Masters in Curriculum and Instruction

As you might expect, a very common degree that precedes a master's in curriculum and instruction is a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education or a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies. In these programs, students often take core courses that cover educational theory and practice, along with specialized courses that dive into a particular field of teaching such as special education, middle school or elementary education.

Undergraduate degrees don't necessarily need to be in education, either. Many Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Sociology graduates seek out a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction as well.

A bachelor's degree in one of these other arts or sciences is often used to teach middle school, high school, or college subject-matter classes. A curriculum and instruction master's degree is a beneficial next step for those that desire to use their degree to enter the education profession or expand their options within the profession.

Applicants need to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Most master's programs require applicants to have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.5, and sometimes, the standard for more rigorous programs is a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0. Many schools also require a combination of some the following items for admission into their programs:

• A valid teaching certificate
• Recent teaching experience
• References from an administrator or colleague in the teaching profession
• GRE score (or other standardized test) taken within the last five years
• A current position as an educator or proof of access to a group of learners

Getting a master's degree in curriculum and instruction does the obvious: it improves a classroom teacher's instructional skills. It can open many other doors outside the traditional classroom, as well.

If you're an educator who desires to make a big impact on what will be presented in teaching environments, this degree equips you to get in on the ground floor of curriculum development.

It also broadens your options for a leadership role. Most public school districts require both vice-principals and principals to have master's degrees. Many district-level positions require a master's, too.

One surprise benefit to these degrees is that they can often improve income immediately; many school districts offer teachers that hold a master's degree a higher annual salary than they do a teacher with the exact same amount of experience that simply holds a bachelor's degree. Because of this, an educator's return on their investment in graduate education is phenomenal over the life of their career.

Educators in these programs also have a chance to learn the best practices to improve student outcomes and truly impact students' lives. There are a plethora of career options available to those with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, as well.

Choosing the right master's program is highly dependent upon the educator's experience, goals, and current circumstances, but there are some common questions that every applicant should consider when looking at the programs they are considering. In order to make sure the master's program aligns with one's personal goals, some important questions to ask about a program are the following:

• How long is each course and how long does it take to complete the entire master's program?
• Is the program designed for working individuals or is it best for students who can go full-time?
• Does it require an unpaid internship?
• Is it an online, on-campus, or hybrid program?
• What is the graduation rate and what is the on-time completion rate?
• Does the school assist in job placement?
• What is the graduate job-placement rate?
• Is the school and program accredited?
• What concentrations do they offer?
• Do you need a valid teaching certificate?
• Can you simultaneously get a teaching certificate or a special teaching endorsement?

Most master's programs in this field require slightly more than 30 credits and are often paced to be completed within a two-year time frame. There are some programs that offer more intensive, fast-track options with multiple start dates and 8-week courses (for instance). There are also programs designed for students who may need more than two years to finish.

The courses required to graduate with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction can typically be broken down into three sections: foundational courses, electives courses, and courses in a specific concentration.

Curriculum & Instruction Foundational Courses

The foundational courses in a curriculum and instruction program are designed to lay a strong framework for concentrations of specific study that will follow. Most programs include foundational courses addressing the following topics:

• Research Methodology: a course that teaches master's students how to effectively research and evaluate instructional practices
• History: a course related to the history of pedagogy
• Diversity: a course that explores how to modify instructional content and practices to reach diverse groups of learners
• Assessment: a course that focuses on how to assess and evaluate student gains
• Data analysis: a course that looks closely at how to analyze statistics and data as a means of improving teaching practices
• Leadership: a course that develops leadership skills so that the master's graduate can guide colleagues toward better instructional practices.

Curriculum & Instruction Specialist & Elective Courses

Most master's degree programs in curriculum and instruction require participants to choose a few courses of interest from a list of electives. Many programs offer electives that center on instructional techniques as they relate to gender, the future of education, politics, specific educational trends, technology, second-language learners, or ESE (Exceptional Student Education). If a master's student is involved in secondary education, they typically complete a large portion of their coursework in the particular field of study they teach. For example, a high school math teacher might take a significant portion of their classes from the college's math department.

Licensure & Certification in Curriculum & Instruction

It is extremely important to realize that not all programs that offer a master's degree in curriculum and instruction offer a path to teacher certification or a license for school administration. Often programs are intended to further the career and skills of a teacher or aspiring administrator who is already working in the field. If you are interested in getting both your master's degree and your teaching or administrator's license, you should first seek out your state's department of education and their specific requirements for licensing.

If a master's program does offer a path to certification, it should be noted that most of these programs require a more intense (often unpaid) internship or what has been traditionally referred to as "student teaching." Likewise, educators desiring to be school administrators often have to serve as leadership interns before getting their licenses. Master's students interested in a program with either of these options should inquire with the program administrator about their school's particular requirements.

Several curriculum and instruction master's programs not only offer, but also require, their students to choose a specific concentration of focus. While there exist foundational principles that ground the field of curriculum and instruction, there is such a wide array of educational settings that even a master's graduate cannot be an expert in all fields.

Some colleges and universities cater to a very specific educational niche. For example, some programs only seek to train elementary school teachers and offer programs and coursework that emphasize developing the best curriculum and instruction for teaching primary students.

