On behalf of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, I welcome you to Whitlowe R. Green College of Education at Prairie View A&M University. Our department is committed to advancing the study and improvement of teaching and learning—ensuring that our candidates are prepared to meet the needs of learners in diverse, dynamic educational environments.

Dr. Douglas M. Butler

Mission & Philosophy

The purpose of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is to provide regional, national, and international leadership in the study and improvement of teaching and learning in diverse educational settings. Our conceptual framework model, Educators as Facilitators of Learning for Diverse Populations (E-FOLD-P), supports the major goals of the teacher education unit and guides the design and implementation of teacher education programs within the College of Education.

E-FOLD-P reflects our commitment to develop and prepare candidates who are:

• As problem solvers, critical thinkers, and decision makers;
• As reflective and continual learners who utilize effective teaching practices;
• As facilitators of student growth and development, by precept and example; and
• As educators with an understanding and appreciation of human diversity and global awareness.

Additionally, E-FOLD-P represents the College’s dedication to preparing candidates who are technologically literate and who can thoughtfully integrate technology into learning environments to strengthen instruction and support student success.

We are honored to serve our community and partners as we work together to cultivate educators who will make a meaningful difference in students' lives.

Prairie View A&M University, the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas, originated in the Texas Constitution of 1876. On August 14, 1876, the Texas Legislature established the “Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youths” and placed responsibility for its management with the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Bryan. The A&M College of Texas for Colored Youths opened at Prairie View, Texas on March 11, 1878.

The University’s original curriculum was designated by the Texas Legislature in 1879 to be that of a “Normal School” for the preparation and training of teachers. The Department of Elementary Education Programs offered the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Elementary Education and a minor or academic specialization in a subject area. This curriculum was expanded to include the arts and sciences, home economics, agriculture, mechanical arts and nursing after the University was established as a branch of the Agricultural Experiment Station (Hatch Act, 1887) and as a Land Grant College (Morrill Act, 1890). Thus began the tradition of agricultural research and community service, which continues today. The department, historically, offered programs leading to the provisional certification at the undergraduate levels in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Kindergarten Education (A Long Range Development Plan, 1981-1987).

The four-year senior college program began in 1919, and in 1937, a division of graduate studies was added, offering master’s degrees in agricultural economics, rural education, agricultural education, school administration and supervision, and rural sociology.

Today, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education with several concentrations, a Master of Education and a Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Curriculum and Instruction – Reading, and Special Education.

The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers programs that are accredited by:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Texas Education Agency (TEA)