6000 Education subject sub_topic Curriculum and instruction concentrators will learn about teaching methods and practices. After focusing on curriculum and instruction graduates will be well prepared for careers in teaching, course planning, and education research. 0 1 1 6160 <p>A bachelors, masters, Ph.D. or an Ed.D. can be obtained in curriculum and instruction, although an advanced degree is usually a minimum requirement for promotion in this field. All degrees in this area focus on curriculum development, and how to implement that curriculum to achieve successful student learning. Curriculum and instruction educators are becoming increasingly needed in today's society, as standardized testing requirements have grown stricter and strong curriculum that addresses these testing needs as well as holistically educates the student is imperative. Teachers with a degree in curriculum and instruction will know how to design effective lesson plans, evaluate curriculum and will usually have an in-depth knowledge of a specific subject, such as mathematics, language arts, or social studies.</p> <b>Continuing Education</b> <p>While many busy teaching professionals do not have the time or financial ability to pursue a traditional advanced teacher education program, there is the alternative of online study. There are several online schools that offer a variety of teacher professional development programs in curriculum and instruction and allow for flexibility and independent study. Many of these programs can even be completed in a year or two and will open up many more career options for curriculum and instruction majors.</p> <b>Careers Opportunities</b> <p>The curriculum and instruction degree is highly versatile, and affords teachers many opportunities to work in several different areas and settings. </p> <p>A graduate with a bachelors degree in the field can usually easily become certified as a K-12 teacher, teaching the grade or subject level they chose to specialize in. However, a masters degree is extremely advantageous even for students solely wishing to teach in a K-12 environment, as it entails higher pay, more qualified jobs, and chances for advancement.</p> <p>Graduates with a masters degree can still work in K-12 schools with greater benefits as aforementioned, but also have the opportunity to advance and become an instructional coordinator or curriculum specialist. These specialists work in schools, private institutions, and local and state departments of education and design curriculum pedagogies and materials. Instructional coordinators focus on creating innovative, strategic, and goal-oriented curriculum that attempts to both increase student test scores and achieve successful student learning.</p> <p>Graduates with an Ed.D. or a Ph.D. can become teacher educators themselves and work as professors in college and university settings. These professors educate and prepare the next generation of teachers to go forth and design and implement great curriculum for America's youth.</p> <b>Earnings and Job Outlook</b> <p>The Bureau of Labor Statistics says job outlook is good or great across the board for teaching graduates of all degree levels in curriculum and instruction, and is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Earnings vary by several factors, with graduates holding advanced degrees earning substantially more than those without. Nationally, and also according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a teacher with only a bachelors degree had median annual earnings of $47,602 in 2006, and this includes K-12 curriculum and instruction educators. Earning a Masters degree can add several thousands of dollars on top of this salary depending on the state. Instructional coordinator's salaries vary greatly by institution type, but usually are within the annual range of $35,000 and $65,000. College professors with doctoral degrees can earn upwards of $100,000 dollars per year depending on the institution and an individual professor's rank and seniority, however salaries usually average around $50,000 to $60,000 annually.</p> <b>Article References</b><br/><br/> Bureau of Labor Statistics<br/> <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm"target="_blank">http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm</a><br/><br/> Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development<br/> <a href="http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/index.jsp/"target="_blank">http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/index.jsp/</a><br/><br/> curriculum-and-instruction Curriculum and Instruction Curriculum & Instruction 6100, 6270, 6300, 6370, 6400, 6800 Accredited Degree Training in Education Curriculum & Instruction 1 0