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Curriculum & Instruction: M.Ed. - Master of Education

In this 100% online M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction program, students learn research-based strategies and best practices for developing effective instructional programs. Top-ranked curriculum and top-tier faculty.

At a Glance

Program Results

M.Ed. - Master of Education

Curriculum & Instruction

Career Outcomes

  • Educator in various preK-12 settings, community colleges, nonprofit organizations, museums, government agencies
  • Curriculum developer in similar settings
     

Best Suited To

  • Educators aiming to be successful within diverse learning environments
  • Educators desiring to enhance their knowledge of curriculum, teaching, and learning to meet the needs of all learners
  • Individuals desiring to advance their careers with 100% online, asynchronous coursework 

Program Type

  • Full Time
  • Part Time

Location

  • Online

Estimated Length

2-3 years (part time) or 1 year (full time) 

Application Deadline

Spring entry: December 1

Summer entry:

  • February 1 (early notification deadline)
  • May 1 (final deadline)

Fall entry:

  • March 1 (early notification deadline)
  • July 15 (final deadline)

About This Program

This 100% online master's program is designed for individuals who want to make a difference in educational settings by developing more effective curricular and instructional practices to better serve students. The flexible and asynchronous program curriculum is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to be successful in an ever-changing educational landscape.  

In addition to core requirements in the four pillars of the program (curriculum, instruction, assessment, and diversity), students will select an area of emphasis from the following areas: 

  1. Educational Innovation
  2. English as a Second Language (ESL)
  3. Gifted Education
  4. Instructional Technology
  5. Literacy
  6. Professional Studies
  7. Social and Emotional Learning
  8. Social Foundations
  9. NEW-Customized Coursework: You may choose this option if you want to study a broad range of educational topics. Choose four courses from the various areas of emphasis. 

This program is not an approved Virginia initial licensure program. However, if you are interested in adding an endorsement in Gifted Education, English as a Second Language, or pursuing an initial Virginia license through an alternate route, then these options may be available through the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction program. Please reach out to the licensure specialist listed as the contact on our Become a Teacher page.

The professional studies area of emphasis is designed to assist those pursuing a Virginia license through an alternate pathway. Reach out to our licensure specialist listed at the bottom of this page for more information about this area of emphasis. 

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Students may enter the program during the summer, fall, or spring semesters. Admission requirements that apply specifically to this program are listed below: 

Prerequisites
Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
 

Admission Requirements

  • Two recommendations solicited through the online application from faculty and/or employers.
  • A goal statement that integrates past experiences, explains how this program supports professional goals related to teaching and learning, and describes how this program and the chosen area of emphasis is a good-fit for the applicant. It should be 1-2 double-spaced pages or no more than 500 words in length.  
  • An updated resume.
  • Unofficial transcripts (uploaded to the online application). 

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be read and may be canceled if left incomplete. Materials should be tracked using the checklist in the application. Decisions are typically made within two weeks of the application deadline.

Visit our Graduate Admission page for the full admission process.

Transferring Credits

A maximum of 6 credit hours can be transferred into the program if the course is determined by the advisor to meet a number of conditions (e.g., graduate-level, is equivalent in rigor and focus to a course offered in the program of study, the student earned a grade of B- or higher, and the course was successfully completed less than 5 years from the date of admission to the program). 

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are NOT required as part of the application process. International students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores must not be more than 2 years old. Applicants who have or will have earned an undergraduate degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction do not need to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores.  

Information for Current UVA Undergraduates
If you are a current UVA undergraduate, view our Information for Current UVA Undergraduates page for info on admission into this program.

Guaranteed Admission for UVA Undergraduate
For UVA B.S.Ed. graduates, the UVA School of Education and Human Development offers a guaranteed admission option for recent teacher education graduates who meet eligibility requirements. Review the Guaranteed Admission page for more information. This option also requires a simplified application.

 

Graduate Admission

Application for admission is made to the School of Education and Human Development Office of Admission & Enrollment. For more information about the graduate admission process, please visit our Graduate Admission page.

Graduate Admission

Coursework

To learn more about specific courses taken as part of the completion of this degree, visit the Graduate Record website. These webpages represent the official repository for academic program requirements. 

