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Curriculum and Instruction: Middle/Secondary Concentrations, M.Ed.

Program Overview

Are you a licensed middle grades or secondary educator seeking to refine your craft and become a leader in your field?

UNC Charlotte’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Middle Grades and Secondary Tracks are designed for experienced, licensed, practicing teachers, educators, and 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 for students who already have an A licensure.

Program Contacts:

Ashley Gibson – Enrollment Team | Heather Coffey – Program Director

Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. at a Glance

delivery
Online
Credits
30 Credit Hours
admits
Spring, Summer & Fall

Program Details and Requirements

Our program contains unique components and and provides flexibility to potential applicants, but this does create an added layer of complexity to keep in mind. We urge all prospective students to contact an Enrollment Specialist to get your questions answered immediately.

The program is offered 100% online and is designed to be flexible for working professionals. Many courses are asynchronous, meaning there are no set class times: you can study around your busy schedule.

UNC Charlotte’s M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction is accredited by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and CAEP.

Courses

The Middle Grades and Secondary course requirements are nearly identical.

Suggested Course of Study:

Semester 1 CoursesSemester 2 Courses Semester 3 (or Summer) CoursesSemester 4 CoursesSemester 5 Courses
Core Courses: 
MDSK 6156: Curriculum, Teaching and Contemporary Issues in Education -3 hours

MDSK 6220: Adolescence and Learning – 3 hours
Core Courses:
TESL 6206: Globalization, Communities, and Schools -3 hours

RSCH 6101:
Research Methods – 3 hours
Core Courses:
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

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.

See our Catalog at the bottom of this page for a full list of courses, which vary depending on your concentration area.

Course Add-Ons

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.

Instructional Coaching

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.

Admissions & Requirements
Application Deadlines
What Can You Do With Your M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction?

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:

Why UNC Charlotte?

By choosing UNC Charlotte’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, you’ll enjoy a number of advantages, including:

Tuition

Resident: $288.82 per credit hour

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

Non Resident: $1,098.21 per credit hour

Please note: Rates are subject to change.