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Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed.

Expand your professional knowledge with UMass Lowell's top-ranked, online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction.

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Masters in Curriculum and Instruction Online

Take the next step in your career with UMass Lowell's Master's in Curriculum and Instruction online. This 10-course M.Ed. culminates in an Action Research Capstone project to complete at your school or workplace. This flexible program is offered through UMass Lowell's School of Education for busy working professionals interested in broadening their professional knowledge and expanding their contributions to education. You should have at least one year of experience in an educational setting to apply to this program.

Please note: This is a non-licensure program.

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Earn a Top-Ranked Master's for Under $15k

Complete in as little as 18 months

Complete in as little as 18 months

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No GRE/MTEL Required

Career Outlook

11,356
Jobs (2022)
+2.3%
% Change (2022-2023)
$72K/yr
Median Earnings
1,305
Annual Openings
Source: Lightcast (2023) Target Occupations in New England

Occupations

  • Curriculum Developers
  • Education Coordinators
  • E-Learning Instructional Designers
  • Instructional Coaches
  • Instructional Coordinators
  • Instructional Designers
  • Learning Specialists
  • Special Education Coordinators
"About 20,900 openings for instructional coordinators are projected each year, on average, over the next decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force."
— U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022
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Applied Behavior Analysis and Education Option

UMass Lowell also offers a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Applied Behavior Analysis and Education Option.

Learn more about UMass Lowell's other Online Graduate Education Programs.

Best Online Education Program in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report Ranked as the Best Online Graduate Education Program in New England

Curriculum Outline

- Total Number of Courses Required for the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. : 10 (30 credits)

Course Descriptions

EDUC.5021 Issues, Mandates and Ethics in Special Education (3cr)

This course will examine special education laws and ethical practices in K-12 settings.

Requirements:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

EDUC.5043 Methods of Teaching Students with Moderate Disabilities-Secondary (3cr)

Examines the methods of teaching students with moderate disabilities at the secondary level. Topics include curriculum (including the Massachusetts frameworks), IEPs, and instructional modifications appropriate for students with special needs.

EDUC.5101 Foundations of Social Justice Education (3cr)

This course provides an introduction to the principles of social justice education, by examining and applying theories and methods of curriculum design, classroom teaching, and social emotional learning and development. This course will prepare educators to foster equity in classroom practice and pedagogy for racially, culturally, socioeconomically, and linguistically diverse learners.

EDUC.5102 Critical Literacies (3cr)

This course will address thinking, writing and talking about texts. It will examine the range of literacies including critical, print, technology, visual, media and informational. A special focus will be on anti-racist literature and texts of social justice.

EDUC.5201 Curriculum Planning Perspectives (3cr)

This course introduces students to historical and contemporary curriculum perspectives and assists students in developing their own curriculum perspective, situated within the scholarship. The course also helps students develop skill in curriculum planning, grounded in relevant scholarship.

EDUC.5220 Young Adult Literature (06.522) (3cr)

The major emphasis of the course will be discussion and analysis of the goals of a literature curriculum and the exploration of various methods for achieving these goals. The characteristics of the different genres of literature will be discussed in detail

Requirements:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

EDUC.5720 Curriculum and Teaching: English (3cr)

The purpose of this course is to prepare teacher candidates for the content-specific dimensions of their practicum. The course is designed to develop pedagogical skills, curriculum writing and also to encourage prospective English teachers to examine their own beliefs, expectations, and dispositions about the nature of the discipline, the practice of teaching, the process of learning, and the nature of the learners.

EDUC.5730 Curriculum and Teaching History (3cr)

Students analyze the content, methods, materials, and management techniques used in teaching History. Examination of national and state standards for the discipline. The course will include micro-teaching and self-evaluation, as well as school-based observation and participation in schools.

EDUC.5750 Curriculum and Teaching Math (3cr)

Students analyze the content, methods, materials, and management techniques used in teaching mathematics, and examine national and state standards for the discipline. The course includes micro-teaching, self-evaluation, school-based observation, and participation in schools.

EDUC.5760 Curriculum and Teaching Science (3cr)

Students analyze the content, methods, materials, and management techniques used in teaching science. Examination of national and state standards for the discipline. The course will include micro-teaching and self-evaluation, as well as school-based observation and participation in schools.

