Master's in Curriculum & Instruction (MSE) Online
This degree program is designed to prepare practicing teachers for licensure. Educators in this master's degree program focus on enhancing leadership skills, improving curriculum development and expanding instructional best practices.
Program Overview
Why our 100% online M.S. in Education – Curriculum & Instruction stands out
The Master of Science in Education in Curriculum & Instruction is designed to prepare practicing teachers for licensure in such areas as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education or Gifted and Talented.
Students are required to complete 30 hours of coursework. Courses are tightly integrated and focused on application-based curriculum. This program is designed especially for working educators, so you can study on your schedule while continuing to work full-time.
Please refer to the Program Approval Map for eligibility information related to this program.
Additional documents
State Program Approvals (.PDF)
This program requires Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).
Students in this master's degree program focus on areas of learning that include:
- Enhancing leadership skills, dispositions, and practices
- Evaluating and improving processes of curriculum development
- Enriching instructional best practices
- Developing tools for individuals to serve as professional curriculum specialists
- Enhancing professional growth by emphasizing critical and analytical skills, communication and collaboration skills, and strong organizational and management skills
- Enhancing leadership skills, dispositions, and practices
- Evaluating and improving processes of curriculum development
- Enriching instructional best practices
- Developing tools for individuals to serve as professional curriculum specialists
- Enhancing professional growth by emphasizing critical and analytical skills, communication and collaboration skills, and strong organizational and management skills
As a graduate, you will be prepared for curriculum development and managerial roles, 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
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.
Accreditation
Licensure programs within A-State’s College of Education & Behavioral Science are accredited by CAEP.
Tuition
Our affordable program tuition includes fees
Our MSE in Curriculum & Instruction online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Important dates for our MSE in Curriculum and Instruction students
Our MSE in Curriculum & Instruction online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, with accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.
Please note that the internship course lasts a full semester and only starts in Fall 1 and Spring 1 of terms.
Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/12/26 | 12/15/25 | 12/15/25 | 1/8/26 | 1/9/26 | 2/27/26 |
| Spring 2 | 3/9/26 | 2/23/26 | 2/23/26 | 3/5/26 | 3/6/26 | 5/1/26 |
Now enrolling:
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Admissions
What you need to know before applying
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the MSE in Curriculum & Instruction online program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and two years of teaching experience. Make sure to review full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum 2.75 GPA
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum of one year of teaching experience
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least 2.75 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum of one year of teaching experience
- Valid, active teaching certificate
- Commitment from an appropriate professional who will function as your mentor during the degree program. View acceptable mentors (PDF).
- Candidates will be required to submit the self-disposition document provided and verification for teacher effectiveness and leadership abilities
Note: If you have a 2.75-2.99 GPA, you must make a grade of B or better during the first 9 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.
Application submission requirements
- Complete online application, including the mentor form
- Pay the nonrefundable $30 fee
- Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the sending institution.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 7246
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
Additional information
For more information on state eligibility, please visit our State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page.
Appeals process
- Students who fall below the minimum admission requirements (GPA) may send a written letter of appeal, GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial), and additional supporting information to [email protected].
- The appeal request will be forwarded to the department chair for conditional admission review.
Transfer Credits
Applicants with prior “F” or “D” grades at the graduate level in any graduate program will not be admitted to the A-State MPA program. In addition, students who earn failing (“F”) grades in the A-State MPA program are ineligible for readmission to the program. The only exception is with the Capstone.
Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
You can do it at your own pace—with the family, with a job, with all the things that go along with being adults—while also managing your schedule.
Bailey Boyett, A-State in Curriculum & Instruction graduate
Courses
Read about our curriculum & instruction online classes
Students are required to complete the following 30 hours of coursework.
Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.
What is school and community relations?
School and community relations builds reciprocal partnerships between educational institutions and communities to support student success. It involves family communication, collaboration with organizations, media engagement, and leveraging external resources. This practice recognizes that achievement depends on strong home-school connections and coordinated services.
This course examines the concepts, programs and procedures for building and maintaining positive relationships between schools, their constituents and related agencies. Topics include media and public relations, publications and strategies for increasing community and parental involvement. Special emphasis is placed on transitional student support services through collaboration with non-school agencies such as social services, law enforcement and disability service providers.
Upon completion, students will be able to:
Collaboratively engage diverse families to strengthen student learning in and out of school
Cultivate relationships with diverse community members, partners and constituencies to support school improvement and student development
Communicate effectively through oral, written and digital means within organizational, community and political contexts to advocate for school and community needs
What is planning and resource allocation in schools?
Planning and resource allocation in schools strategically distributes financial, human, and physical resources to maximize educational outcomes. It involves needs assessment, budget development, and aligning expenditures with instructional goals. This function requires data-driven decisions, equity considerations, and balancing operational needs with strategic investments.
This course addresses planning and resource allocation in public schools, with a focus on site-based management responsibilities of the principal. Students will engage with leadership standards and competencies through coursework and field experiences, emphasizing ethical leadership and character development. Prerequisite: ELAD 6103.
Upon completion, candidates will be able to:
Engage in professional competencies that support the success and well-being of students and adults
Develop knowledge of leadership standards and competencies
Analyze and apply standards through coursework and fieldwork
Reflect on how leader virtues and character influence others
Cultivate virtues and dispositions that respect human dignity
Develop, model and implement character-centered leadership practices
This course aligns with state educational leadership standards for building-level administrators and emphasizes:
Program-specific leadership virtues
Development of character-centered leaders
Cultivation of practical wisdom
These courses are only required for candidates seeking to become Curriculum Directors.
Candidates seeking to become Gifted, Talented and Creative Directors are required to take the following two (2) courses as well as one (1) of the three (3) courses listed under Curriculum Director.
Candidates seeking to become Special Education Directors are required to take the following two courses as well as one of the three courses listed under Curriculum Director.