Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
A curriculum and instruction degree qualifies professionals to craft programs of study that encompass various subjects and suit a wide range of learning styles. Curriculum and instruction specialists typically possess an interest in learning theory and child or employee development. They may develop curricula and training for K-12 schools, colleges and universities, professional schools, government agencies, or corporations. Specialists in this area may give guidance to teachers on instruction methods and styles. They may also evaluate and design assessment or testing programs and assess teacher evaluation or professional development programs.
Table of Contents
- Curriculum and Instruction Degrees and Requirements
- Top-Ranked Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
- Curriculum and Instruction Coursework
- Select Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
- Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Facts
- There are 517 not-for-profit colleges and universities with curriculum and instruction programs.1
- 10 schools offer a certificate in curriculum and instruction.1
- 2 schools offer an associate’s degree in curriculum and instruction.1
- 15 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in curriculum and instruction.1
- 512 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in curriculum and instruction.1
Curriculum and Instruction Specialist Degrees and Requirements
Undergraduate degrees in curriculum and instruction are uncommon due to the specialized nature of the field; therefore most prospective curriculum and instruction teachers first earn a bachelor’s degree in education or teaching, or in the subject area in which they teach. A bachelor’s degree will prepare you to further your study at the graduate level if you want to practice as a specialist. If you wish to work in K-12 schools, you will need to be certified to teach or have an administrator’s license, depending on state requirements.
Most graduate-level programs require candidates to hold certification as a teacher and have several years of teaching experience to be admitted. Other graduate programs do not require teaching experience and may be ideal for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field who want to begin a career in curriculum and instruction. For candidates who already have a master’s degree, some certificate programs may be available in curriculum and instruction, many of which can be found online.
Because curriculum and instruction is a broad field, most degrees offer further areas of specialization (also referred to as concentrations, specialties, or emphases). Common areas of specialization include:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)/Behavioral Analysis: Focuses on changing or improving behavior like social skills or communication using learning principles and theory.
- Educational Level: Emphasizes the instruction of a certain age group, such as early childhood education (ECE), elementary education, middle grades education, or secondary school (high school) education.
- Educational Technology/Instructional Technology: Emphasizes the use of technology as an instruction tool in the classroom.
- English as a Second Language (ESL): Focuses on the instruction of students for whom English is not their first language.
- Gifted and Talented Studies: Focuses on the instruction of students who have been identified as gifted.
- Special Education: Focuses on the instruction of students with identified disabilities.
- STEM Education: Focuses on STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Other Subject Area: Focuses on one school subject such as literacy, science, math, a foreign language, or English.
Top-Ranked Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
US News & World Report’s Best Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Programs 2023
- Michigan State University (#1; online)
- Teachers College, Columbia University (#2; on campus)
- Vanderbilt University (#3; on campus)
- University of Wisconsin—Madison (#4; on campus)
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (#5; on campus)
- Stanford University (#6; on campus)
- Ohio State University (#7 tie; on campus or online)
- University of Texas–Austin (#7 tie; on campus)
- University of Georgia (#10 tie; online)
- University of Washington (#10 tie; on campus)2
Best Value Schools with On-Campus Curriculum and Instruction Programs
We have researched the not-for-profit teaching schools in the US offering a curriculum and instruction program at the graduate level and compiled the table below of the best value options. To make our list, schools must have a high graduation rate (85% or above at the undergraduate level) and a low net price (less than $20,000 per year for undergraduate students). A high graduation rate is a traditional indicator of a school’s success, while a low net price represents the affordability of a school. The combination of a high graduation rate and a low net price, along with other factors, suggests a good value school. In the table below, we’ve also included other important information about these schools, including the percentage of tenured faculty, degrees offered, and US News & World Report national and best undergraduate teaching rankings.
