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Education – Master of Arts (MA) Online

Are you a restlessly curious educator who seeks constant improvement of your practice? Do you want to explore the pedagogical evidence, see what’s behind it and then creatively implement new educational practices and programs for the greater good of your students?

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.

Quick Facts

Degree Type: Master of Arts (M.A.)

Major: Education

Concentrations:

  • Curriculum & Instruction
    • Content Studies
    • Curriculum Studies
    • Certificates & Endorsements
      • Teachers of American Indian Children
      • Early Childhood Special Education
      • English as a Second Language Education
      • Literacy Education
      • National Board Certification
  • Literacy Education

Tuition & Fees: Please visit our cost of attendance page

Additional Programs in Education

Admission Info    Curriculum Info

UW’s education master's program offers 36 electives so you can customize your degree to your interests and career goals

Education Master’s Degree Program Highlights

Offered online and on campus, the UW curriculum and instruction master’s program allows 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 future a doctoral degree.

Here are some reasons to consider the UW master’s program in curriculum and instruction:

Flexibility. Select from an array of specializations that allow you to customize your Master of Education degree to your career goals. The College of Education allows you to choose from areas that lead to endorsements in literacy education, English as a second language education and early childhood special education, or you can select a specialization in content studies or curriculum studies.

Faculty-practitioners. Study with teachers who have classroom teaching and administrative experience and are renowned scholars.

Midpoint Portfolio Reflection Course. Reflect and receive feedback on your progress in the curriculum and instruction program while also developing research ideas, forming your graduate committee and gaining approval and advice on the remainder of your program.

UW Literacy Center and Clinic. Get involved in UW’s Literacy Center and Clinic. The center delivers professional development training for practicing teachers, offers clinical experiences for pre-service teachers and opportunities for graduate students, faculty and visiting scholars to conduct groundbreaking research.

Travel grants. Take advantage of curriculum and instruction travel grants for graduate students. You may qualify for up to a $250 grant to cover some of the travel costs associated with attending or presenting at professional conferences. Additional funding may also be available from the dean’s office.

High-tech teaching. Take advantage of the potential to work in UW’s Shell 3-D Visualization Center, where College of Education faculty have been designing immersive educational experiences.

UW conferences. Participate in UW’s annual state conferences focusing on literacy, education law, education policy, English as a Second Language and dual language immersion to gain exposure to the latest research and best practices in these areas. You can even present your own research!

Individual Attention. You will receive individual attention from faculty whether you are taking classes online or in-person.

Research Skills. 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”

Accredited. The UW College of Education is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Assistantships. Apply for a College of Education assistantship, which offers stipends, teaching and research opportunities. (These are available to full-time students studying on campus.)

Scholarships. Offset the cost of your graduate degree with scholarships from the College of Education such as:

  • Elnora Brooks Memorial Scholarship
  • Margaret “Peggy” Cooney Scholarship
  • John K. Corbett Memorial Scholarship
  • Leona S. and Jeanette Heptner Scholarship
  • Dr. Joseph I. Stepans Excellence in Education Scholarship

What Can You Do with a Education Master’s Degree?

Because you can customize this degree program to your interests, you can take your master’s degree in a variety of directions from deepening your current teaching practice to moving into new positions at the building or district level.

The education master's degree can also lead to further graduate study in Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs in education.

Potential Careers
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
  • Team lead
  • Reading interventionist

Amazing Stories from Education Majors

“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

 

Examples of Education Master’s Degree Program Courses

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

Click the links below to view the the full Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction degree program curriculum.

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