Turn Your Teaching Experience Into a Master’s Degree with an M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction

You've already put in the work. The professional development days, the district training, the years in front of a classroom figuring out what actually helps students learn. Now there's a graduate program that's built to recognize your efforts instead of asking you to start over.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University has launched a new online Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with classes starting October 2026. The program is designed for licensed teachers who want to deepen their instructional expertise, grow into leadership roles, and enhance their credentialing, without duplicating training they've already completed.

"Our M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction is a program designed with the licensed teacher in mind," said Program Director Angela Castleman, Ed.D. "Whether you are seeking to increase your depth of knowledge while strengthening your instructional craft, develop your leadership potential, or you wish to enhance your credentialing to expand your teaching repertoire, this program accomplishes all these goals."

Built Around the Training You've Already Done

What if your graduate program actually valued the professional development you've already completed?

That's the idea behind one of this program's standout features: a partnership with AccuEd. Through this collaboration, MVNU students can apply up to nine credit hours of approved AccuTrain professional development toward their degree, letting district-based training you've already completed count toward graduate credit. That means less redundancy, lower overall cost, and a program that respects how full your schedule already is.

If you already hold a master's degree, you can also transfer up to nine credit hours into the program, another way MVNU is working to shorten the distance between where you are and where you want to be.

A Program Built for Where You Want to Go

Every student starts with four core courses: Curriculum Leadership and Ethical Practice, Curricular Perspectives, Innovative Teaching Strategies and Assessment, and Inclusion and Inclusive Practices. From there, you'll choose one of three concentrations to match your goals.

The Curriculum Studies concentration prepares you to lead instructional innovation, with coursework in curriculum design, educational technology, brain-based learning, and data-informed practice. The Mathematics concentration builds advanced content knowledge through courses like statistics, linear algebra, and mathematical problem-solving. The English concentration strengthens your expertise through study in composition, narrative identity, and creative writing.

Every pathway ends in a capstone experience with real classroom impact. You'll either conduct action research addressing a genuine instructional challenge or design and implement a curriculum, instructional, or technology integration project with measurable outcomes, walking away with a professional portfolio you can bring straight to school leaders and stakeholders.

"Teaching is a calling, and at MVNU, we believe the best preparation for our vocation happens at the intersection of faith and learning," Dr. Castleman said. "This belief forms the foundation of how we develop and deliver our programs." Read more about Dr. Castleman in this post.

What You'll Walk Away With

The M.A.Ed is a 30 credit-hour program you can complete in about 18 months. It's designed for working educators, so it fits around your classroom schedule rather than competing with it.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, instructional coordinators earned a median annual wage of $74,720 as of May 2024, with the top 10 percent earning more than $115,000. As schools continue to lean on data-informed instruction and thoughtful curriculum design, that kind of leadership expertise is only becoming more valuable.

The program also equips you to engage thoughtfully with emerging tools like generative AI, building the ethical framework to bring new technology into your classroom responsibly rather than reactively.

Ready to build on the teacher you already are?

Learn more about the M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction and see how MVNU can help you take the next step in your career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction designed for?

This online master's degree for teachers is designed for licensed educators who want to deepen their instructional expertise, move into instructional leadership roles, or strengthen their credentials without duplicating training they've already completed.

How long does it take to complete an online master's in curriculum and instruction?

MVNU's curriculum and instruction master's program is 30 credit hours, and most students complete it in about 18 months, designed to fit around a full-time teaching schedule.

What concentrations are available in the M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction program?

Students choose from three concentrations: Curriculum Studies, Mathematics, or English, depending on their career goals and the subject area they want to lead in.

Can AccuTrain professional development count toward graduate credit?

Yes. Through MVNU's partnership with AccuEd, teachers can apply up to nine credit hours of approved AccuTrain professional development toward graduate credit in this program, a key advantage of this M.Ed for licensed teachers.

Do I need an active teaching license to enroll in this program?

This M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction is built for currently licensed teachers looking to grow their expertise and leadership, rather than for candidates seeking initial licensure.

What does the capstone project look like in this curriculum and instruction master's degree?

Students complete either an action research project addressing a real instructional challenge or a curriculum, instructional, or technology integration project with measurable outcomes, building a portfolio they can bring directly to school leaders.