delivery
Online
Are you an aspiring educator seeking to refine your craft and become a leader in your field?
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for experienced, licensed,* practicing teachers/educators/leaders. You’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills as a curriculum specialist and instructional leader through an accessible and flexible online education program. The program is also a pathway for professional development for those who want to work in administration. Our 30-credit-hour Master of Education program leads to the Advanced (M) teaching license.*
The Graduate Certificate in Instructional Coaching can be taken as a part of the M.Ed. program, for certain concentrations. Please inquire for more details.
Our curriculum and instruction M.Ed. program contains unique components that potential applicants should be aware of. There are numerous prerequisites, which are described in detail in the Admissions & Requirements 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 percent online and is designed to be flexible for working professionals. Most courses are asynchronous, meaning there are no set class times: you can study around your busy schedule. Most courses meet four to six times per semester.
UNC Charlotte’s M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is accredited by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and CAEP.
Our M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program offers five specialized tracks. See our Course Catalog for a full list of courses, which vary depending on your concentration area.
The Elementary Education concentration divides coursework into core courses, content specialization, and elective or focus area courses. You will delve into areas like educational research, curriculum theory and advanced methodology as you sharpen your understanding of curriculum and pedagogy and learn to apply technology to enhance learning. In the last semester, candidates engage in advanced methods in their content areas as well as create a capstone portfolio.
Suggested course of study:
Core Courses | Advanced Content Specialization | Elective/Focus Areas |
---|---|---|
12 hours, choose one: | 12 hours | 6 hours, choose from: |
ELED 6200 (Current Issues in Global and Urban Elementary Schools) OR MDSK 6156 (Curriculum, Teaching and Contemporary Issues in Education) OR TESL 6206 (Globalization, Communities, and Schools) MDSK 6260 – Teacher Leadership (EDUC 6260) MDSK 6691 – Seminar in Professional Development RSCH 6101 – Research Methods | ELED 6202 – Creating Equitable Elementary Classroom Environments ELED 6203 – Instructional Differentiation and Leadership for 21st Century Learners ELED 6303 – Teacher Inquiry and Data Analysis in the Classroom READ 6250 – Emergent and Elementary Literacy | ELDT 5100 – Technology Integration in Education ELDT 6135 – Learning Media, Resources, and Technology ENGL 6161 – Introduction to Linguistics ELED 6000-6999 READ 6000-6999 EDUC 6000-6999 |
The Middle Grades and Secondary course requirements are nearly identical. You will delve into areas like educational research, curriculum theory and advanced methodology as you sharpen your understanding of curriculum and pedagogy and learn to apply technology to enhance learning. In the last semester, candidates engage in advanced methods in their content areas as well as create a capstone portfolio.
Suggested course of study:
Semester 1 Courses | Semester 2 Courses | Semester 3 (or Summer) Courses | Semester 4 Courses | Semester 4 Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Core Courses: | Core Courses: | Core Courses: | ||
MDSK 6156: Curriculum, Teaching and Contemporary Issues in Education -3 hours MDSK 6220: Adolescence and Learning – 3 hours | TESL 6206: Globalization, Communities, and Schools -3 hours RSCH 6101: Research Methods – 3 hours | MDSK 6260: Teacher Leadership – 3 hours MDLG 6225: Issues in Middle Grades Education (Middle Grades Concentration Only) – 3 hours | Advanced Specialization Pedagogy: 3 hours Advanced Content Specialization Course(s): 3 hours for Middle Grades, 6 hours for Secondary | Advanced Content Methods: 3 hours MDSK 6691: Seminar in Professional Development – 3 hours |
The Middle Grades and Secondary course requirements are nearly identical. You will delve into areas like educational research, curriculum theory and advanced methodology as you sharpen your understanding of curriculum and pedagogy and learn to apply technology to enhance learning. In the last semester, candidates engage in advanced methods in their content areas as well as create a capstone portfolio.
Suggested course of study:
Semester 1 Courses | Semester 2 Courses | Semester 3 (or Summer) Courses | Semester 4 Courses | Semester 4 Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Core Courses: | Core Courses: | Core Courses: | ||
MDSK 6156: Curriculum, Teaching and Contemporary Issues in Education -3 hours MDSK 6220: Adolescence and Learning – 3 hours | TESL 6206: Globalization, Communities, and Schools -3 hours RSCH 6101: Research Methods – 3 hours | MDSK 6260: Teacher Leadership – 3 hours MDLG 6225: Issues in Middle Grades Education (Middle Grades Concentration Only) – 3 hours | Advanced Specialization Pedagogy: 3 hours Advanced Content Specialization Course(s): 3 hours for Middle Grades, 6 hours for Secondary | Advanced Content Methods: 3 hours MDSK 6691: Seminar in Professional Development – 3 hours |
The TESL Concentration coursework can be finished in five semesters, which can be as short as two years with the use of our Summer session. You will delve into areas like educational research, curriculum theory and advanced methodology as you sharpen your understanding of curriculum and pedagogy and learn to apply technology to enhance learning.