All M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction students are required to take six classes in the Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) core (18 hours). The C&I core classes consist of four pillars—instruction, curriculum, assessment, and diversity built upon a foundation.  

  • EDIS 5025: Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment (Foundation)
  • EDIS 5080: Differentiating Instruction (Instruction Pillar)
  • EDIS 5422: Cross-Cultural Education for Diverse Learners (Diversity Pillar)
  • EDIS 6200: Principles of Curriculum Design (Curriculum Pillar)
  • EDIS 6220: Assessment of Curriculum K-12 (Assessment Pillar) 

Students then choose a 12-credit area of emphasis from the following areas:

Educational Innovation, English as a Second Language, Gifted Education, Instructional Technology, Literacy, Professional Studies, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Foundations, Customized Coursework

Students must complete a comprehensive assignment that is embedded in the culminating Curriculum & Instruction course. The course is taken during the final semester.

  • EDIS 6880: Masters Comprehensive in Curriculum & Instruction

 

Curriculum & Instruction Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction curriculum can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Licensure Information: Professional Studies Area of Emphasis

Are you teaching on a provisional teaching license in a Virginia public school, preK-12, and need to fulfill your Professional Studies course requirements? Or, are you interested in teaching, but would like an alternative to a full-time teacher education program?

The Professional Studies area of emphasis in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program includes courses that are required by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to meet licensure on Virginia’s alternate pathway. 

Students who select the Professional Studies area of emphasis will be given guidance on how to pursue a Virginia teaching license through the alternative licensure path. Visit our Become a Teacher page to learn more about alternative routes to licensure.

Students in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program who select the Professional Studies area of emphasis will work with an advisor to design a course plan that meets program and licensure requirements. 

C&I Core course requirements for the Professional Studies area of emphasis (18 credits):

Core Pillar

Course Requirement

Foundation

EDIS 5025: Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment*

Instruction

ECED/ELEM/SPED

  • EDIS 5221: Reading and Writing Foundations*

Middle Grades

  • EDIS 5710: Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas*

Secondary

  • EDIS 5080: Differentiating Instruction 

Diversity

EDIS 5422: Cross-Cultural Education for Diverse Learners

Curriculum

EDIS 6200: Principles of Curriculum Design

Assessment

EDIS 5820: Assessment of and for Learning*

Comprehensive

EDIS 6880: Masters Comprehensive in Curriculum & Instruction

*Also required for licensure. EDIS 5025 must be completed prior to EDIS 5820

Professional Studies requirements (12 credits):

Special Education, K-12, Early/Primary and Elementary Education

  • EDLF 5160: Lifespan Development
  • EDIS 5041: Behavior and Classroom Management
  • EDIS 5175: Issues in K-12 Education 
  • EDIS 6720: Understanding the Code: The Language Systems of Written English

Middle Education

  • EDLF 5160: Lifespan Development
  • EDIS 5041: Behavior and Classroom Management
  • EDIS 5175: Issues in K-12 Education 
  • EDIS 6720: Understanding the Code: The Language Systems of Written English

Secondary, PreK-12, and Adult Education

  • EDLF 5160: Lifespan Development
  • EDIS 5041: Behavior and Classroom Management
  • EDIS 5175: Issues in K-12 Education -or- EDLF 7601: Social Foundations of Education
  • EDIS 5710: Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas

Note: Final licensure requirements are determined and approved by the Virginia Department of Education. Please reach out to the licensure specialist contact listed on this page as you move forward with your next steps.

 

Curriculum & Instruction Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction curriculum can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Dual MBA/M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction Option

Few roles in society provide the reach that educators have into people’s lives. But reach does not always translate into impact because the challenges that educators around the world face are profound indeed. This full-time dual degree program is a partnership between two leading schools at UVA–the School of Education and Human Development (EHD) and the Darden School of Business.

The MBA/M.Ed. program integrates two courses of study (education and business) and combines two different approaches to learning (online at EHD and in-person at Darden). This program is designed for the next generation of leaders who will transform education in the United States and around the world.

Dual Degree Information

For more information about pursuing the MBA/M.Ed. dual degree option in curriculum and instruction visit the program page.

