AFFORDABLE ONLINE MASTER'S IN CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Texas residents, in particular, will benefit from the accredited online master's degree in curriculum and instruction at UT - Arlington. That's because you can earn one of three certificates while pursuing your MEd: Reading Specialist, ESL, or Master Reading Teacher. (Out-of-state residents might be able to earn similar certifications or endorsements, but you'll need to check your state's requirements.) If none of these appeal, you can collaborate with advisors to focus your work on another area, such as working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Regardless of your path, the program in general places a strong focus on literacy and incorporates three required practica for an abundance of hands-on experience.

Given that Western Governors University is so devoted to offering quality distance learning degrees to adult students, it's no surprise that it earns a spot on this MS in Curriculum and Instruction online ranking. The degree has plenty going for it, from the price (tuition averages just under $6,800) to the speed at which you can finish (some students need just ten months). That latter point is made possible thanks to WGU's unique competency-based approach, which allows you to pass courses by demonstrating your mastery of the subject rather than waiting until the term ends. Another rare perk? You don't need a current teaching license to enroll.

The affordable online master's degree in curriculum and instruction at Arkansas State University comes with two unique emphasis options that let you specialize as either a Curriculum or Special Education Director. Both these optional concentrations focus on leadership and will prepare you for licensure in Arkansas. And even if you opt not to complete an emphasis, you'll still benefit from a core curriculum that helps build your critical and analytical skills and teaches management and organizational techniques. Required courses span the abstract ("Ethical Leadership") to the pragmatic ("School Law") and include an internship, giving you an opportunity to put your leadership skills to the test.

Personal attention and a customizable curriculum help set LSU Shreveport apart from its competitors. For starters, all incoming students to the accredited online MEd in Curriculum and Instruction program will immediately begin working with a program director to create a personalized plan of study. And this guidance will continue right up to graduation as you work together to ensure that your degree will help you meet your career goals. You'll also have the option to pursue a concentration in one of four areas, or you can take a general tack for a broader understanding of the field. Lastly, a targeted reading practicum and comprehensive research project will round off your studies.

Liberty University has one of the best options on this master's in curriculum and instruction online ranking for evangelical teachers and other educators who want to work in Christian schools. In addition to learning about Christian ethics throughout the curriculum, you'll take classes alongside similarly faith-focused instructors and peers. Liberty also stands out for its cognates, which enable you to choose a focus area (such as Gifted Education, Leadership, or Student Services) and in many cases lead to an endorsement. And if cost matters, you'll appreciate the low tuition and generous experiential learning policy, which allows you to earn credit (after taking an exam or creating a portfolio) for knowledge learned on the job.

Black Hills State University offers a cheap MS in Curriculum and Instruction online that caters to the needs of practicing instructors by emphasizing hands-on work. Not only does the coursework encourage you to take what you've learned and immediately apply it to the classroom, but it also includes a required clinical practice experience during your final semester. Another perk of attending BHSU is its support of specialized training. In fact, the curriculum provides three different study plans: Technology Integrationist, Math Specialist, and Science Specialist. All three meet South Dakota's requirements for their associated designations and can help you stand out from the competition as you advance in your career.

If you're always on the hunt for computer programs and apps that can augment your classroom instruction, give Cleveland State University a look. Not only can you earn its educational technology-focused accredited master's in curriculum and instruction online, but you can add an endorsement in Education and Technology or a certificate in Online Teaching. Even if you choose not to pursue these add-ons, you'll still graduate with knowledge in eLearning, online instruction, and other non-traditional modalities. Plus, a required "Current Topics and Research in Educational Technology" course ensure you'll have up-to-date information on the most cutting-edge work in the field. Finally, you'll wrap up your studies with a comprehensive exam, thesis, or research project.

"Integrity, competence, and servant leadership" characterize the affordable master's in curriculum and instruction online at CU - Chicago. Especially when it comes to developing your competence, this program doesn't cut any corners. You'll take classes in leadership, research, and instruction - to name a few - and graduate with a well-rounded skillset. Through a unique "Seminar in Reflective Practice" capstone class, you'll also have a chance to step back and reflect on your role as both an individual and a practitioner. The course also encourages participants to assess their personal growth throughout the program, challenge pre-existing beliefs and assumptions, and put theory into practice in the classroom.

Even if you opt for part-time study, you can still earn Mizzou's accredited online MEd in Curriculum and Instruction in just two years. This literacy-focused degree melds a strong foundation in pedagogy with plenty of hands-on work, including two practica. The curriculum also puts a heavy emphasis on technology - particularly as it applies to reading instruction. Required courses include "Curricular Decisions for Literacy in a Digital World" and "Literacy and the Internet," among others. And if you want to tack on a reading specialist certificate, you can easily work with your advisor to enroll in specific courses that meet Missouri's requirements.

Although all of the programs on this list include a focus on research, Northern State University offers a particularly strong research component as part of its affordable MS in Curriculum and Instruction online. The curriculum includes quite a few courses that focus on research and data, including "Data-Driven Decision Making" and "Research-Based Curriculum and Instruction." The degree also culminates in a master's level research project that pairs you with a faculty member to explore an issue of your choice. But if you're concerned that all this theory will come at the expense of practice, fear not: the curriculum's two-credit "supervised field-based learning experience" will help ground your studies in solid real-world practice.