delivery
Online
Curriculum and Instruction: Curriculum Leadership (Independent Schools) Concentration, M.Ed. – Online
Program Overview
Are you an educator in an independent school seeking to refine your craft and become a leader in your field?
UNC Charlotte offers an online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Curriculum Leadership for independent school personnel. This 30-hour, two-year, cohort-based program enrolls 15-20 students starting every other year. The next cohort will begin in fall 2026.
This program brings together independent school educators from across North Carolina and focuses on developing knowledgeable, effective, reflective, and responsive practitioners who will become leaders in independent schools throughout the state.
Areas of study include contemporary issues in education, fundamentals of educational leadership, supervision, teacher leadership, content-specific methodology, research methods, multicultural education, education law, and media and technology. A capstone project, a program-spanning action-research project designed to address the unique needs of students’ own independent schools, is a hallmark feature of the program.
Program Contact
Still trying to decide?
Ready to apply?
Program Details and Requirements
Our program contains unique components that potential applicants should be aware of. There are numerous prerequisites, which are described in detail in the Admissions tab. Due to the complexity of these prerequisites, we also urge all prospective students to contact an Enrollment Specialist to get your questions answered immediately.
UNC Charlotte’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program is offered 100% online and is designed to be flexible for working professionals, but some courses offer the option to gather face-to-face during the semester to meet with and learn from current independent school leaders and to connect with peers in the cohort. Courses in this concentration are typically synchronous class sessions offered after 5 PM, with some asynchronous options.
UNC Charlotte’s M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is accredited by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and CAEP.
Courses
Depending upon your selected program concentration, your areas of study may include:
| Semester 1 Courses | Semester 2 Courses | Semester 3 (Summer) Courses | Semester 4 Courses | Semester 5 Courses |
| Core Courses: MDSK 6156 Curriculum, Teaching and Contemporary Issues in Education ADMN 6100 Fundamentals of Educational Leadership | Core Courses: RSCH 6101 Research Methods – 3 hours Elective: Candidates, under the advisement of their program advisor, will enroll in a three-hour, graduate-level elective course in Educational Leadership or one of the Teacher Education Departments, in alignment with their current or aspirational professional role. | Core Courses: ADMN 6105 Legal Aspects of Schooling EDUC 6000 Topics in Education | Core Courses: MDSK 6260 Teacher Leadership LDT 6135 Learning Media, Research and Technology | Core Courses: ADMN 6130 Supervision of Instruction MDSK 6691 Seminar in Professional Development |
You will delve into areas like educational research, curriculum theory and advanced methodology as you sharpen your teaching skills and learn to apply technology to enhance learning.
See the catalog link at the end of this page for a full list of courses, which vary depending on your concentration area.
Admissions & Requirements
- Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
- A bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor.
- All previous work beyond high school documenting an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale). Please inquire with our Enrollment Team for more details if your GPA does not meet this requirement.
- A statement of purpose.
- Three recommendations from those knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional disposition or work in schools/youth. Applicants will provide reference contact names and email addresses through the application portal.
- Candidates interested in the Curriculum Leadership concentration should have a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in independent schools.
Application Deadlines
- August 1 (fall)
What Can You Do With Your M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction?
Upon graduating from our M.Ed. program, you’ll be highly prepared for teaching and leadership positions in independent schools. UNC Charlotte alumni who completed the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction can be found working in educational organizations such as:
- Cannon School
- Charlotte Country Day
- The Ravenscroft School
- Charlotte Latin School
- Durham Academy
- Providence Day School
Our graduates are:
- Classroom Teachers
- Grade-level Coordinators
- Deans
- Department Heads
- Division Heads
- Chief Technology Officers
- Business/Admissions Coordinators
Please note that this concentration of the M.Ed. does not lead to state licensure.
Why UNC Charlotte?
Why Earn Your M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Online From UNC Charlotte?
By choosing UNC Charlotte’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages, including:
Learn from faculty experts. Our professors have been recognized repeatedly for their teaching, research, student mentoring and contributions to their field. They have real-world experience in curriculum and school leadership in independent school environments, and include Heads of School, charter school board chairs, and Board of Governors Teaching Excellence Award recipients. The cohort is led by Dr. Jamie Kudlats, former independent school teacher and division head. His research interests include positive and caring school leadership, interpersonal relationships in schools, school law, and school leaders’ impact on school culture and climate. He currently serves on the editorial board of The High School Journal as well as the editor for Law and Policy in Schools, a magazine focused on practical solutions for administrators and practitioners in schools.
Earn your online master’s degree in just two years (five semesters). You will take two courses per semester and complete the program in two years (including one full summer term). You will complete a capstone experience through a research project related to your current or aspirational professional role.
What Our Alumni Say
“My time in this program has been enriching and challenging. I’ve been pushed to confront fundamental questions and issues in education, and that has helped reinvigorate me as an educator. The cohort approach has also been enjoyable; I have appreciated making connections across NC independent schools and gaining perspectives beyond my own school.”
— Stewart, 2022 Cohort
Related Programs
Explore Official University Catalog
Check out the official catalog for information on specific degree requirements, course progressions, curriculum and more.