Online Curriculum and Instruction

Maximize learning for young children

This online master’s degree equips you to implement the most effective teaching strategies for your classroom or school. With a concentration area in Early Childhood Education, you will focus on the development and assessment of curricula for instructing children ages 0-8. Advanced expertise can prepare you for leadership positions within infant toddler programs, 0-3 sixpence programs, early intervention, early Head Start, Head Start, preschools (public or private), early childhood special education and K-3 classrooms.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The program does not lead to certification, and students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Strengthen your K-6 classroom teaching

Develop the teaching and assessment methodologies that maximize learning effectiveness for students. This online master’s program offers a concentration area in Elementary Education, preparing you for instructing students in grades K-6. With advanced expertise in this area, you will gain the skills to improve your own classroom teaching and lead in curriculum and instruction for your school. 

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The program does not lead to certification, and students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Earn a degree and a supplemental endorsement

The ESL concentration area of this online master’s program will prepare you to implement best practices for language acquisition and classroom instruction for English Language Learners. By completing the program’s foundational courses in curriculum and instruction and ESL concentration courses, you will add a supplemental endorsement for ESL PK-12 to your Nebraska teaching certificate. Students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Learn what makes teaching successful

This online master’s program focuses on educational theories that lead to the most effective student learning experiences. Through the program, you will understand, integrate and assess instructional best practices within curriculum development to enhance your classroom and become a valuable asset for your school or district.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The program does not lead to certification, and students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Become a Montessori early childhood teacher

This online master’s program will equip you with foundational knowledge in curriculum development and assessment with a concentration in Montessori – Early Childhood. Through the program, you will learn to incorporate the Montessori method into your teaching to structure learning methods.

UNK is currently the only university affiliated with the AMS and accredited by the MACTE that offers the opportunity to pursue AMS certification in a mostly online program.

A focus on the core methods of teaching Montessori to younger children (ages 3-6, grades pre-K - kindergarten) will prepare you to work in Montessori early childhood programs or in public schools that require a Montessori-credentialed teacher.

Other online Curriculum and Instruction concentrations are also available, including a Montessori – Elementary I concentration.

In-Person Coursework
Courses for the Montessori programs are available online in fall and spring semesters, with three weeks of required in-person summer courses in Omaha, Nebraska.

Practicum
A year-long teaching practicum must be completed at a Montessori public or private school, which is approved by UNK. To determine if a school in your area is an approved practicum site, please contact the program director.

Accreditation and Certification
The Montessori Education program at UNK is an American Montessori Society affiliated and Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education accredited teacher training program.

A Bachelor's degree will be required upon completion of Montessori undergraduate coursework in order to be recommended for AMS certification.

Montessori programs do not lead to initial Nebraska teacher certification needed to begin teaching in public schools. Students pursuing certification in other states should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree

Learn more about Montessori at UNK

Become an Elementary Montessori teacher

Gain foundational knowledge in curriculum development and assessment with this online master’s degree that includes a concentration in Montessori – Elementary I. Through the program, you will learn to incorporate the Montessori educational instruction method, pioneered by Dr. Maria Montessori, into your teaching to structure learning methods around the whole child, including social, emotional, and physical development alongside their cognitive development.

UNK is currently the only university affiliated with the AMS and accredited by the MACTE that offers students the opportunity to complete the majority of their coursework online while pursuing AMS certification.

A focus on the core methods of Montessori teaching for elementary students (grades 1-3, ages 6-9) will prepare you to work in Montessori public or private schools that require a Montessori-credentialed teacher.

Other online Curriculum and Instruction concentrations are also available, including a Montessori – Early Childhood concentration.

In-Person Coursework
Courses for the Montessori programs are available online in fall and spring semesters, with three weeks of required in-person summer courses in Omaha, Nebraska.

Practicum
A year-long teaching practicum must be completed at a Montessori public or private school, which is approved by UNK. To determine if a school in your area is an approved practicum site, please contact the program director.

Accreditation and Certification
The Montessori Education program at UNK is an AMS affiliated and MACTE accredited teacher training program.

A Bachelor's degree will be required upon completion of Montessori undergraduate coursework in order to be recommended for AMS certification.

Montessori programs do not lead to initial Nebraska teacher certification needed to begin teaching in public schools. Students pursuing certification in other states should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree

Learn more about Montessori at UNK

Effectively teach struggling readers

This online master’s program will prepare you to diagnose and support students who struggle with reading or who have reading disabilities. Through a concentration area in Reading/Special Education, you will focus on developing and assessing curricula and instructional strategies to improve student skills and confidence in reading.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The program does not lead to certification, and students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Lead within a school library

Develop curricula and resources to maximize student learning within school libraries. This online master’s program with a School Librarian concentration area combines effective teaching strategies with technological expertise to help you rise up in library leadership roles within PK-12 schools or districts. 

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

This concentration leads to a School Librarian Endorsement, which has received recognition from the American Library Association (ALA) and the Council on the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

The mission statement of the UNK school librarian endorsement program is predicated on the philosophy and purpose of the national guidelines for school library media programs of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL): “to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.” Successful candidates provide intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats to carry out that mission.  After completing the librarian curriculum, school librarians can also provide instruction to foster competence in student-centered learning and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and ethically using information and ideas.

Strengthen your 7-12 classroom teaching

This online master’s program will help you develop advanced teaching and assessment methodologies for student success. With a concentration area in Secondary Education, you will be able to integrate the most effective instructional strategies and technology for the 7-12 classroom in a content area of your interest (Business, History, English, Math, Science, etc.). These expertise will equip you to enhance your own middle school or high school classroom as well as lead in curriculum development within your school. 

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The program does not lead to certification, and students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Lead in STEM classroom instruction

This online master’s program equips you with advanced strategies to maximize student learning. With a concentration area in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), you will be able to integrate these disciplines into the development and assessment of curricula, giving students a solid foundation to thrive within an increasingly STEM-focused world. This expertise can enhance your classroom while preparing you for STEM-related leadership roles within your school or district.

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate

The program does not lead to certification, and students pursuing certification in states other than Nebraska should check with their State Department of Education for certification requirements.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.

Earn a master’s and teaching certificate

This online master’s program will provide you with best practice knowledge and student teaching experience to start and rise up in a teaching career as quickly as possible. Core courses focus on curriculum and instruction to develop advanced teaching techniques, while remaining courses from UNK’s Post-Baccalaureate Transitional Certification Program grant you certification to teach in Nebraska schools. Completing your teaching certificate along with a master’s degree helps you move up the salary schedule and propel your career as an educator.

Bachelor’s degree, admission into UNK’s online Post-Baccalaureate Transitional Certification Program, and completion of TE831 and TE832.

The Curriculum and Instruction program offers additional concentration areas to help you customize the degree to your professional needs.