Online

Online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

A female teacher interacting with students in a classroom.

The University of Cincinnati’s 100% Online MEd in Curriculum and Instruction is a multidisciplinary, nationally-ranked program that equips students with the skills and competencies they need to lead and manage change in the evolving field of education. The online curriculum and instruction masters program is designed for practicing teachers and other professionals interested in the planning, development, and implementation of instructional programs in school and non-school settings.

Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Program Highlights

High Quality Education

The mission of the MEd Curriculum and Instruction program is to develop educational leaders. Curriculum and instruction go hand in hand. Curriculum is the content deemed important for student learning and instruction is the process by which that learning will be achieved. In addition to practicing teachers, this program is perfect for anyone interested in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of educational and instructional programs in a variety of school and non-school settings.

There are 3 areas of concentration within the Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction program. All of our degree and certificate programs are flexible and self-paced – designed for busy, working educators just like you. All concentrations are online and taught by faculty whose research is in these concentration areas.

Note: This degree does not lead to a teaching license.

STEM & Sustainability Education

The specialization will allow you to further develop your understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. Each course helps you tie together science, math, technology, and engineering concepts, and helps you to better understand how to integrate these content areas.

This concentration enhances problem-based and project-based learning activities, mathematics and science investigation-based learning tasks, and how to use technology effectively in the classroom. You will design a technology-based learning environment and conduct an evaluation of the embedded theories in an existing environment of your choice, such as digital media, games, or other innovative technologies.

Gifted Education

The Gifted Education masters specialization is designed for licensed teachers who are interested in teaching gifted students PreK-12. You will have the opportunity to apply constructs learned in class to a field experience, including the development, implementation, and publication of lesson plans. You will apply theories and methods in the teaching of gifted, talented, or creative students in a classroom setting by engaging in teaching and action research activities.

During the gifted assessment course, you will develop the ability to analyze and understand a variety of assessment tools selecting the appropriate strategy for a designated purpose. Also within the assessment course you will discuss contextual elements such as cultural, ethnic, and linguistic disposition that influence assessment.

Teaching and Learning: General Studies

The Teaching and Learning: General Studies Concentration is designed for PreK-12, informal, and higher education educators who are interested in an in-depth focus on curriculum and instruction. Candidates develop their knowledge in teaching, learning, and educational research within an area agreed upon with his/her advisor along with required courses such as theories and trends, research methods, and a capstone project.

Flexibility

  • 100% online instruction
  • Financial aid available
  • Easy to transfer credits
  • Enroll in the spring, summer, or fall semesters
  • Part-time flexibility

Support from Application through Graduation

At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:


Admission into the University of Cincinnati’s Curriculum & Instruction online Masters program is selective and based on meeting the requirements outlined below.

Applications for the online program are carefully reviewed and all items in your application portfolio are considered. Our Admissions Office is happy to work with you to answer any questions you may have and help determine your eligibility. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor or email onlineenrollment@uc.edu.

Prerequisites
  1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university.
  2. Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (recommended).

Note: This degree program does not lead to initial teaching licensure.

Admission Materials

  1. Two Letters of Recommendation.
  2. Goal Statement.
  3. Resume or CV.
  4. Unofficial Transcripts.

Automatic admission into the MEd C&I program for undergraduate students who graduate from UC

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (for courses completed at UC)
  • Earned 4-year undergraduate degree from UC
  • Graduated from UC within the past 5 years (15 academic semesters)
  • Any major applies (not limited to Education majors)
  • Must still complete the application and pay the application fee, but if the student meets the above requirements they will be automatically admitted to the program
  • Letter of recommendation will be waived as a requirement (a generic letter signed by the MS DL Director or the Associate Director will be provided to meet Graduate School requirements)

Complete the online application and submit the application fee.

