops is posted and updated on the Wyoming NBC website. Graduate level Curriculum and Instruction credit is available for these seminars (courses listed as EDCI 5515). These courses are designed to support teachers as they grow as professionals and simultaneously proceed through the Board Certification process and the UW Master’s program.
Where will the classes be offered?
The classes are offered around the state of Wyoming to allow participation across the state. Dates and locations for upcoming seminars and workshops can be found on the Wyoming NBC website. Participants enroll in the courses through UW Outreach Credit Programs (toll free phone number: 1-800-448-7801). Up to 9 total credit hours of the seminars can be taken by enrolled graduate students. Up to 9 total seminar/workshop credit hours may be applied as electives in the Curriculum and Instruction Master’s program.
Who will teach these classes?
The seminars are taught by Barbara Maguire, a Nationally Board Certified teacher and expert in the NBC process.
How many times can I take the NBC class?
Graduate students/National Board Candidates can enroll in the seminars as many times as necessary/desired. For those seeking graduate degrees, up to 9 credits can be applied to the Curriculum and Instruction Master’s degree program as elective hours dependent upon the student’s committee approval.
What about tuition?
Students will pay regular graduate tuition for the seminar classes. View the current UW fee schedule.
Will I need to complete a Thesis or Plan B paper to finish my C&I degree? No, the NBC Portfolios will be accepted in Lieu of a Plan B Paper for teachers pursuing NBC Certification and a UW Master’s degree simultaneously. This acceptance is dependent upon committee approval (not acceptance by the National Board). An agreement to utilize this procedure and maintain portfolio confidentiality has been reached between UW and the NBPTS (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards). The NBC portfolio must be submitted and defended (in a meeting with the student’s graduate committee) prior to initial submission to the NBPTS. The committee’s portfolio copies will be destroyed after the defense.
Note: The Rubric for Assessment of the presentation is provided below.
If I am already a National Board Certified teacher, can I apply my NBC work retroactively to a graduate degree?
No, the program is designed for those working on National Board Certification and a C&I Master’s degree simultaneously.
How do I apply for a UW Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Program?
The graduate application and other information can be found here.
What if I have Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions, please contact the UW Department of Curriculum and Instruction (curriculum@uwyo.edu; 307-766-6371).
Committee members will evaluate the following areas and will determine if the student/NBC candidate accomplished each of these aims/activities at a level sufficient to warrant the substitution of the NBC portfolio and presentation for the Plan B requirement. S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) will be assigned for each area, and an overall evaluation of “S” must be achieved for portfolio to serve in lieu of the Plan B paper.
______ Overall evaluation of the portfolio and presentation as suitable substitutes for Plan B
paper/project and defense
Presentation of NBC Portfolio to Master’s Committee:
______Student provides a brief overview of National Board Certification process and portfolio
______Student describes process of working on the portfolio (including connections to C&I courses
taken, time commitment, assessments and data analysis, and reflections)
______ Student presents at least one explicit connection between the portfolio documentation and
his/her C&I Master’s Degree coursework (e.g. assessment strategy learned in literacy specific
course was used to evaluate student work included in NBC portfolio), and explains ways processes informed each other
_____ Student describes challenges, pleasures, difficulties associated with the NBC process
_____Student summarizes learning derived from portfolio process and completion
Visit our Course Schedule page to view projected MA core and emphasis course offerings
