Department of Curriculum & Instruction 
Education is a vital force in the Rio Grande Valley, affecting just about every aspect of the social and economic fabric of our communities. Thus, the preparation of teachers, which is our unit’s primary role and responsibility, is tantamount to constructing new bridges and highways, except that in our case these venues lead toward a future where our children are at stake. It’s not surprising that our mission and goals are closely aligned with the University’s. After all, we pride ourselves for having a curriculum that is student-centered and focused on a framework that includes the social and cultural contexts of education, preparing our students for the challenges of tomorrow’s global society.

Our excellent teacher preparation program is a result of the collective energy and efforts of our faculty. Our dedicated faculty members challenge our students at every “benchmark” step of the way. Equipped with pedagogical understandings and perspectives, we use constructivist approaches to build upon our students’ linguistic and cultural resources. Our students achieve their optimal goals because we maintain high expectations for their success and we genuinely care about their professional lives.

I’m very proud to be a new member of the UTPA academic community. As the Department head, my goal is to facilitate the success of every member of our faculty. We take our leadership role very seriously and we aim for success, one student at a time.

The Department serves undergraduate students in the following teacher preparation programs:
 

Master's Degree programs are offered in the following areas:
 

The Department is recognized as one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state of Texas and the largest producer of bilingual education teachers in the U.S.

For more information, please visit the C&I Homepage

Department of Educational Leadership Doctoral Program
The Educational Leadership Doctoral Program (ELDP) is UTPA's commitment to provide educational leaders with the skills to make schools better places for children and youth. The program is designed for those who wish to exert educational leadership whether they serve as superintendents, principals, program managers, or teachers. Special focus is placed on preparing educational leaders for the Rio Grande Valley.

Visit the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Homepage