Standard Application Fees:

  • $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
  • $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
  • $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
  • $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
  • Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Fall 2026 for all applicants who apply by July 1, 2026
  • Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who: are currently serving in the US armed forces, or are veterans of the US armed forces.

Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Please review and submit the following materials:

All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.

Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.

Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.

For questions regarding international students, contact an Enrollment Services Advisor.

Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).

If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:

Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:

University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091

Transfer Credits

You may transfer up to one third of the credits of the program, about 9 credits credit hours of graduate courses from a regionally accredited college or university. These credits must have been earned within the last five years prior to admission and be approved by the program faculty. Practicum coursework cannot be transferred into the program.

Transferring from one graduate program to join another at UC, all UC graduate credits taken as part of the incomplete program or under a certificate are eligible to use to fulfill requirements in the new program, based on faculty evaluation of the equivalence to courses in the new curriculum and program approval

Two letters of recommendation are required.

  • Recommendations should come from individuals who can attest to your academic and professional skills. References from current and former employers are always desirable. Additionally, recommendations from contacts within academia or professional organizations you’re involved in are also desirable.
  • Those writing letters should explain who they are, their relationship to the applicant, and what they know of the applicant’s academic and professional abilities.
  • Letters of recommendation from family, friends or current students are not accepted.
  • Recommendations are submitted by the recommender themselves; they cannot be completed or submitted by the applicant or another party on behalf of the reference.

Professional Resume:

A resume relevant to academic and professional data. It should include the applicant’s name; phone; email; colleges attended with degrees, dates conferred, and grade point average; employment history; professional experience; present employer; and names of references.

Curriculum Vitae:

A detailed look at the applicant’s career path, including achievements, publications, and awards. Including comprehensive information about candidate’s research background, presentations, publications, committee memberships and other experience of an academic, clinical, or scientific nature.

The goal statement serves as a sample of the applicant’s writing quality and ensures their goals match with the program. It should denote applicant’s desired program concentration (if applicable) and highlight applicant’s motivation for pursuing a career in the field, and how the program will benefit them.

No GRE is required of applicants.

GRE scores are optional for admission. Scores are recommended to strengthen applications that may be weak in areas. For example, applicants with a minimum undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 should include GRE scores with their application.

Candidates who graduated from a non-accredited college or university or who do not meet the minimum grade point averages requirement for admission will need a waiver from the School of Education. For the program to request a waiver, the candidate must provide evidence that address mastery of the knowledge prerequisite to the courses required by the program, acceptable writing skills, the ability to engage in critical thinking, and a personal commitment to completing the program. The evidence must convincingly demonstrate the candidate’s potential for success in graduate level work.

International students are required to provide specific information about their transcripts. Transcripts must have a course-by-course evaluation completed from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For questions regarding international student admissions contact an Enrollment Services Advisor.

English Proficiency Requirement: English proficiency is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. Students can demonstrate proficiency in a number of ways at the graduate level.

For International students, an English proficiency test:

  • TOEFL minimum Internet-based 80
    • Paper-based 520
    • Computer-based 190
  • IELTS minimum 6.5
At the University of Cincinnati, we offer multiple start dates to accommodate your schedule. 
Term Application Deadline Classes Start

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

April 24, 2026

August 8, 2026

May 11, 2026

August 24, 2026

The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.

The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.

To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.

  • Fully accredited nationally
  • The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
  • The University of Cincinnati is fully accredited by the Council of the Accreditation of the Educator Preparation (CAEP)
  • The University of Cincinnati is ranked in the top 50 Online Master of Education on U.S. News & World Report (2023)
  • University of Cincinnati Online ranked “Best Online” Public University on College Consensus in (2022)
  • The University of Cincinnati’s Curriculum & Instruction Program is ranked 38th on College Factual (2023)
A man in a blue collared shirt holding a pencil in his right hand is speaking to a woman in a green shirt who is sitting across from him at a table.

Ready to get started?

We offer over 130 degrees from undergraduate to doctoral programs.