Overview
Benefit from a strong reputation for providing education degrees at Fitchburg State that dates back more than a century. This 100% online Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching program develops student-centered teachers and offers the ability to immediately apply new concepts in the classroom.
Curriculum is delivered in an accelerated online format to help meet the needs of working teachers. Though designed for active educators, the curriculum is also applicable to other instructional environments, and no teaching license is required to enter the program.
Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared to:
- Reflect on current educational issues and practices
- Examine and evaluate research and engage in the research process
- Apply advanced knowledge, educational theory and research in the design and implementation of appropriate educational curricula, practices, and environments
- Apply knowledge of how students develop as thinkers and learners
- Apply advanced knowledge of emerging, research-based, educational principles in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the educational environment and instructional programs
- Demonstrate awareness of the impact of societal issues on the curriculum as they relate to meeting the diverse needs of individuals
- Demonstrate an understanding of educational partnership models which effectively focus on family strengths, circumstances, and cultural experiences
- Demonstrate effective strategies and techniques for working with diverse individuals in inclusive learning environments
- Examine the shared values, ethics, purposes, and commitments that bond the educational community (e.g., teachers, families, administrators, specialists)
- Demonstrate a disposition of collegiality, respect, and support that fosters future improvement of education through research and reflection
- Reflect on current educational issues and practices
- Examine and evaluate research and engage in the research process
- Apply advanced knowledge, educational theory and research in the design and implementation of appropriate educational curricula, practices, and environments
- Apply knowledge of how students develop as thinkers and learners
- Apply advanced knowledge of emerging, research-based, educational principles in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the educational environment and instructional programs
- Demonstrate awareness of the impact of societal issues on the curriculum as they relate to meeting the diverse needs of individuals
- Demonstrate an understanding of educational partnership models which effectively focus on family strengths, circumstances, and cultural experiences
- Demonstrate effective strategies and techniques for working with diverse individuals in inclusive learning environments
- Examine the shared values, ethics, purposes, and commitments that bond the educational community (e.g., teachers, families, administrators, specialists)
- Demonstrate a disposition of collegiality, respect, and support that fosters future improvement of education through research and reflection
Tuition and Fees
Our M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching | $372 | $1,116 | $13,392 |
- Application fee: $50
- Visit the student accounts website for a breakdown of tuition and fees
- If you are applying for financial aid, please use School Code 002184. For further information, please contact Financial Aid at (978) 665-3302 or finaid@fitchburgstate.edu.
Discover how our M.Ed. online programs create students who are thinkers and not just learners. Watch this!
Calendar
Fitchburg State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Intent to Enroll Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Drop For Non Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer A 2020 | 05/18/20 | 04/17/20 | 04/27/20 | 05/04/20 | 05/11/20 | 05/12/20 | 05/13/20 |
| Summer B 2020 | 07/13/20 | 06/12/20 | 06/22/20 | 06/29/20 | 07/06/20 | 07/07/20 | 07/08/20 |
| Fall A 2020 | 09/03/20 | 07/31/20 | 08/10/20 | 08/17/20 | 08/24/20 | 08/25/20 | 08/26/20 |
| Fall B 2020 | 10/29/20 | 09/21/20 | 10/02/20 | 10/09/20 | 10/19/20 | 10/20/20 | 10/21/20 |
| Spring A 2021 | 01/19/21 | 12/18/21 | 12/28/21 | 01/04/21 | 01/11/21 | 01/12/21 | 01/13/21 |
| Spring B 2021 | 03/15/21 | 02/12/21 | 02/22/21 | 03/01/21 | 03/08/21 | 03/09/21 | 03/10/21 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Fitchburg State?
Admissions
The admission process is the first step toward earning your online degree. Familiarize yourself with these requirements for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching online program, along with information on required documentation. The requirements include:
View all admission requirements
You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission.
- Submit graduate application and pay $50 application fee
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended*
- Minimum GPA of 2.8 in prior coursework (a letter of recommendation is required for students with a GPA below 2.8)
- No GRE, MTEL or teaching license is required to enter the program
- Professional resume
- Essay (no more than one page in length) on one of the following topics:
- Tell us about a positive situation in which you helped a person and made a significant difference in that person's life
- What are the most important factors in establishing a long-term working relationship with students, friends, etc.?
- Tell us about a significant event that involved you in a teaching or helping mode
To submit official documents by mail, send them to:
Fitchburg State UniversityAdmissions Office
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
International Students:
- TOEFL or IELTS scores required for natives of non-English speaking countries
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended*
- General Foreign Credit Evaluation
- GPA of not less than 2.5
- Application fee ($50)
- Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose (300 word minimum)
*All foreign transcripts must be formally evaluated before we are able to make an admissions decision. Graduate applicants are required to submit a "general" evaluation.
Following are suggested organizations which provide foreign credential evaluation services:
- The Center for Educational Documentation
- The World Education Services
- Educational Credential Evaluators
- International Documentation Center
You are encouraged to contact the Fitchburg State International Admissions department if additional information is needed at 978-665-4399 or intladmissions@fitchburgstate.edu.
U.S. citizens with foreign education (from a non-English speaking country) will need to follow the international admission requirements (TOEFL excluded). Students with the following visa are not eligible for the program:
- I-20
- F1
TOEFL Code: 3518
IELTS Code: No code; please select Fitchburg State as a recipient.