Learn More

M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction Areas of Emphasis

Find out which of these areas of emphasis best aligns with your goals.

Reach out to the program contact listed at the bottom of this page, or attend an upcoming information session to learn more about the program experience.

In the educational innovation area of emphasis, students...

  • will learn about major historical efforts to improve education and their implications for today's classrooms.
  • will be exposed to the significant innovation efforts currently being implemented, as well as their successes and struggles.
  • will learn strategies to drive educational change from both inside and outside schools.
  • will understand theoretical frameworks that have underpinned key educational innovation efforts.

As it relates to students' professional goals, the educational innovation area of emphasis can...

  • help you lead improvement as a thought leader in educational innovation so that schools fulfill their most important responsibility: providing an effective and engaging education to all children.
  • position you as an educator with an innovator's mindset to spearhead the change needed to improve educational opportunities and outcomes in schools and other learning environments.

In the ESL area of emphasis, students...

  • will learn how to plan instruction for English Learners.
  • will learn how to understand and gather assessment data and use it to plan instruction (including WIDA frameworks).
  • will be grounded in the principles of second language acquisition and development and how they affect classroom learning for multilingual students.

As it relates to professional goals, the ESL area of emphasis...

  • can help you understand that multilingual education is increasingly important not only for ESL and bilingual teachers, but for all educators.
  • will prepare you for leadership in your school or district as you model strategies for connecting with multilingual students.

In the gifted education area of emphasis, students...

  • will develop an understanding of gifted education.
  • will acquire skills and knowledge to identify and meet the needs of highly able students from diverse backgrounds.

As it relates to professional goals, the gifted education area of education emphasis...

  • will help you strengthen your knowledge, instructional skills and abilities to effectively teach highly able students.

In the instructional technology area of emphasis, students...

  • will learn frameworks for technology integration.
  • will learn evaluation and assessment of instructional technologies.

As it relates to professional goals, the instructional technology area of emphasis...

  • will help you integrate technology effectively, equitably, and inclusively into classroom teaching.
  • will help you disseminate technology integration skills and techniques to other educators through effective modeling, coaching and leadership.

In the literacy area of emphasis, students...

  • will be grounded in the fundamentals of reading development from emergent literacy through adolescent readers.
  • will learn the fundamentals of how learners develop encoding and decoding skills. 
  • will develop an understanding of how phonological and phonemic awareness and phonics development lead to automatic word recognition. 
  • will develop an understanding of English orthography and the principles that govern it.
  • will develop an understanding of both content literacy and disciplinary literacy. 
  • will learn the cognitive theory behind comprehension supports and instruction.
  • will explore how reading and writing should be integrated in content area instruction.
  • will learn how students develop as writers and how to provide writing instruction that meets their needs. 
  • will examine the ways that children’s/young adult literature can be used to enhance classroom instruction and develop culturally responsive instruction.

As it relates to professional goals, the literacy area of emphasis...

  • can strengthen your literacy knowledge, instructional skills and abilities for effective teaching of reading, the development of reading programs and literacy coaching.
  • prepares you for literacy work in various learning contexts.

In the professional studies area of emphasis, students...

  • will be grounded in foundational curriculum and instruction practices.
  • will learn behavior management methods.
  • will learn literacy practices aligned with the grade level of interest.
  • will acquire skills in assessment.
  • will learn the foundations of education, including exploration of issues of practice.
  • will learn about human development.

As it relates to professional goals, the professional studies area of emphasis...

  • is designed to support someone seeking licensure in Virginia through the alternate pathway.
  • has courses that meet VDOE’s professional studies requirements to obtain licensure on the alternate pathway.
  • is ideal for provisionally licensed or soon-to-be provisionally licensed teachers in Virginia.

In the SEL area of emphasis, students...

  • will learn how to teach SEL curriculum.
  • will learn how to model SEL skills for classrooms.
  • will discover how mindful awareness and compassion practices support both students and teachers.

As it relates to professional goals, the SEL area of emphasis...

  • can teach you how SEL is applied when supporting students exposed to chronic and acute stress, addressing diversity, equity and inclusion and supporting English learners and exceptional learners.

