Program Overview

Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for teachers and a wide range of education professionals, including curriculum specialists, paraprofessionals, librarians, out-of-school educators, and more. This program provides professional learning opportunities that are informed by the latest research and can be immediately applicable in your current role.

Program Summary

Advance your understanding of equitable and just curriculum, teaching, and learning, schooling, and supervision. Join a vibrant community of educators working to address complex issues facing education today. Work with a faculty adviser to create a personalized plan of study that will help you achieve your goals.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Application Deadline

Apply by April 1 to start May 18.

Credits and Costs

• 30 Credits
• $1,037 per credit

Nationally Recognized

Our graduate education Curriculum and Instruction program is highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Gain the Knowledge and Practices You Need

• Explore how to design, evaluate, and apply curriculum resources and provide curriculum leadership in your school and/or district.
• Cultivate an inquiry stance by studying your own practice as you apply new pedagogical approaches designed to benefit learners and making responsive adjustments to curriculum, instruction, and/or assessment.
• Enhance your understanding of the challenges facing education today and the significant role of education in schools and society.
• Gain a deeper understanding of how to equitably support learners' sense-making within and across content areas.
• Learn how to bridge research and practice through independent research mentored by top faculty in the field.

Course Work That’s Personalized and Applicable to Your Career

Your master’s degree curriculum will be personalized to reflect your professional goals and personal interests. Whether you seek depth in a single area or choose an interdisciplinary approach, your faculty adviser will help you create a truly customized plan of study with course work that makes sense for you. You will have the flexibility to choose from courses in a variety of disciplines, including children’s literature, curriculum and supervision, elementary education, English language arts, multilingual education, social studies, and STEM education.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction

• Is a 30-credit degree.
• All courses are three credits.
• All courses in the program are at the graduate level (400, 500, 800).
• A culminating inquiry project (paper, portfolio, children’s book, etc.) is required for successful completion of the degree.
• You will negotiate the project’s focus, scope, and methods with your faculty adviser and be mentored throughout the process.

Children’s Literature Path

• Has a specialized research core course, LLED 568: Doing Research in Children’s Literature.
• Requires LLED 502: Studies in Literature for Children as one of the personalized course work selections.

Program Structure

• Core Course Work (12 credits)
  • 3-credit core colloquium (first course)
  • 9 credits of core courses — learning, curriculum, research
• Personalized Course Work (18 credits)
  • 15 credits with a personalized focus
  • 3 credits of an additional approved elective

Core Course Work

• CI 590: Colloquium
  • Introduction to colleagues and program with attention to themes of inquiry, evidence, and assessment.
• CI 550: Overview of Contemporary School Curriculum
  • Current school programs and options and their impact on pupils; problems in introducing new content into the curriculum.
• CI 560: Theories of Childhood
  • The study of childhood from cultural, historical, psychological, and philosophical perspectives.
• CI 501: Teaching as Inquiry
  • Course guides teachers to develop systematic inquires into effective teaching and learning.

Personalized Course Work

• Choose from a variety of disciplines, including:
  • Children’s Literature
  • Curriculum and Supervision
  • Elementary Education
  • Language and Literacy in Schools and Society
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Children’s Literature

• Required Course:
  • LLED 502: Studies in Literature for Children
    • Study of various genres of children’s literature, from various critical perspectives.
• Course Selections:
  • LLED 462: The Art of the Picturebook
  • LLED 464: Nonfiction Literature for Children and Adolescents
  • LLED 465: Fantasy Literature for Children
  • LLED 520: Literature for Adolescents
  • LLED 561: Cultural Pluralism in Children’s and Adolescent Literature
  • LLED 563: Myths and Folktales in Children’s Literature
  • LLED 564: Writing for Children

Curriculum and Supervision

• CI 405: Strategies in Classroom Management
• CI 500: Multiple and Mixed Methods in Curriculum Inquiry
• C-S 551: Curriculum Design: Theory and Practice
• C-S 560: Principles of Instructional Supervision
• C-S 562: Methods of Classroom Supervision and Coaching
• C-S 563: Designing Staff Development Programs

Elementary Education

• CI 405: Strategies in Classroom Management
• WLED 400: Foundations of Language in Second Language Teaching
• MTHED 430: Students’ Mathematical Thinking
• SCIED 460: Trends and Issues in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
• LLED 464: Nonfiction Literature for Children and Adolescents
• LLED 561: Cultural Pluralism in Children’s and Adolescent Literature

Language and Literacy in Schools and Society

• LLED 464: Nonfiction Literature for Children and Adolescents
• LLED 501: Teaching Writing in Elementary and Secondary Schools
• LLED 520: Literature for Adolescents
• LLED 561: Cultural Pluralism in Children’s and Adolescent Literature
• LLED 580: Media Literacy, Language, and Literacy in Schools
• WLED 400: Foundations of Language in Second Language Teaching

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

• SCIED 460: Trends and Issues in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
• MTHED 430: Students’ Mathematical Thinking
• MTHED 520: Analysis of Research in Mathematics Education
• SCIED 855: Precollege Engineering Education

Course Availability

• Visit the public LionPATH course search to start planning ahead.

Advance Your Career

• Use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.

Job Titles Related to This Degree

• Curriculum and Instruction Director
• Curriculum Coordinator
• Curriculum Director
• Educator
• Teacher

Employment Outlook for Occupational Fields Related to This Degree

• Instructional Coordinators: 1.8% employment growth (10 years), 210,850 total employment
• Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: -0.7% employment growth (10 years), 620,370 total employment
• Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: -0.6% employment growth (10 years), 1,072,540 total employment
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: -0.7% employment growth (10 years), 1,393,310 total employment

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

• From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career.

Designed for Educators

• The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for teachers as well as a wide range of education professionals.

Earn a Valuable Credential along the Way

• Show mastery of specific subjects before your degree is complete.
• Thanks to shared courses across programs, students can often earn a certificate along with their degree in less time than if they earned them separately.

Certificate Programs Related to This Degree

• Children’s Literature (Graduate Certificate)

Set Your Own Pace

• Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals.

Convenient Online Format

• This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

• Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades.

Professional Licensure / Certification

• Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed.
• If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map for more information.

How to Apply to Penn State

• Apply by April 1 to start May 18.

Application Instructions

• Review the admission requirements.
• Gather your required materials.
• Create a Penn State login account.
• Read the application instructions.
• Complete the application.

Admissions Help

• If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor.

Learn from the Best

• Offered by the Penn State College of Education, the curriculum and instruction master’s degree program is renowned for preparing and supporting education professionals.

Faculty

• Jason Griffith
• Mari Haneda
• Elisa Hopkins
• Charlotte L. Land
• Andrea McCloskey
• Scott McDonald
• Scott Metzger
• Ashley N. Patterson
• Julia Plummer
• Jeanine Staples-Dixon
• Dana Stuchul
• Anne Elrod Whitney
• Rachel Wolkenhauer
• Xiangquan Yao
• Carla Zembal-Saul

News

• Spotlight on Penn State faculty: Meet Dr. Elisa Hopkins
• Penn State featured in U.S. News’ 2025 ‘Best Online Programs’ rankings
• Summit to connect K-12 educators and Penn State for a more sustainable future

Student Success Story

• I hope that the degree will open doors that will allow me to have an impact on the future of children’s literature and literacy through my work with Barnes & Noble and other organizations.
• — Debra Lampert-Rudman, Pennington, NJ

Explore Other Academic Programs

• Children’s Literature (Graduate Certificate program)
• Educational Technology Integration (Postbaccalaureate Certificate program)