EDUC.6101 Theories of Learning (3cr)

This course offers a detailed analysis of the major contemporary learning theories, both behavioral and cognitive.

EDUC.6130 Leading the Professional Learning Community (3cr)

it is well documented that teachers who habitually examine their shared work based on inquiry, observation, analysis of data, dialogue, and experimentation tend to be more effective than those who are not reflective and work in isolation. How do we help all teachers become highly effective: How do we spread reflective practice from isolated pockets to all teachers in a school? The answer lies in the transformation of a school's professional staff from isolated practitioners into a professional learning community. A professional learning community is a work culture in which educators regularly learn with and from each other through collaborative inquiry. This course provides the practical know-how and deep understanding need for educators to introduce and lead collaborative inquiry within their school or district and transform the teaching staff into a professional learning community. Furthermore, this course introduces the idea of collaborative inquiry by transforming participants into a professional learning community during the course. Thus, participants focus collaborative inquiry on their shared practice, read and reflect on selected authors, and develop action plans to help them introduce or advance collaborative inquiry in their own work settings.

Requirements:

M.Ed and Ed.S matriculated onl

EDUC.6240 Assessment of Learning (3cr)

Students examine various approaches to the formative and summative assessment of learning. This course examines the importance of assessment in planning curricula and individual lessons.

Requirements:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

EDUC.6300 Educating Diverse Populations (3cr)

As the world becomes increasingly diverse, educators must be prepared to examine, confront, and manage the factors that affect the education of all children. This course addresses several central issues focusing on how teachers address the problems that confront students who differ from the majority population in language, ethnicity, culture, gender, and sexual orientation. Ensuring that their families and communities are actively involved in the educational process is also an important component of the course.

Requirements:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

EDUC.6441 Models of Teaching (3cr)

This course will investigate researched-based instructional models that have been proven to facilitate learning in any academic content area. Each model addresses academic content as well as attainment of instructional goals and objectives. All models support the 21st learner by focusing on the needed skills for school, life and work. This course will benefit teachers who teach at any grade level.

Requirements:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

EDUC.6900 Action Research (3cr)

Action Research is the culminating course for all students who are in the M.Ed program in Curriculum and Instruction, including those in PK-12 classroom settings, those who are in the Autism Studies program, educators who are not currently in a classroom, and those who are in informal educational settings. Educators in this course will apply knowledge that they have learned during their coursework to an action research project plan for a classroom or small group setting.

Requirements:

Matriculated in M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction degree program.

Program Requirements

To be recommended for a University of Massachusetts Lowell master's degree, candidates must satisfy all of the general requirements below, plus any additional requirements that may be required by the department through which the program is offered. Any additional requirements for this program are either listed below or may be found in the University's Graduate Program Catalog.

General Requirements:

  • Students must complete the program of study designed by the Department in which they are enrolled and approved by the University.
  • Satisfactory grades in all subjects offered for the degree must be earned. See Academic Standing.
  • All financial obligations, including tuition, fees and expenses, must be satisfied as evidenced by completion.
  • Upon completion of all their courses, graduate degree candidates must submit a signed Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.

Graduate Program Policies

In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.

Spring 2025 Tuition

Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Graduate

Online Education1 $470 $1,410
*Tuition is priced on the listed credit hour unless the contact hour is different. Tuition is then based upon the listed contact hour.
1Applies to EDUC courses excluding 7000-level courses.

Additional Costs

Cost
Term Registration Fee $30
Returned Check Fee $30
Graduate Degree and Certificate Application $50

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

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Looking for Financial Assistance?

UMass Lowell offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship options.

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Applying into a Graduate Degree Program

You can apply anytime. There are no deadlines. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

All applicants must submit:
    • An application
    • An application fee ($50)
    • A statement of purpose
    • Two letters of recommendation
    • A resume
    • Official test scores
        • GRE not required
        • If English is NOT the national language in your home country, please submit one of the following English proficiency tests:
            • TOEFL: minimum acceptable score is 79
            • IELTS: minimum acceptable score is 6.5
            • Duolingo: minimum acceptable score is 115
            • ASC English: minimum acceptable level is 6
            • Pearson Test of English: minimum acceptable score is 53

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.000 GPA from an accredited institution
  • At least one year experience in an educational setting preferred

Additional Information

F1 student visas are not issued for this program.

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Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?

Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).

For General Assistance:

For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!

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