Master of Arts in Education – Teacher as Leader in Curriculum & Instruction Online

This online master's program is designed to elevate your instructional knowledge, help you apply new technology and teaching methods, and boost your education credentials.

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

Program Overview

Discover what our online curriculum and instruction master’s program offers you

Advance your knowledge, skills, and dispositions in instruction, curriculum design, and evaluation with Northern Kentucky University’s Master of Arts in Education – Teacher as Leader in Curriculum & Instruction. In this 100% online program, you will learn how to develop more effective instructional approaches, evaluate how well your students are learning, and integrate new technology and teaching strategies into the classroom.

You will also broaden your knowledge of the psychology behind improving teaching styles for P-12 learning and study the best instructional strategies for student success. Our online education courses, taught by the same distinguished faculty who teach on campus, will provide you with opportunities to develop, understand, and apply various curriculum, pedagogical, and assessment models in educational contexts.

The M.A.Ed. Teacher as Leader – C&I online program, approved by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB), allows you to attain Rank 2 teaching certification in Kentucky.

In this online curriculum & instruction program, you will:

  • Engage in a thorough investigation of contemporary leadership research, scholarship, theory, and practice
  • Understand how to use research-based best practices and models of instructional design to meet the needs of all learners in a school setting
  • Develop and demonstrate culturally relevant and responsive approaches to meeting the needs of students
  • Design, conduct, interpret, and apply action research to address issues in classrooms and schools through data-driven decision-making
  • Engage in a thorough investigation of contemporary leadership research, scholarship, theory, and practice
  • Understand how to use research-based best practices and models of instructional design to meet the needs of all learners in a school setting
  • Develop and demonstrate culturally relevant and responsive approaches to meeting the needs of students
  • Design, conduct, interpret, and apply action research to address issues in classrooms and schools through data-driven decision-making

As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared for elevated teacher roles and other advanced educational positions, such as:

  • Director of Curriculum & Instruction
  • Campus Instructional Coach
  • Instructional Specialist
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Training and Development Coordinator
  • Director of Curriculum & Instruction
  • Campus Instructional Coach
  • Instructional Specialist
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Training and Development Coordinator

Online education programs also available:

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

Some programs may be TEACH Grant eligible. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information.*

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

Find out how and when to pay your tuition

The M.A.Ed. – Teacher as Leader in C&I online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for 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

NKU online dates and deadlines

With six start dates a year, the M.A.Ed. Teacher as Leader – C&I online program is flexible and convenient. View the calendar to find the best start date for you, along with corresponding deadlines.

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Fall 210/16/2410/3/2410/8/2410/11/2410/16/24
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

Find your fit for our master’s in curriculum and instruction online program

The admission process is the first step toward earning your degree online.

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts of all coursework from accredited institutions
  • 2.75 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • Valid teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent

M.A.Ed. Teacher as Leader – 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
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from accredited institution(s)
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA
  • Teaching certificate: Submit a copy of current teaching certificate or out-of-state equivalent. New teachers in Kentucky may submit a Kentucky Statement of Eligibility.
  • Teacher as Leader Admission Agreement: Print, sign, and submit the Teacher as Leader Admission Agreement to the Office of Graduate Education
  • Supplemental application
  • Submit official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (general test) taken within the past five years
    • The GRE requirement is waived for applicants who have an undergraduate grade point of 3.0 or higher, and for applicants who have already earned a master's degree from an accredited institution

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 curriculum and instruction classes

In order to earn the M.A.Ed. Teacher as Leader – C&I online, students must complete 12 courses for a total of 30 credit hours.

Students must take the following courses:

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Orientation to the Master of Arts in Education program including graduate policies and procedures, selection of a specialization/endorsement, advising services, certification, educator dispositions, professional behaviors, online learning, and the action research sequence.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to school leadership. Students will engage in a thorough investigation of contemporary leadership research, scholarship, theory, and practice. This course will introduce the concept of “transformative” change in schools, classrooms, and in individuals. Participants will create personal and professional growth plans to enhance their effectiveness.
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
Research, theory, policy, and practice in multicultural and diversity education; recognizing race, class, gender, learning, and linguistic diversity within home, schools, and community settings; developing and demonstrating culturally relevant and responsive approaches to meeting the needs of students.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Research-based best practices and models of instructional design to meet the needs of all learners in a school setting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 0.5
This course examines various aspects of conducting applied educational research. Students will complete a research project addressing a specific educational issue leading to enhanced P-12 student learning, including data analysis, written summary of research findings, and present their findings to faculty and peers. This class must be taken in the first 7-week of a semester and followed by 692.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 0.5
This course examines various aspects of conducting applied educational research. Students will complete a research project addressing a specific educational issue leading to enhanced P-12 student learning, including data analysis, written summary of research findings, and present their findings to faculty and peers. This course should be taken in the second 7-week period of the same semester in which 691 is taken.

Students must take the following courses:

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.

*The maximum grant amount can vary by year. TEACH Grants are available to qualified applicants and require approved recipients to sign a service agreement for certain teaching service obligations for four academic years. If obligations are not met within eight years after graduation, the grant will turn into a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with all accrued interest from the date of disbursement. For more information, please visit: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach or contact the NKU Financial Aid Office.

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