Cultural Foundations, Technology, and Qualitative Inquiry
The Cultural Foundations, Technology, and Qualitative Inquiry (CFTQI) section takes a foundational approach to studying the complex nature of diverse and changing cultures within education, technology, and policy. This foundational approach draws upon a cross-disciplinary matrix that includes curriculum, instruction, history, anthropology, qualitative inquiry, policy studies, technology, and multicultural and comparative education. Many of the faculty members in this section are actively engaged in research that addresses issues of diversity and social justice. Offering both MA and PhD degrees CFTQI prepares educators, researchers, and policy makers with foundational knowledge and inquiry skills that can be applied to multiple K-12, higher education, non-profit, and private settings.
Cultural Foundations
Study in this area provides educators and policy makers with theoretical and methodological knowledge drawn from qualitative inquiry, curriculum theory, anthropology, instructional theory, international studies, cultural studies and history. Students selecting this specialization can apply this knowledge to study and affect practice in multiple social and cultural contexts.
Technology
Study in this area provides educators, media and technology developers, and policy makers the theoretical and methodological knowledge to evaluate, analyze, design or create educational technologies and technology policy in various cultural settings in various cultural settings, including schools, higher education, urban education, distance education, e-learning, online education, non-profit organizations, museums, and community-based organizations and programs.
Qualitative Inquiry
As the college center for research preparation in qualitative inquiry, study in this area offers multiple courses and course sequences related to "qualitative" or "interpretative" studies. Two separate but complementary three-course sequences are offered at the doctoral level that vary in their emphasis and analytic orientations. In addition to these doctoral sequence the section offers additional courses and seminars in qualitative Inquiry at the Masters and Doctoral level.