M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction

The M.Ed. at UVA Wise provides high-quality professional learning leading to expanded job opportunities and increased earning potential for licensed teachers. Students without a teaching license can become provisionally licensed as long as they have completed necessary coursework.

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This program prepares K-12 teachers to understand and evaluate curricula using a research-informed approach, adjust curricula to meet emerging academic standards, and ensure curricula and instruction to address the needs of all learners. The program, which was implemented in the fall of 2023 semester, is a 30-credit hour, non-thesis program. It includes one concentration in curriculum and instruction.

Flexibility

As a student in this program, you can pick the format in which you choose to embark on your M.Ed. journey.

Students complete the graduate program in a variety of ways:

  • completely asynchronous online
  • full-time or part-time
  • fall, spring and summer starts are available

Spring applications will open in October and summer applications will open in March.

Curriculum

Fall Semester

EDU 5500 Fundamentals of Curriculum and Curriculum Design (3)
EDU 5510 Learning & Development (3)
EDU 5520 Assessments for Student and Teacher Growth (3)

Spring Semester

EDU 5530 Diversity & Learning (3)
EDU 5540 Advanced Classroom Management and Behaviors (3)
EDU 5600 Literacy for All Learners across the Curriculum (3)

Summer I

EDU 5610 Instruction beyond the Standards (3)
EDU 5620 Differentiated Instruction (3)

Summer II

EDU 5630 Instruction & Collaboration in Schools (3)
EDU 5640 Teaching in America: Past, Present, & Future (3)

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements include:

  1. A complete online graduate program application.
  2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, except in the case of a UVA Wise undergraduate who wishes to complete the undergraduate and graduate programs in five years.
  3. A current Virginia teaching license or documentation that the candidate is in the process of obtaining a Virginia teaching license through a route approved by the Virginia Department of Education, including provisional licensure.
  4. A minimum 3.0 (cumulative) undergraduate GPA on a 4-point scale.
  5. If the first language is not English (and the applicant is not a current UVA Wise student), the minimum score required for all graduate programs will be:
    * IELTS: An overall IELTS score of 6.0 (total band score) or above.
    * TOEFL: A score of at least 68 Internet-based AND a minimum of 17 points in each section.

To apply, students must:

  1. Complete an online graduate application.
  2. Submit an official transcript from all colleges/universities attended.
  3. Submit three letters of recommendation.
  4. Submit a 600-900 words response to the one of the following questions/prompts.
  • What makes teaching unique from other professions?
  • If someone asked your advice on going into teaching, what would you tell them? 
  • What are the greatest needs in schools today and how would you address those needs?  
  • If a student completed your class, what would you hope they remember about you?
  • A graduate degree will support me by…

For current UVA Wise undergraduate students:

Students who are currently enrolled at UVA Wise in a degree-seeking program must have completed 90 undergraduate credit hours before enrolling in graduate courses. Grades earned in graduate courses while still an undergraduate will not be included in your overall undergraduate GPAs. Graduate courses cannot substitute for undergraduate courses. Undergraduate degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours and a graduate degree requires a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours.

FAQs

What defines full-time and part-time enrollment in a graduate program?
In the fall and spring semesters, 9 credit hours or more is considered full-time status for graduate study. In summer, 6 credit hours or more is considered full-time status for graduate study.

Are there observation hours or internships required for this program?
There are no K-12 observation hours required for the graduate program.  However, students who are seeking the M.Ed. with a teaching endorsement may be required to complete observations depending upon their selected endorsement area.

I am a full-time undergraduate student at UVA Wise. Can I take some master’s level classes in this program now and graduate with both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at the same time?
Yes, current students may begin taking master’s level classes after they have met graduate admissions requirements and after they’ve completed 90 undergraduate credit hours.

Can I complete an M.Ed. while I teach full-time?
Yes, this program is designed to allow you to teach full-time while earning your M.Ed. – that’s why we’ve designed this completely asynchronous online program with the flexibility to complete it as a part- or full-time student.

Will this program prepare me to be a licensed teacher? Can I get a license while I do this program?
Every student who completes the program will qualify for provisional license in General Curriculum Special Education K12. If you’d like to receive full licensure in Special Education or other endorsements, additional courses are required.

Can I join the program in fall only?
Students can join the M.Ed. program at the beginning of any term: fall, spring, summer I, or summer II.  No courses within the program require pre-requisites, which means that you needn’t take the required courses in any particular order. 

What is the cost of earning an M.Ed. at UVA Wise? 
The cost to complete the M.Ed. degree will total less than $14,500, pending approval from the UVA Wise College Advisory Board and University’s Board of Visitors.

Are scholarships or financial aid available for the M.Ed. Program?
Need-based grants and aid are available to help you complete your M.Ed. Contact Financial Aid for more information. Students in this program will need to complete the FAFSA to receive federal financial aid.