About the Education Master's Degree Program at UW
The UW Master of Arts in Education degree program with concentrations in curriculum
and instruction and literacy education will help you become that master teacher who
advocates for students, mentors younger colleagues and a professional who thinks outside
conventional wisdom to leverage best practices into innovative programs and practices
that work.
The program is offered fully online making it possible for you to advance your career
while also maintaining your current teaching schedule.
The UW Master of Arts in Education is for educators who are looking to gain a variety
of pedagogical knowledge and research experience. The degree will give you the knowledge
and research expertise to take your passion into a career of continuous exploration
and improvement.
Offering a highly customizable program, UW’s Education MA allows you to pursue additional
expertise in your content area, add endorsements such as literacy, ESL, early childhood
special education or develop specialties in content or curriculum. You can even use
your degree as a pathway to National Board Certification, which also meets your capstone
project requirement.
The Master of Arts in Education program at the University of Wyoming provides a range
of concentrations, allowing students to specialize in their area of interest and further
their knowledge and skills in the field of education.
Concentrations & Options
- Curriculum & Instruction
- Content Studies
- Curriculum Studies
- Certificates & Endorsements
- Teachers of American Indian Children
- Early Childhood Special Education
- English as a Second Language Education
- National Board Certification
- Literacy Education
Here is a sampling of courses you might take as a curriculum and instruction graduate student at UW:
- Principles of Curriculum
- Issues in Multicultural Education
- Learning Theories and Instructional Principles
- Minority Sexual/Gender Identity Issues in Education
- Literature For Young Adults
- Introduction to Second Language Acquisition
- Theory and Methods of ESL
- The Art and Science of Teaching
- Learning and Cognition
View the the full degree program curriculum:
What Can You Do with an Education Master’s Degree?
This flexible master’s program allows you to tailor your studies to match your interests and career goals. Whether you want to deepen your current teaching practice, pursue leadership roles at the school or district level or prepare for advanced graduate study in Ph.D. or Ed.D. programs, this degree provides a strong foundation to take your career in the direction you choose.
People who hold education master’s degrees go on classroom teaching jobs, jobs in cultural institutions, nonprofits and businesses creating educational programs to holding jobs such as:
- Literacy specialist
- Curriculum and instruction specialist
- English as a Second Language specialist
- Early Childhood Education specialist
- Instructional facilitator
- Grade-level or content area team lead
- Reading interventionist
UW’s education master’s program offers 36 elective credits, giving you the flexibility to shape your degree around your unique interests and professional goals. Whether you're passionate about curriculum design, educational leadership, equity and inclusion, or another area within the field, this wide range of electives allows you to focus on what matters most to you and allows you to have the greatest impact.
Yes! This program is offered online and on campus, allowing you to maintain your current teaching schedule while earning your master’s degree, whether you live in Wyoming, Colorado or anywhere in the country. The coursework you complete can even be applied to jumpstart your progress towards a future doctoral degree—if that's part of your professional goals.
Absolutely! Your interests and career goals can guide your research. The capstone
requirement for the Master of Arts degree in Education is offered in two options:
Plan A, which requires writing a thesis; and Plan B, which requires a written paper
based on a scholarly project involving a challenge at your school. A few titles for
recent master’s theses include:
- “Compassionate Rebellion in the Classroom: Critical Literacy Lesson Analysis”
- “Science Writing Heuristic Effects on Students’ Understanding of the Nature of Science”
- “Effective Professional Development for the Integration of SMART Boards into Instructional Practice”
“Throughout the process of pursuing my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a literacy endorsement, I learned about myself as a teacher and as a learner. My graduate classes helped to improve my teaching practices through reflection, inquiry and actionable ways to incorporate my learning into the classroom. I also appreciated the ability to take many of the classes online and the affordability of the program. I’m glad I chose this program and the University of Wyoming!"
- Maggie Glos, M.A. ’17