Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Curriculum & Instruction Online

This flexible online Ed.S. program helps develop the academic expertise and leadership skills you need to qualify for advanced roles in instructional environments.

Apply by 1/3/25
Start class 1/13/25 Apply Now

Program Overview

Insights into our online Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction program

Become a leader in curriculum transformation with Northern Kentucky University’s Education Specialist in Teaching and Leading – Curriculum & Instruction degree. This 100% online program is designed to help you understand and use best practices in learner-centered curriculum and instructional design. Instruction centers on strategies, effective teaching, program evaluation, student assessment, and teacher professional development.

Through research and discussion, you will expand your knowledge of current issues that affect teaching, curriculum, motivation, and student success and apply that knowledge to your practice. Learn from the same dedicated faculty who teach on campus and prepare to improve instructional effectiveness in order to meet the needs of 21st-century learners. Completing this online curriculum and instruction Ed.S. degree program allows you to earn Rank I certification in Kentucky.

In this online Education Specialist program, you will:

  • Develop materials and methods for inclusion of students with disabilities in general elementary, middle, and secondary classrooms
  • Address principles of cognitive psychology and brain research for the purpose of improving P-12 student learning and motivation with applications to curricula, learning environments, and instructional strategies
  • Engage in course projects that emphasize the critical-thinking skills needed to shape schools and school systems to meet the diverse needs of all students
  • Learn from real-life scenarios and think critically about ways to drive innovation in school districts and regional, state, and federal education agencies
  • Develop materials and methods for inclusion of students with disabilities in general elementary, middle, and secondary classrooms
  • Address principles of cognitive psychology and brain research for the purpose of improving P-12 student learning and motivation with applications to curricula, learning environments, and instructional strategies
  • Engage in course projects that emphasize the critical-thinking skills needed to shape schools and school systems to meet the diverse needs of all students
  • Learn from real-life scenarios and think critically about ways to drive innovation in school districts and regional, state, and federal education agencies

As a graduate of this online C&I program, you will have the tools and knowledge you need for advanced educational roles, including:

  • Curriculum & Instruction Administrator
  • Curriculum & Instruction Assessor
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Instructional Coach
  • Curriculum & Instruction Administrator
  • Curriculum & Instruction Assessor
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Instructional Coach

Online education programs also available:

Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of graduate education programs online. Check out our other quality online education programs.

Total Tuition $12,840
Program Duration As few as 18 months
Credit Hours 30

Accreditation

CAEP Accredited

The Northern Kentucky University College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

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Need More Information?

Call 800-985-7215

Call 800-985-7215

Tuition

Pay for your online program by the course

The Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – C&I online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to in-state and out-of-state students.

Tuition Breakdown:

Total Tuition $12,840
Per Credit Hour $412
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“Top Public College”

Ranked among the “Top Public Colleges” by Forbes, 2022

Calendar

View our application deadlines and class schedules

The Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – Curriculum & Instruction online program is convenient and flexible, featuring six start dates on an accelerated course schedule. View the calendar to find the best start date for you and be sure to note all corresponding deadlines.

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Spring 11/13/251/3/251/7/251/10/251/13/25
Spring 23/17/253/5/253/10/253/14/253/17/25
Summer 15/12/254/30/255/5/255/9/255/12/25
Summer 26/30/256/18/256/23/256/27/256/30/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 1/3/25
Class Starts 1/13/25
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Admissions

Follow the steps to being admitted into our online curriculum and instruction program

The Ed.S. – Teaching and Leading – C&I online program has a simple admission process to help you get started right away.

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts of all coursework from accredited institutions
  • Teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent
  • 3.0 GPA or higher in all master's-level coursework

Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – C&I Online Admission Requirements

  • Complete online application for admission
  • Pay $40 non-refundable application fee
    • If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived
  • Minimum 3.0 graduate GPA
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from accredited institution(s). One transcript must show successful completion of a master's degree in education or in the content area of the applicant's teaching certificate.
  • A copy of the applicant's Kentucky teaching certificate showing certification at the Rank 2 level, or out-of-state equivalent
  • Supplemental application

Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:

NKU Office of Graduate Education
302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099

[email protected]

Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.

Courses

Read about our online Ed.S. in curriculum and instruction classes

For the Ed.S. in Teaching and Leading – C&I online, students must complete 10 courses for a total of 30 credit hours.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to education research enabling candidates to become effective consumers and users of research in education. It will improve candidates’ ability to apply research findings appropriately in school settings and will lay a foundation for an original action research project.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Legislation and instructional practices relating to the education of students with exceptionalities. Course covers various methods of co-teaching as well as locating, adapting, and developing materials and methods for including students with disabilities in general elementary, middle, and secondary classrooms.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the role of the cooperating teacher in developing and mentoring prospective teachers and interns and standards-based observation and feedback. This course includes a job-embedded requirement of supervising a student in field or clinical experience.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5
In this course students will conduct a comprehensive literature review on a topic that relates to a specific educational issue that impacts P-12 student learning and create a research-based design of an action research project that can be conducted and reported as their capstone project. This class must be taken in the first 7-week of a semester and followed by 703.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5
In this course students will conduct a comprehensive literature review on a topic that relates to a specific educational issue that impacts P-12 student learning and create a research-based design of an action research project that can be conducted and reported as their capstone project. This course should be taken in the second 7-week period of the same semester in which 702 is taken.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5
In this course students will conduct and report the results of an research project reflecting synthesis and application of knowledge acquired in prior coursework to address a specific educational issue leading to enhanced P-12 student learning, including data analysis, written summary of research findings, and poster presentation. This class must be taken in the first 7-week of a semester and followed by 705.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1.5
In this course students will conduct and report the results of an research project reflecting synthesis and application of knowledge acquired in prior coursework to address a specific educational issue leading to enhanced P-12 student learning, including data analysis, written summary of research findings, and poster presentation. This course should be taken in the second 7-week period of the same semester in which 704 is taken.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of historical, theoretical and philosophical influences on school curriculum and of current trends in curriculum development; familiarization with models of PK-12 curriculum development.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course addresses principles of cognitive psychology and brain research for the purpose of improving P-12 student learning and motivation with applications to curricula, learning environments, and instructional strategies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Various types of pupil assessment and the use and interpretation of each; mastery learning; criterion reference tests; competence-based instruction and evaluation; selection and use of standardized tests; construction of classroom tests.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course engages candidates in critical thinking about current issues and concerns in education that affect teaching, curriculum, motivation, and student success. Through research and discussion, teachers will expand their knowledge of current issues and apply that knowledge to their current practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course is designed to improve teacher instructional effectiveness in order to meet the needs of 21st century learners. Participants will learn new effective pedagogy and implement one or more of the various strategies into their diverse placement, gather data, and analyze the impact on student learning.

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