Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. – Online

Depending upon your selected program concentration, your areas of study may include:

• Educational research methodology
• Curriculum theory
• Analysis of teaching
• Advanced methodology
• School leadership
• Curriculum development, including the application of technology in teaching

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. Your program may also include advanced coursework in your initial licensure area.

See our Course Catalog for a full list of courses, which vary depending on your concentration area.

• 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.
• For candidates applying to the Elementary, Middle Grades, or Secondary Education concentrations, a North Carolina “A” license (Standard Professional 1 [SP1] Professional Educator’s License) in their respective level and content field, or the equivalent from another state, is required.
• Candidates interested in the Curriculum Leadership strand should have a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in independent schools.

• August 1 (fall)
• December 1 (spring)
• May 1 (summer first half term)

University of North Carolina 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 15-25 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:

• Fully online instruction with the option to gather face-to-face each semester to meet with and learn from current independent school leaders and to connect with peers in the cohort.
• 5 semesters total- 6 credits (2 classes) per semester
• A condensed 5-week summer semester is required in between years 1 and 2 (the summer semester runs from the end of May until the end of June)
• Synchronous class sessions offered after 5 PM, with some asynchronous options
• Specialized course content tailored to the unique independent school context
• Instructors are nationally recognized and award-winning faculty who are experts in their respective fields.
• Support from faculty with independent school teaching and leadership experience
• Student-designed action research project focused on the addressing issues facing independent schools
• Fully accredited program by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the North Carolina.

Note: 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.

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:

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Gaston County Schools
• Union County Schools
• Cannon School
• Cabarrus Schools

Our graduates hold job titles such as:

• Multi-Classroom leader
• World history teachers
• Science and social studies teachers
• Lower school teachers
• Curriculum facilitators
• Instructional Coaches

ESL Add-On

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.

• TESL 5103 – Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language (3)
• TESL 5104 – Authentic Assessment (3)
• TESL 5205 – Second Language Acquisition and Linguistics in K-12 Schools (3)
• TESL 6204 – Multicultural Education (3)

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 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.

Resident: $288.82 per credit hour

Outside of NC Non-Resident: $536.98 per credit hour

Non Resident: $1,098.21 per credit hour