Other programs focus on leadership and emphasize preparing administrators and district-level personnel to better understand how to analyze data and choose curriculum for a wide array of teachers and students under their supervision.

Any person seeking out a program to get their master's in curriculum and instruction should strongly consider the various options that exist in each program because the offerings can vary considerably from program to program.

Typical concentrations offered include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Early Childhood Education
• Reading Education
• Instructional Technology
• Measurement and Evaluation
• ESE/Special Education
• TESOL
• Secondary Education with an emphasis in: Science, History, English, Math
• Leadership
• College Student Affairs

Some curriculum and instruction master's graduates desire to take their education to even the next level. For those individuals, many universities offer Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs. Typically, doctoral programs continue to hone a particular niche of curriculum and instruction. These programs often focus on one of the following: leadership, research, or instruction for a specific student population. Programs that emphasize leadership are a good option for current or aspiring administrators. Research-focused programs tend to appeal to data-driven individuals. Specific student population concentrations are optimal for persons that desire to become a true expert in specialties such as literacy or learning disabilities. Most of these programs require around 50 credits and include a dissertation, which means they can take between three and five years to earn.

While many classroom teachers pursue a master's in curriculum and instruction to improve their teaching, obtaining a master's in this field opens the door to several other career opportunities.

For example, graduates can pursue a career specifically in the construction of curriculum and as one who designs courses for students. Educators in these positions often have a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and their position titles include the following: curriculum developer, instructional designer, curriculum designer, curriculum specialist, and instructional coordinators.

Each of these careers focuses to varying degrees on developing programs, content, and instructional programs for not only schools but also businesses.

Many classroom teachers use the master's degree to advance their current position in their schools and district so that they can assist other teachers in how to better implement teaching curriculum and strategies. They are often referred to as coaches, lead teachers, mentors, subject-matter specialists, staff developers, or district coordinators.

Job Outlook for a Master's in Curriculum & Instruction

The job forecast for those with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction looks promising in the coming decade. Job growth as seen in the two examples below is steady and the median income for each is attractive to many educators.

According to a 2019 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), instructional coordinators earned a median annual salary of $66,290. The BLS, also projected the average job growth to be 6% for this profession from 2019 to 2029, which is considered a faster-than-average growth rate.

Furthermore, a master's degree opens up the possibility to teach higher education and the job forecast for teaching at the post-secondary level is positive. According to the BLS, the forecast for job growth in this field is 9% and they reported a median salary of $79,540 for post-secondary teachers in May 2019.

How to Become a Lead Teacher

Some people seem to have been born to teach. Students are naturally drawn to them and they have a way of delivering instruction that is smooth and gets learners excited. They love being in the classroom and want to stay there, but they sometimes feel they have something to contribute to the teaching community as a whole. If this is you, becoming a lead teacher might be the perfect fit.

A lead teacher is an experienced teacher that remains in the classroom, but also guides colleagues in their teaching journey and organizes an entire department or grade level towards common goals. They act as a liaison between administrators, parents, and teaching assistants.

In order to become a lead teacher, one must first be a credentialed teacher in their state. Then, as one accrues experience, it is recommended they pursue a master's degree, such as one in curriculum and instruction. This degree gives the lead teacher additional insight into the best types of lesson plans and teaching practices. They are then able to share their insights with their team. Their experience combined with the added education makes them a strong candidate for a lead teacher position.

How to Become a Curriculum Developer

Are you an educator that loves creating interesting and unique activities for your students? Do you enjoy developing your own supplemental units of study for your class? If this describes you and your favorite part of teaching is creating your lesson plans, then you may be cut out to be a curriculum developer.

But how do you get into that field?

Most curriculum developers begin as teachers. They have a teaching certificate in their state and have hands-on experience with a specific student population. They, then, need to pursue a master's degree specifically in curriculum and instruction so that they deeply understand the foundations of various teaching methodologies, in addition to having a firm grasp of data analysis and research-based instructional techniques.

Once a teacher has both experience and a master's degree, they are then able to seek out organizations, companies, and educational institutions for positions where they will create and/or train others on how to implement new and existing curriculum.

Educators interested in pursuing a master's degree in curriculum and instruction should not be intimidated by cost without first exploring the many options available for financial assistance. Scholarships and financial aid abound. Below are several resources that can assist applicants in securing grants, scholarships, and loans to pay for their degrees.

FAFSA

The first step in any student's quest to find monies for their educational pursuits is to complete the FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is an application that needs to be submitted before receiving any federal financial aid. It determines one's eligibility status for loans and grants. The FAFSA website provides a Graduate School Preparation Checklist.

Scholarships for Military Service

There are several scholarships available to persons who have served in the U.S. military.

TEACH Grants

TEACH Grants are available to graduate students. TEACH Grants give assistance to master's students who agree to work a minimum of four years in a qualifying teaching position.

Local Scholarships

Many scholarships and grants are available to education students that are pursuing a graduate degree in a specific region. Just one example is the Patricia Hughes Eastaugh Teaching Scholarships that awards $8,000 to students intending to teach in Alaska.