In the social foundations area of emphasis, students...

  • will explore education as a social institution.
  • will learn about the development of education in the United States.
  • will examine different societies’ experiences with multiculturalism.

As it relates to professional goals, the social foundations area of emphasis...

  • can help you develop a broad understanding of the complexities and processes of today’s education environment.
  • will impart focused knowledge and skill development to help students in your classroom.

In the customized coursework area of emphasis, students...

  • can choose courses from the many areas of emphasis that are offered to support areas that you’re interested in learning about.

As it relates to professional outcomes, the customized coursework area of emphasis...

  • gives you the flexibility to craft a degree experience that supports your unique interests and goals.

Additional Program Details

In 2024, the UVA School of Education & Human Development is ranked #8 for best graduate schools of education in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

The school also jumped up 18 spots to tie for second best online graduate education program in the country, and is ranked #4 in curriculum and instruction, and #11 in instructional media design for online graduate schools of education.

Info Sessions and Open Houses

All Admission Events

The school hosts a variety of admission events including information sessions and open houses for prospective students as they explore our degree program offerings. View upcoming opportunities to engage with faculty and staff.

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The M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction Program Experience

A headshot of UVA EHD alumna Ruth Lezana

One thing I have been able to apply in my career that I've learned is how to approach and be responsive to students in challenging situations. Instead of reacting immediately, I've been able to think about how I can best resolve an issue or problem without engaging in a tug-of-war and damaging the teacher-student relationship.

Ruth Lezama, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction '24

Social and Emotional Learning Area of Emphasis

A headshot of UVA EHD alumn Scott Staron

My reasons for choosing the UVA M.Ed. in curriculum & instruction program revolved around both flexibility and future use. With the program being online, I was able to obtain a UVA degree from my home in Northern Virginia and since it is asynchronous I was able to schedule my work for evenings and weekends. It was never a struggle to find time to fit in the necessary work each week. I was also looking for a program that would eventually give me multiple options for working in the educational field, such as developing online instructional products or classroom teaching, and I felt that the program provided the right mix of coursework to enable me to pursue either or both of those avenues, or others.

Scott David Staron, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction '24

Instructional Technology Area of Emphasis

A headshot of UVA EHD alumna Kalpa Kaczkowski

In childhood, our curiosity is without bounds, but often as we age, we no longer express the questions that we hold. Through the UVA M.Ed. in curriculum & instruction program, I am more cognizant of how and when to nurture the idea of "wondering" so it can be maintained throughout life. There is always time to wonder, as you never know what wonderful discoveries and opportunities may arise as a result of it. As such I find myself working more consciously to nurture the inquisitive nature of learners, while also encouraging their creativity and problem solving.

Kalpa Kaczkowski, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction '24

Gifted Education Area of Emphasis

A photo of UVA EHD alumn Isaiah Fullen in a classroom

The content from my social and emotional learning (SEL) emphasis courses has helped me in so many ways. I have been able to truly develop my holistic approach to education, as well as improve my own mental health and well-being by practicing SEL myself which has helped me lower my overall stress levels and avoid burnout.

Isaiah Fullen, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction '24

Social and Emotional Learning Area of Emphasis

M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction News

All School News

Program Faculty

All Program Faculty
Ottilie Austin

Ottilie Austin

  • Associate Professor
Vivien M Chabalengula

Vivien M. Chabalengula

  • Professor of Education, General Faculty
Lysandra Cook

Lysandra Cook

  • Professor
Patricia Jennings

Patricia A. Jennings

  • Professor
  • Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction Program Director
Anne Jewett

Anne Jewett

  • Assistant Professor
  • Degree Director, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction program
April Salerno

April Salerno

  • Associate Professor of Education, General Faculty
Matthew Wheelock

Matthew Wheelock

  • Associate Professor
  • Innovation Program Area Director

M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction Contact

Anne Jewett

Anne Jewett

  • Assistant Professor
  • Degree Director, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction program
  • [email protected]

  • Bavaro Hall 329
    PO Box 400273
    417 Emmet Street S
    Charlottesville, VA 22903

Licensure Specialist Contact

Disclosures

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)). Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs.

Upon completion of the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state. Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).