Cato College of Education

Curriculum and Instruction (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction is designed to prepare teacher education faculty and other educational professionals for work in various agency and educational settings. The program is interdisciplinary and involves faculty from across the University campus, primarily Departments of English, Mathematics and Statistics, Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education, Reading and Elementary Education and Educational Leadership. The program focuses on urban issues and perspectives related to curriculum and instruction with concentrations in: - Curriculum and Educator Development (CED) (includes Elementary Education) - Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) - Literacy Education (oriented toward Reading Education, English Education, or Teaching English as a Second Language) - Mathematics Education - Urban Education

Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare educational administrators who can assume mid-level and senior-level leadership positions in universities or community colleges and public or non-public schools. The program includes Higher Education, Superintendency (School and District Leadership), and Learning, Design and Technology concentrations. Applicants to the Ed.D. in Higher Education should apply to the Educational Leadership (EDD) program (Main Campus Program). Applicants to the Ed.D. in Superintendency should apply to the Educational Leadership (Off-Campus - Mecklenburg County: Mallard Creek High School program) (DE). Applicants to the Ed.D. in Learning, Design and Technology - is offered in a blended format, 80% online and 20% on main campus (Online) (DE). All concentrations of the Ed.D. program deliver courses in a blend of face-to-face, hybrid, and online. None of the concentrations are 100% online. All programs require a face-to-face presence. The percentage of time needed for face-to-face varies based on the semester and selected courses. Admission for Fall 2024 is complete. Please apply for Fall 2025. Ed.D. Admissions Deadlines January 15 - Priority Deadline (majority of slots filled) March 1 - Secondary Deadline (any remaining slots filled) Email program inquires to edld-edd@charlotte.edu

Educational Leadership (MED)

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) program focuses on multifaceted leadership development by preparing students for the demands of leadership across the educational pipeline, including in higher education settings. This program primarily focuses on higher education administration and those wishing to pursue administrative careers in colleges and universities in areas such as student affairs, academic advising/support, residence life, admissions, etc. This program does not lead to P-12 administrative licensure; if you are seeking to become a P-12 administrator, please visit the MSA program. The M.Ed. in Higher Education program delivers courses in a blend of face-to-face, hybrid, and online. The degree is not a distance education program and all courses are not delivered 100% online. Courses require some level of face-to-face presence. The percentage of time needed for face-to-face varies based on the semester and selected courses. Join one of our Zoom Information Sessions to learn more about the Master's in Educational Leadership, Higher Education. We discuss the program, admissions requirements, course sequence, funding, and answer your questions. Upcoming information sessions: https://edld.charlotte.edu/programs/med-educational-leadership-higher-education/

Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation prepares education professionals who seek advanced research, data analyses, and evaluation skills for positions in a wide variety of educational institutions including higher education, K-12 school districts, for-profit companies, nonprofit agencies, community colleges, think tanks, government organizations and other institutions concerned with solving problems in education. The Ph.D. program targets experienced educators who hold a master's degree in a related educational field. Individuals that are attracted to the new program will seek to deepen their research skills for improving education programs. Other students may pursue the Ph.D. as a means of transitioning into a career in higher education.

Elementary Education (MAT)

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education is a 9 credit hour program. Completion of the program awards the graduate the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and qualifies them for North Carolina’s Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Professional Educator’s License in Elementary Education. The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education requires a total of 39 semester credit hours to be taken in two sequenced phases, Phase I: The Graduate Certificate in Elementary Education (21 hours) an on-campus only program and Phase II: The Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education (12 hours) which is offered 100% online. If accepted for M.A.T. (Phase II) admission, all graduate education courses taken for the Graduate Certificate will apply to the M.A.T.

Elementary Education (MED)

The Master of Education in Elementary Education is designed for experienced teachers who wish to become instructional leaders, advanced practitioners, and global educators. Every course in the program is a 100% online course that is offered either synchronously with scheduled online class meetings or asynchronously with no scheduled class meetings. The program is directed towards helping practitioners to develop leadership skills as well as specialized content knowledge to effectively impact challenges in urban elementary classrooms. It is also focused on helping teachers acquire additional content knowledge and eligibility for additional certification through coursework in specific concentration areas, including Elementary Mathematics, Instructional Systems Technology, Gifted Education and Teaching English to Second Language Learners.

Elementary School Mathematics (CERT)

***This program is not accepting applications for 2024.*** The Elementary School Mathematics graduate certificate is an 18-hour web-based program that meets the requirements for the North Carolina Elementary School Mathematics Add-On License. Individuals applying to this graduate certificate must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and a valid teaching license in Elementary Education (Grades K-6).

Foreign Language Education (MAT)

The Department of Middle, Secondary and K-12 Education offers a 2-phase Master of Arts and Teaching (M.A.T) in Foreign Language Education to address the shortage of qualified foreign language teachers in the United States, and to help prepare future foreign language teacher leaders. Phase 1 of the program (the Graduate Certificate Program in Foreign Language Education) is 16-17 credits and includes a full-time internship in a K-12 foreign language classroom. The program offers a pathway to K-12 licensure in 17 languages. Upon completion of The Graduate Certificate (Phase 1), candidates can apply to the M.A.T program (Phase 2) which involves an additional 14 credits and leads to an M-license. Become the teacher you have always wanted to be and earn a master’s degree in the process.

Learning, Design, and Technology (CERT)

The graduate certificate in Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) prepares learners to create, analyze, use, integrate, implement, assess, evaluate and manage instructional and performance solutions. When students graduate they hold instructional design and technology positions in education (P-12 and higher education), corporate, government or military organizations. The program develops professionals who are solidly grounded in learning, design and technology foundations, principles, theories, applications and current trends and provides opportunities for them to integrate different forms of technology to enhance teaching and learning. This program is 100% online and has been endorsed by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). The program is either 15 or 18 credit hours, depending on selected concentration: school specialist (18 - 077 endorsement from NCDPI), training and development (15), online teaching and learning(15).


The Graduate School and the Graduate Admissions office in the Reese Building, Fifth Floor, is temporarily closed to allow contractors to complete some needed work in the space safely. 

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