Suggested course of study:
Semester 1 Courses | Semester 2 Courses | Semester 3 (or Summer) Courses | Semester 4 Courses | Semester 5 Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Core Courses: | Core Courses: | Core Courses: | Elective: | Advanced Content Methods: |
TESL 5103 Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language – 3 hours TESL 5104 Authentic Assessment – 3 hours TESL 5205 Second Language Acquisition in K-12 Schools – 3 hours | TESL 6204 Multicultural Education – 3 hours TESL 6206 Globalization, Communities, and Schools – 3 hours | MDSK 6260 Teacher Leadership – 3 hours RSCH 6101 Research Methods – 3 hours | Choose from Planning Sheet – 3 hours | TESL 6476 Advanced Pedagogy in Teaching English as a Second Language -3 hours TESL/MDSK 6691 Seminar in Professional Development – 3 hours |
The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Curriculum Leadership for Independent School personnel is a 30-hour, two-year, cohort-based program that enrolls 15-25 students starting every other year. The next cohort will begin in fall 2026.
This Master of Education 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.
Further program details:
This concentration of the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is a non-licensure track.
The program is considered full-time and is designed to be completed in 5 semesters.
For questions specific to the Curriculum Leadership cohort, please contact Dr. Jamie Kudlats at jkudlats@charlotte.edu.
*Students interested in the Independent Schools or TESL concentrations do not require initial licensure to enroll, nor will these concentrations lead to a teaching or administrative state license.
The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, TESL strand is a 30 credit hour Master’s program designed to support the preparation of teachers in the K12 school settings, university settings and/or abroad. Currently licensed teachers can choose to earn ESL Add-On Licensure in NC by completing the first 12 credit hours of the M.Ed. program. The add-on licensure sequence of courses is designed to equip experienced teachers to better support multilingual learners in their schools. Students interested in earning the Masters of Education degree can continue in the program by completing the remaining 18 credit hours.
The Graduate Certificate in Instructional Coaching prioritizes real-world application, expert instruction and professional networking, making it a valuable option for those seeking to advance their careers in education. You will develop the instructional coaching skills needed to help teachers improve instruction, design quality curriculum, effectively use data to guide instruction and determine areas for development. It can be taken as part of the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and only requires four courses:
Work with your program advisor or Luke Reinke, Instructional Coaching Program Director, to determine how this fits into your desired plan of study.
Upon graduating from our M.Ed. program, you’ll be highly qualified to apply for a doctoral program, which prepares you for leadership positions within your school or district. Some students who complete a doctorate pursue careers as instructors at community colleges or four-year institutions.
UNC Charlotte alumni who completed the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction can be found working in educational organizations such as:
Our graduates hold job titles such as:
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 garnered numerous recognitions, including the designation as a Distinguished Professor for UNC Charlotte, a Fulbright Fellow to Guatemala and as an English Language Specialist for the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Heather Coffey is the program director for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program. Her research interests include ways to develop critical literacy with urban learners, bridging the gap between educational theory and practice in teacher education, and supporting in-service teachers in urban school settings through professional development. Dr. Coffey has been recognized widely for her excellence in teaching and commitment to service.
Earn your online master’s degree in just two years (five semesters). You will average two courses per semester and complete the program in two years (including one full summer term). You may opt to take just one course per semester, which will lengthen the time it takes to earn your degree. You will complete a capstone experience through either a comprehensive portfolio or a research project, as assigned by your program advisor.
Choose the concentration that best suits your teaching license. Your concentration will match your initial license, as issued by the state of North Carolina for students seeking an “M” license. However, students selecting the Curriculum Leadership (Independent Schools) concentration do not need to hold initial licensure. Those who do hold initial licensure and are still interested in the Curriculum Leadership (Independent Schools) concentration should still select the Independent Schools concentration when applying.
NC Resident: $309.59 per credit hour
Outside of NC Non-Resident: $578.54 per credit hour
Non-Resident: $1,186.59 per credit hour
Please note: Rates are subject to change.