**Applicants must have access to a PK-12 classroom (full-time or part-time teachers)
Ranked #8 for Best Colleges for the Money: Massachusetts by CollegeFactual.com, 2018
Courses
For the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching online, the curriculum is comprised of 12 courses covering 36 credit hours.
EDLM 8020: Law for the Educator
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Constitutional and statutory provisions governing a public school system are examined on local, state and national levels. A thorough review is made of the legal parameters surrounding the local level of the educational system. In addition, students inspect federal and state guidelines generated to meet the needs of diverse student populations in compliance with current judicial decisions and state legislation. The impact of precedent-setting cases is a major focus of this course.
EDLM 8033: Using Data to Improve Student Learning
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Through case studies, applied practice, and research-based practices, students investigate data sources for possible application in administrative decision-making to improve teacher effectiveness and student learning, as well as for school improvement. Methods for analyzing and interpreting federal, state, district and school-based data are covered with additional consideration of data credibility, relevance, reliability, and usability. Establishing a data culture, investing in an information management system, selecting the right data, and analyzing and acting on data to improve performance is emphasized. This course has embedded experiential (field-based) learning components.
EDUC 7014: Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the reading and writing processes as it pertains to the teaching and learning of knowledge and skills within content disciplines. It includes an exploration of the relationships among reading, writing, critical thinking and learning; discussion and designing of current assessment tools, including portfolio; and analysis of, development of, and implementation of reading and writing strategies and procedures which develop student capacity for using reading and writing to think critically and to learn and understand content. This course involves embedded experiential (field-based) learning components.
EDUC 7127: Strategies for Creating a Positive Learning Environment
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Best practices in classroom management that support positive student behavior are addressed. The course presents strategies such as organizing time, materials, and space as well as activators, summarizers and transitions for smooth classroom operation and effective instruction. Students will be prepared to understand underlying causes of challenging behaviors and consider appropriate interventions. Federal and state laws as they pertain to the legal procedures for all teachers, including teachers of students with disabilities and ELL students, will be presented. This course involves embedded experiential (field-based) components.
EDUC 7203: Using Technology to Enhance Student Achievement
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course will introduce participants to expanding the walls of the traditional classroom with the technology currently available to interact with students. Course participants will be introduced to the tools to supplement the traditional classroom setting and help engage students by using new and exciting formats that meet expectations and learning styles. Topics covered will include: enhancing presentations, creating content with the latest technologies and tools, continuing discussions outside of the classroom, managing the class outside the classroom, virtual classroom settings and the world of online learning.
EDUC 7610: Curriculum and Assessment for Teachers
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed so that teachers will become knowledgeable about the theory and practice of standards-based curriculum and formative and summative assessment practices.
EDUC 8043: Formative and Summative Assessment Strategies
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course will address the important role of classroom-based, formative and summative assessment to maximize student progress. Students will build upon previous coursework to align instruction with state and national standards and develop appropriate assessments. They will learn how to use a variety of informal and formal methods of assessment to measure student learning, growth, and understanding, develop differentiated and enhanced learning experiences, and improve future instruction. Students will analyze data from assessments, draw conclusions, and share them appropriately with parents and other professionals as appropriate. Professional behavior and ethics in the assessment process will be stressed. This course involves imbedded experiential (field-based) components.
EDUC 9005: Dynamic Perspectives in Education
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course brings together students to analyze key issues facing educators today. Focal points will include curricular and instructional decisions, legislative mandates, diversity and special education. Personal biases will be examined.
EDUC 9300: Educational Research
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
EDUC 9300 must be taken prior to EDUC 9510, and these two courses should be the last courses taken for the program, or very close to the end of the program, in order to get the full benefit of building on prior coursework
This course focuses on past and current qualitative and quantitative research practices in education. Theories, research and implications for instructional practice are emphasized. Students learn how to be educated consumers of research, how to use of data tools such as Excel, and they examine the development of classroom school-based action research, and various methodologies associated with educational research. Students also develop an understanding of longitudinal studies, sampling procedures, and research bias evaluating competing approaches.
EDUC 9510: Capstone: Implementation of Best Practices
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Students review literature on best practices and implement a project that assesses impact of an intervention on student learning.
Prerequisite: A course in educational research
SPED 8039: Differentiating Content Instruction
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course will address instructional strategies that reflect high expectations, engagement of students with diverse learning styles, needs, interests, and levels of readiness with a focus on content area instruction. Students learn to create safe and collaborative learning environments that respect student differences and back grounds. They learn to develop differentiated lessons in collaboration with colleagues. Lessons are designed following instructional practices that reflect high expectations regarding content and quality of effort. This course involves embedded experiential (field-based) learning components.
SPED 9200: Consultation and Collaboration Strategies
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Students study theory and practice skills related to communication processes, as well as effective consultation and collaboration strategies for working with school personnel, families, human service agencies and key special education stakeholders. This course focuses on emerging issues related to student assistance, inclusion, communicating with diverse families, IEP development, and implementation and monitoring and transition planning/post-secondary life. Strategies for welcoming, engaging in culturally proficient communication, and working collaboratively with diverse families are emphasized. Students learn how to evaluate their collaboration and consultation skills, target collaboration opportunities and maintain themselves as ethical and reliable consultants/collaborators in a variety of school, community and agency situations.
Course rotation:
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