Program Overview

The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is a course of study aimed at improving candidates’ instructional practices. It focuses on the design, delivery, and assessment of programs, units and lessons, and is appropriate for K-12 teachers and educators and trainers in public and private sectors.

Courses utilize current research on instructional best practices to frame discussions on teaching and learning. Taking a backward design approach, coursework examining instructional planning emphasizes identification of learning objectives worthy of enduring understanding, the use of essential questions, and the use of assessments designed to evaluate students’ knowledge and misconceptions. The program teaches candidates to systematically examine both their own practices and cutting-edge national and international exemplars. Included is critical examination of a variety of different technology applications in educational and training settings.

Our M.Ed. students may concurrently earn a graduate certificate in either Character Education, in partnership with the SOLES Character Development Center, or Peace and Global Education, in partnership with the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.

What can I do with this degree?

Graduates typically go on work as teachers in K-12 classrooms, curriculum specialists, or trainers or educators in other settings, such as museums or nonprofits.

Who should apply?

Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of professional teaching experience, with the desire to grow and advance in the teaching profession. Those seeking to enter the field of education should consider our Master's Credential Cohort Program for Elementary Education or Secondary Education, in which students earn a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction concurrently with a teaching credential.