Tracy Kidder said, “Most teachers have little control over school policy or curriculum or choice of texts or special placement of students, but most have a great deal of autonomy inside the classroom.  To a degree shared by only a few other occupations, such as police work, public education rests precariously on the skill and virtue of the people at the bottom of the institutional pyramid.”

If you’re already a certified teacher, you can greatly enhance your skill and virtue in the classroom by pursuing a degree in curriculum and instruction. This degree is designed for teachers who instruct students in Kindergarten through high school to enhance your teaching skills, as well as giving you a broad knowledge in curriculum development, design and implementation.

Teachers in the classroom typically already hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education or for middle and high school, the specialty in which you are teaching, such as math, history, science, physical education or special education. You may also hold a Master’s Degree in education or specialty area. As well, you have already taken and passed the certification exam for teachers in your state. You may also be required to pass an entrance exam, have a prior GPA of 3.0 or higher and provide letters of recommendation before entering a curriculum and instruction program.

The master’s and doctorate degrees in curriculum and instruction may enhance your chances for advancement/tenure as a teacher, as well as possibly qualifying you to assist or develop the curriculum in your school or district.

Some of the courses you might have to take for a degree in curriculum and instruction are: Reflective practice in teaching, mentoring strategies to improve teaching, curriculum and instruction experience and history and theory of curriculum. You may also be required to take some course work in diversity and curriculum.

By attending a master’s degree program full time, you can complete the program in as little as two years. However, many teachers enrolled in these programs retain full time teaching jobs and study the program part time, making achieving the degree a longer-term goal.

Education is a Profession of Passion, Enhance that Passion
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession of teaching is expected to grow about as fast as average, making teaching a very attractive profession to enter. Most teachers enter the field with a Bachelor’s Degree and pursue master’s degrees as they progress in their field. A degree in curriculum and instruction will set you apart from the pack.

In 2006, the median salary range for teachers was from $43,580 to $48,690. This varies greatly by region and by states. Teaching in a public vs. private school setting also sometimes makes a difference.

If you have a passion for teaching and gain satisfaction from seeing a child learn; you may gain extra satisfaction knowing you can have a hand in developing what they are learning.

 Find a school or online program with a curriculum and instruction degree today and get started putting your teaching career on the fast track!