Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership
Welcome to the Instruction and Curriculum Leadership Department (ICL) at The University of Memphis. We offer multiple degree and certificate programs that will challenge you as you reach your intellectual and professional goals. Our courses will prepare you to be a leader within whichever education-related setting you choose. In an everchanging world, we work to facilitate current and engaging instruction and have 32 full-time faculty to teach, direct, and advise you.
Sandra Cooley-Nichols, PhD
ICL Chair and Professor
Email | 901.678.2365
Office: Ball Hall 406
Explore our Programs and Degrees
Bachelor's Program
Are you looking at getting your Bachelor's in Education? Here's what our three BSEd majors look like.
Click hereMaster's Programs
Wanting to take that next step in your education journey for your career? Explore the seven concentrations within ICL's Master of Science (MS) program or the nine licensure areas within the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
Learn MoreDoctoral Program
Is a doctorate what your looking for in your education journey? Choose from one of six concentrations in ICL's Doctor of Education (EdD) program.
Find out more
Click here for a full list of our degree and certificate programs. >
Top Ranked Programs
Our programs are ranked amongst the top in the nation by various different sources based on both quality and affordability.
# 1 AffordableSchools.net's 2020 Most Affordable Online Ph.D in Instructional Design and Technology
#4 GreatValueColleges.net's Most Affordable Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Instruction
#5 Intelligent's Top 40 Early Childhood Education Degree Programs
#6 TopEducationDegrees.org's Online Doctorate in Instructional Curriculum Leadership
#9 Top Education Degrees' Top 20 Best Master’s in Reading and Literacy Online
Click here to view a full list of the latest ICL program rankings >
ICL Mission
The mission of the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership is to prepare our graduates with the content knowledge, skills and dispositions informed by teaching, research, and service, to become reflective practitioners and collaborative professional leaders within diverse settings focusing on urban education.
Guiding Principles
- Understand identities, cultures, and histories to engage communities, neighborhoods, and families.
- Promote an intentional and deliberate focus on social justice, equity and power.
- Approach teaching and learning as moral and political acts that are socially constructed and culturally mediated.
- Link theory and practice in all aspects of the preparation of educators.
- Prepare diverse educators to serve historically marginalized populations in urban and other high needs areas.