Shepherd University’s Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction is a comprehensive graduate program grounded in the philosophy of scholarship, advocacy, leadership, and collaboration. The program supports the symbiotic relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge and cultivates educational experiences which recognize teachers and educational professionals as questioning intellectuals who continually explore, examine, and reflect upon the teaching and learning process. Through collaborative discovery, scholarly inquiry, and action research, educators develop and promote equitable opportunities which empower all participants in the realm of education. The program prepares educators to assume and/or expand upon the roles of critical educator, problem solver, risk taker, advocate for social justice, collaborative leader, and catalyst for transformation. Graduates of this program demonstrate expertise in their subject matter, recognize the ever increasing need for understanding and valuing diversity, and promote the betterment of students, schools, and the global community.