| School | Grad Degree(s) | US News Curriculum and Instruction Rank2 | US News Undergrad Teaching Rank3 | Grad Rate1 | % Tenured Faculty4 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | EdD Curriculum and Instruction; PhD Education: Culture, Curriculum and Teacher Education | #18 tie | #27 | 91% | 43% | $11,100 |
| University of Florida | EdD Curriculum and Instruction (online); PhD Curriculum and Instruction | #18 tie | #25 | 88% | 52% | $15,283 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Doctoral Minor Curriculum and Instruction; MS Curriculum and Instruction; PhD Curriculum and Instruction | #2 | #3 tie | 87% | 49% | $15,910 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Certificate Digital Learning; EdD CREATE; EdD Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching, & Agency; EdD Language & Literacy; EdD Learning Design & Leadership (online); EdD New Learning (LDL) (online); EdD Technology Specialist (LDL) (online); EdM CREATE; EdM Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching, & Agency; EdM Digital Learning; EdM Language & Literacy; EdM Perspectives and Practices; EdM Technology Specialist (LDL) (online); MA Curriculum Research, Early Childhood Education, Aesthetics & Teacher Education (CREATE); MA Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching, & Agency; MA Language & Literacy; MS CREATE; MS Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching, & Agency; MS Language & Literacy; PhD CREATE; PhD Digital Environments for Learning, Teaching, & Agency; PhD Language & Literacy | #18 tie | #50 tie | 84% | 50% | $15,829 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | EdS Curriculum & Instruction; EdD Curriculum & Instruction; MBA/M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction (dual degree); M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction (online); PhD Curriculum & Instruction | #12 tie | #17 tie | 95% | 54% | $16,594 |
| Harvard University | EdM Learning and Teaching; EdM Teacher Education: Teaching and Curriculum (TAC) Strand; EdM Technology, Innovation, and Education | NR | #1 | 96% | 45% | $17,030 |
| University of Maryland-College Park | M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction with Certification | #23 tie | #33 | 85% | 44% | $17,241 |
| College of William and Mary | MAEd Curriculum & Instruction | NR | #39 tie | 92% | 47% | $17,415 |
Best Value Schools with Online Curriculum and Instruction Programs
The below table shows the best value public and not-for-profit teaching colleges and universities offering online programs in curriculum and instruction. To come up with this list, we considered only those schools with an undergraduate graduation rate of above 75% and an undergraduate net price of below $20,000. Along with other factors such as the US News & World Report rankings and percentage of faculty with tenure, these are common indicators of quality programs supporting student success.
| School | Grad Degree(s) | US News Curriculum and Instruction Rank2 | US News Undergrad Teaching Rank3 | Grad Rate1 | % Tenured Faculty4 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | EdD Curriculum and Instruction | #18 tie | #25 | 90% | 50% | $15,283 |
| Florida State University | M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction | #18 tie | #39 tie | 83% | 44% | $13,318 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | M.Ed. and MS Learning Design and Technology | NR | #61 tie | 81% | 52% | $14,771 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction: Digital Learning | #18 tie | #50 tie | 84% | 50% | $15,829 |
| University at Buffalo | Adv. Certificate Educational Technology and New Literacies; EdM Education and Technology | NR | #88 tie | 76% | 35% | $15,895 |
| Michigan State University | MA Teaching and Curriculum (MATC) | #1 | #23 tie | 80% | 46% | $16,227 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MA, M.Ed., PhD, Graduate Certificates | #16 tie | #21 | 80% | 43% | $16,691 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction | #12 | #17 | 94% | 52% | $17,845 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | MA Education, Curriculum, and Instruction: Instructional Technology (ITMA) | NR | #93 tie | 84% | 51% | $18,349 |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | M.Ed. and EdD Curriculum and Instruction | #23 tie | #34 | 82% | 48% | $19,118 |
| University of Vermont | M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction | NR | #71 tie | 76% | 44% | $19,261 |
Curriculum and Instruction Coursework
Following are some examples of common classes that can be found in a curriculum and instruction degree program (ordered from least to most advanced) include:
- Introduction to Curriculum Theory
- Instructional Theory
- Educational Psychology
- Leadership & Management of Change
- Educational Assessment for Instructional Improvement
- Curriculum Design
- Curriculum Evaluation
- Advanced Theories of Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational Research
Select Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
Traditional Programs
Teachers College, Columbia University
The Teachers College at Columbia University offers several graduate degrees in Curriculum and Teaching that prepare graduates to become leaders in curriculum and pedagogy development and design: a 32-credit Master of Arts (MA) with optional certification, a Master of Education (EdM), and a Doctor of Education (EdD). The course sequence takes a broad interpretation of leadership across the components of curriculum and teaching to prepare students for the next stages of their careers. Students also complete an integrative project during their studies that emphasizes student understanding in the practice of leadership. EdD concentrations include curriculum studies, early childhood education, early childhood policy, educational leadership and school change, gifted education, literacy education, and urban and multicultural education. The Teachers College is home to the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching, a research-driven organization devoted to developing an understanding of elementary, middle, and high school restructuring. The Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College was the first in the US established for the scholarly study of problems in curriculum and teaching in all subjects and schooling levels and today maintains its focus on the theory and practice of teaching and curriculum with its top-ranked graduate and undergraduate programs.
Texas A&M University-Commerce
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas A&M University-Commerce offers two tracks towards earning a master’s in curriculum and instruction, a Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Education (M.Ed.). In either program, students may choose from one of four concentration areas: Multicultural Education; Curriculum Theory; Social Studies Education; or Foundations of Education. All programs include three core courses: Cultural Foundations of Education, Curriculum Development, and Analysis of Teaching Behavior. Students complete the remaining degree requirements through the careful selection of electives. The MS requires 32 credit hours to earn, while the M.Ed. requires 36 credit hours. Admission is selective and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 is recommended. Texas A&M University also offers an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum and Instruction that can be completed in as few as four years.
