OVERVIEW
This Education Degree Enables You to Improve Teaching and Learning
Great student outcomes begin with a great curriculum—one that provides focus, depth, and clarity for eager students. You can be an integral part in impacting the future for students and teachers alike with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. If you already have a bachelor's degree in education and are interested in enhancing your career by building strong learning opportunities for students, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction could be an ideal fit. Stand out from the competition and lead impactful innovation in your organization with this valuable curriculum and instruction degree. WGU’s online M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction program provides you a direct path to become a leader in education, impacting individual students, entire classrooms, and your whole community.
This program is built in alignment with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the National Education Association's Teacher Leadership Competencies, ensuring that you will get the best quality degree that will prepare you for the next steps of your career. In earning this curriculum and instruction degree, you will acquire specialized skills and valuable expertise in instructional theory and practice, learning science, and educational research—all focused on how to better engage students and deliver improved learning outcomes.
62% of graduates finish within
12 Months*
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
*WGU Internal Data
Tuition per six-month term is
$4,125
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of earning your degree online. Finish faster, pay less!
Average salary increase
$10,525*
Graduates of this program report an average salary increase of $10,525 after completing their WGU degree.
*WGU Internal Data
COURSES
Curriculum and Instruction Courses
Enhance your skillset with practical principles for curriculum development.
Program consists of 10 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
This online master’s degree program in curriculum and instruction is similar to an M.Ed. degree in that it provides the essential skills, knowledge, and field experience you need to design elementary and secondary school curriculum that meet the demands of today's educational systems.
The WGU M.S. Curriculum and Instruction degree program was designed (and is regularly updated) with input from the experts on our Education Program Council. These respected authorities know exactly what it takes for a graduate to succeed designing curriculum in a range of subjects for elementary and secondary schools.
This program is made up of the following courses. You will typically complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means that you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.
WGU's M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction program is ideal for individuals who have teaching experience and want to increase their curriculum development skills and advance their careers. Similar to an M.Ed. program, it is for people who are passionate about education and who wish to provide students with learning experiences that educate, motivate, and inspire.
10 Courses
Program consists of 10 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
The online M.S. Curriculum and Instruction degree program requires the successful completion of a capstone project. You'll take what you've learned during your studies and apply it to a real-world situation, proposing a solution to an actual issue you're likely to face in a professional academic environment.
Skills For Your Résumé
As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for.
- Problem Solving: Conducted research to find effective solutions to a problem.
- Communications: Provided valuable recommendations for educational program improvements, aligning with best practices and the latest research in the field.
- Research: Developed evidence-based processes rooted in research findings, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of educational initiatives.
- Curriculum Development: Evaluated curriculum to ensure its relevance, accuracy, and alignment with learning objectives.
- Curriculum Development: Skillfully sequenced learning material, fostering incremental delivery of curricula to build upon learners' previous knowledge and skills.
- Instructional Design: Determined the most effective educational design model tailored to meet the diverse needs of learners.
“Success for me was achieving my dream of furthering my education and knowing I was able to balance work, family, and school to accomplish my goal. It is rewarding to apply what I learned at WGU in my job every day.”
—Tracy Tanwar
M.S. Curriculum and Instruction
WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in under 2 years
Traditional Universities
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in under 2 years
Why WGU?
You Aren't On Your Own
WGU has Program Mentors who work with you from the day you start, all the way through graduation. They help you chart your courses, answer your questions, and ensure you can go through your program. You're not alone when you choose an online degree at WGU.
Flexibility You Need
Students choose WGU for their online degree program because of its flexibility. Whether you already have a full-time job, have responsibilities as a parent, or just have a busy schedule, WGU can work for you.
Strong Alumni Network
When you enroll in an online master's degree program at WGU, you join an impressive network of teachers. Over 13,000 students graduated from the Teachers College in 2021 alone, taking their skills and impacting the educational system all around the United States.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
COST & TIME
When We Say Affordable We Mean It
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A Master's Degree Is Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time
At WGU, we understand that you have professional responsibilities, family obligations, and personal commitments. That’s why we offer a personalized, flexible approach to higher education. If you work hard and put in the hours needed, you’ll get a solid, challenging, career-focused education that fits your life. Complete your coursework online, anytime and anywhere your schedule allows, and move through your studies and assessments as quickly as you are able.
