Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction is a 30-credit degree program offered by Penn State's College of Education and delivered online through Penn State World Campus, ranked in top 10 by U.S. News & World Report for having the Best Online Graduate Education Programs. This curriculum and instruction master's program is taught by the same nationally recognized faculty who teach on campus.

With this online Penn State graduate program, you can advance your knowledge about curriculum, teaching, learning, teacher education, or educational supervision through exemplary scholarship and research. Prepare now to meet the challenges facing education, in diverse and changing social, cultural, economic, and physical environments. This program does not lead to a teacher certification.

What Makes Our Online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Different?

Penn State's Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction offers:

• six paths of learning — Children's Literature; STEM Education; Elementary Education; Curriculum and Supervision; Curriculum and Instruction Customized Path; and a specialized path which allows you to choose to focus on English Language Arts, World Languages/ESL, or Social Studies
• online courses with the same rigor, prestige and quality as our residential program
• a program from a university long renowned for preparing and supporting teachers and education professionals
• the use of asynchronous communication that provides the flexibility to learn and interact at times that work for you

Choose One of Six Learning Paths

You must take a certain number of required courses, regardless of your selected learning path. If you apply to the specialized path or to the customized path in curriculum and instruction, you will work directly with your faculty adviser to choose appropriate courses. For all students, a culminating master's paper or project approved by your adviser and the department completes the requirements for the master's degree. Select one of the following learning paths:

Children's Literature
Develop your skills and knowledge in working with and transforming the lives of young readers. Hone your strategies for encouraging reading, enjoy engaging with many different forms of children's and adolescents' literature, and inspire further exploration of literature for young readers.

STEM Education
Deepen your understanding of education in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subject areas and their interactions. Sharpen and enhance your STEM teaching practices to teach your students more effectively. This program presents cutting-edge, research-based instructional STEM practices that you can begin to start using immediately in your classroom. 

Elementary Education
This program is intended for professionals in an elementary education or related setting. Learn the latest in language and literacy, classroom management, second language teaching, and science or mathematics education. Collaborate with other professionals to become better equipped to provide leadership in a variety of roles and to improve on educational practices.

Curriculum and Supervision
Pursue your passion for student, teacher, and school development. In this multidisciplinary program, you will explore curriculum, professional development, teacher leadership, and instructional supervision holistically, using the broad perspective of schooling. Along with other students and faculty, you'll study and conduct research that will contribute to your understanding of how teachers learn and develop in both formal and informal learning communities.

Curriculum and Instruction Customized Path
Provides a broad experience across the different fields of curriculum and instruction, allowing you to study a wide range of educational topics. In consultation with your faculty adviser, you will choose 15 credits to create a program of study that serves your intellectual interests and professional goals.

Specialized Path: English Language Arts, World Languages/ESL, or Social Studies
Allows focused study of teaching, learning, and curriculum in your particular K–12 subject area:

• English language arts, reading and writing, literature, and media literacies
• world languages, English as a second language/English-language learners
• social studies education, including history and civics

In consultation with your faculty adviser, you will choose 15 credits to create a program of study that consists of specialized classes and other courses relevant to your professional interests. This may include higher-level academic content courses in your subject. When you apply, you will identify your subject area of interest so that you may be linked with an appropriate faculty adviser.