University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign
The top-ranked Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers several competitive master’s and doctoral degree programs in Curriculum, Aesthetics, and Teacher Education. These flexible and personalized programs allow students to choose a primary focus in curriculum, aesthetics, or teacher education paired with a specialty sub-field in early childhood, middle grades, secondary, or social studies education. Although students are given specialization opportunities, the school emphasizes shared inquiry and diversity in education with an interdisciplinary approach to curriculum and instruction. At all levels, students are given a firm foundation in educational psychology, philosophy, and policy. Students pursuing a graduate degree under a non-licensure track will complete and defend a master’s or doctoral thesis that makes an original contribution to curriculum and instruction scholarship. Professional clinical experiences can be arranged through the Department of School and Community Experiences. Competitive fellowships, graduate assistantships, and tuition waivers are available for qualified students.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University offers a Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Curriculum and Instruction that can be completed entirely online. The 36-credit-hour program of study can be completed in as few as 20 months and includes core courses in Supervision and Evaluation of Teaching; School and Community Relations; and Introduction to Statistics and Research. A curriculum internship is also required to be completed in the final semester of study. The program leads to curriculum and instruction endorsements in Arkansas. By taking optional courses, students may also qualify for curriculum director or special education director positions. It is strongly recommended that prospective students seeking licensure in other states confirm licensure requirements for their desired certification areas.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC) offers an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction that is designed to help currently certified classroom educators, as well as other education professionals, become educational leaders. The 30-credit hour curriculum, which may be pursued with full-time or part-time study, offers students the ability to choose from one of three concentrations: STEM Education, Gifted Education, or Teaching and Learning: General Studies. 15 credit hours are taken in the core curriculum, and 15 credit hours are taken in the chosen specialization. All students learn fundamental and advanced skills for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating curricula and instructional programs in both school and non-school environments. The program offers rolling admissions with start dates in the spring, summer, or fall. Qualifying students may be eligible for federal financial aid.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia’s Department of Career and Information Studies offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Learning, Design, and Technology that can be pursued on a research track in preparation for doctoral study or professional tracks for specialization in School Library Media, Instructional Technology, or Instructional Design and Development. All concentrations in the professional track are offered in flexible online and part-time formats, with courses designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Real-world projects are emphasized throughout the curriculum for hands-on learning and all students complete a research thesis or its equivalent to integrate learning in research methodology and scholarly writing. The curriculum additionally includes field experience and clinical practice opportunities. Many graduates qualify for teacher certification or a certification upgrade and go on to work in a variety of educational settings. The College of Education at the University of Georgia is consistently ranked among the top research institutions in the US.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia Curry School of Education features an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction that emphasizes research-based practice. This entirely online master’s in curriculum and instruction program takes students through a course of study that includes the history, theory, and philosophy of curriculum development and instruction while preparing students to work within modern frameworks for best practices in education. Four concentrations are offered: Gifted Education; English Language Learners; Reading Education; and Instructional Technology. The program requires at least 30 credit hours to complete and includes such courses as Principles of Curriculum Design, Classroom Assessment, and Education Across Cultures. The degree can be completed in as little as one year with full-time study; part-time study is also permitted. Currently-licensed Virginia educators are eligible for a discounted tuition rate.
Additional Resources
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): Members get access to professional learning opportunities, discounts on school supplies and identity protection, travel benefits, special webinars, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How long does it take to complete a degree in curriculum and instruction?
Answer: The time to completion varies based on whether a student is full- or part-time and whether the program is at the master’s or doctoral level, but most master’s of education in curriculum and instruction can be completed in one to two years of full-time study, while doctoral programs typically take around five years to complete.
Question: What kinds of degrees are offered in curriculum and instruction?
Answer: The vast majority of degrees in curriculum and instruction are found at the graduate level as Master of Education (M.Ed. or EdM) or Master of Arts (MA) degrees, Education Specialist (EdS), Doctor of Education (EdD), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Master’s degrees, EdSs, and EdDs tend to be more focused more on the practice and application of educational theory, while PhD programs tend to be aimed at those who want to conduct research or be educators in the field.
Question: Do I need to be a certified teacher to earn a degree in curriculum and instruction?
Answer: Most graduate-level programs in curriculum and instruction prefer that applicants be certified teachers who have at least two years of teaching experience.
Question: Can I earn a master’s in curriculum and instruction online?
Answer: Yes, many schools offer curriculum and instruction degree programs online in full- and part-time formats. Check with your state’s board of education to make sure your chosen program(s) will qualify if you plan to get an endorsement.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. US News & World Report Best Graduate Curriculum and Instruction Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/curriculum-instruction-rankings
3. US News & World Report Best Undergraduate Teaching National University Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching
4. College Factual: https://www.collegefactual.com/