"I can't say strongly enough how impressed I was with the WGU staff! They truly want to help you succeed! They are just so kind, caring, and just wonderful!! I loved my experience at WGU!”
—Melissa Lundgren
M.S. Curriculum and Instruction
CAREER OUTLOOK
A Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction Opens Doors to Career Success
Effective teaching is no accident. It happens by design. With the tools you'll acquire in your curriculum and instruction master’s degree, you'll be prepared to help schools create courses of study that are engaging, meaningful, and memorable. You'll stand out from the competition and become a leader in creating courses that enhance student understanding, promote classroom diversity, and create better learning opportunities for students and teachers alike.
Once you have completed your Curriculum and Instruction degree online, you’ll be in demand. You’ll have the knowledge, skills, expertise to be a valuable asset to school districts nationwide.
Return on Your Investment
On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2023 Harris Poll Survey of 1,655 WGU graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.
2%
The number of all instructional coordinators needed nationwide is projected to grow by 2 through 2033%.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Career Opportunities for Curriculum and Instruction Graduates
Graduates of WGU's online Teachers College have found meaningful, rewarding education careers including:
- Private Learning Center Instructor
- Instructional Coach
- Area Superintendent
- Curriculum Director
- Academic Advisor
- Learning and Development Coordinator
- Private Tutor
- Corporate Trainer
Impressive Class of Graduates
Graduates of the WGU Teachers College include recipients of many professional honors, including:
- Gates Millennium Scholars
- Intel Grant for Mathematics and Technology
- Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award
- Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award
- Association of Public Charter Schools Educator of the Year Award
ADMISSIONS
Master in Curriculum and Instruction Admission Requirements
To enroll in this program, you must be in possession of a bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and have experience in an educational environment. During the duration of the program, you will need access to a population of learners OR educators in a kindergarten to 12th grade environment. Often this population can be found in the current K-12 school district or school you’re serving. A population is a minimum of 15 participants. This audience will be used to respond to some assessments from a K-12 classroom teacher perspective.
Transfer Credits
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
More About the M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction
- More About This Degree
- Financial Aid
Curriculum and instruction is a rapidly growing field that strives to transform the educational landscape through improved curriculum design and teaching best practices. Incredibly important to the future of our nation's success, curriculum and instruction specialists work in both in schools and the corporate sector to improve learning—which results in a better-educated population with superior achievements, goal attainment, and career or life outcomes.
A master's degree in curriculum and instruction can prepare you for many careers including:
- Curriculum specialist
- Curriculum coordinator
- Instructional coach
- Training and development specialist
- Training and development leader
Most master's degree programs are 2 years, but at WGU you can accelerate your program and graduate faster. Most students finish their curriculum and instruction program in just 18 months.
A master's degree in curriculum and instruction gives you additional credentials and skills that enhance your education career. The program will be designed to teach you about how to improve the future of education and transform instruction.
A master's degree in curriculum and instruction may be a good fit for those who want to become a principal, as it gives you important credentials and skills that can help you prepare to lead a school.
WGU is approved to offer federal student aid. You will need to apply using the FAFSA, which is used to determine your eligibility for aid. WGU’s FAFSA school code is 033394.
Scholarships are available for new WGU students and returning graduates. This video shows more about scholarship opportunities and how they can help you pay for school. Get information on:
- How to apply
- Eligibility requirements
- Examples of scholarships
- What happens after you apply
- FAQs
- Other financial aid options
WGU's tuition is a flat rate that is charged every six months. You can take as many courses as you are able in that six-month term—with no extra cost. You simply pay for the term and do as much work as you can or want to during that time. This means that finishing faster helps you save money—a major benefit you won't find at most other schools.
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?
