Adult Learning

Policy and Practice of Nurturing Care
MA in Curriculum and Instruction
Curriculum focus: Human Development
Instruction focus: Relationship Building

The Policy and Practice of Nurturing Care Castleton University, the Addison County Parent/Child Center, and the Early Care and Learning Partnership, offer a cross disciplinary master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction for working professionals in education, health, and social services. These leaders/students will work as embedded researchers in their communities and will use their skills, knowledge, research data and networks to drive equity for all children and families.
SemesterID #Course NameFacultyFormat
Summer 2020 Repeats Summer 2021EDU 5625Nurturing Care in Group, Home, Office and School SettingsRussell and Wallace4 days at the summer institute (virtual)
10 hours on-line
Spring 2021 Began 1/21/21 Ended 6/24/21EDU 5515Introduction to the policy, practice, and research about nurturing care. Focus on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and InclusionMitchell and CrossmanThird Thursday evenings live on Zoom asynchronous work
Summer 2021 July 19 – 30EDU 5626Building Strengths and Resilience: In the Face of AdversityMurpheyA Summer Institute Offering: 4 days on the virtual campus plus 15 hours on line

Fall 2021- Spring 2022EDU 5527Leadership: Promoting a Whole Person, Whole Family, Whole Community Approach: Includes practicum and reflective practice.White & Mitchell, with guests lecutrersMonthly Live Seminar on Zoom plus asynchronous work
Fall 2021 Start 9/9/21EDU 5516Human Development Across the Life Span: Neurological, Physical, Cognitive, Social, Emotional.Brakeley and FrankowskiThursday evenings live on Zoom, asynchronous work
Spring 2022EDU 5617Human Development Across the Lifespan: meaning making, purpose, empathy, mindfulness, competency, creativity, and spiritualityECLP Team (with Pontius and Nichols)Thursday evenings live on Zoom, asynchronous work
Summer 2022EDU 5518Human Development in context: an ecological, nature-based approachBlack and MillerA Summer Institute Offering: 4 days on the virtual campus plus 15 hours on line
Fall 2022EDU 5100Introduction to Graduate Education and ResearchCastleton StaffCohort members join via Zoom
Spring 2023EDU 6121Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchCastleton StaffCohort members join via Zoom
Fall 2023EDU 6245Research Design in EducationCastleton StaffCohort members join via Zoom
Spring 2024EDU 6601Thesis SeminarCastleton Staff with ECLP TeamCohort members join via Zoom
Spring 2024EDU 7960Master’s ThesisIndividual AdvisorsIndependent Work
Summer 2024What Have we learned from the research? How can this change practice going forward?Cohort members, ECLP Research Team and facultyA summer Institute presentation

Sequence of Courses and Faculty All courses are on-line.

Early Care and Learning Partnership Board members have developed the syllabi of the first 7 courses in concert with other community, state, and national experts. They identify and orient Teaching Assistants, expert guest presenters and discussion group facilitators. An academic advisor from Castleton University’s Education Department is assigned to each candidate to monitor completion of the Core Nurturing Care courses, assist in planning for the research courses and support the candidate’s work through the Master’s thesis.

For more information about the courses, proposed faculty members, and proposed dates, please contact Cheryl.W.Mitchell@gmail.com.