Graduate Certificate Programs in Curriculum and Instruction – Online and Campus
Updated: March 18, 2025
Curriculum and instruction graduate certificate programs are designed to provide teachers and other education professionals with advanced skills in areas such as curriculum design, evaluation and assessment methodologies, and innovations in K-12 pedagogy. These programs are offered by accredited colleges and universities, typically through a school or department of education that offers other graduate programs in education. They represent a more affordable and less time intensive alternative to master’s programs in curriculum and instruction, as graduate certificate programs generally consist of less than half of the credit requirements of a master’s degree and can thus be completed in as few as eight to twelve months.
It is important to note that graduate certificate programs do not confer a degree. Instead, they provide qualified students who hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with the opportunity to gain career-oriented skills while earning graduate credits. Depending on the school, some or all of the credits earned may be applied to an eventual master’s degree program, if and when a student opts to pursue further graduate studies. In fact, many graduate certificate programs in curriculum and instruction are comprised of four or five courses that are also part of a master’s degree program in the same field. Graduate certificate programs may also be a good choice for educators with a master’s degree who would like to continue their education without pursuing a second master’s degree or doctoral programs.
Curriculum and Instruction Explained
Curriculum and instruction are core areas of proficiency for teachers and educators. Together, they encompass the materials and content used in classrooms, and the tools and techniques employed to improve student outcomes. Studying curriculum and instruction involves learning about pedagogy, lesson planning, classroom management, educational technologies, diversity and inclusion, and contemporary topics in the field of education. While the academic discipline of curriculum and instruction generally refers to K-12 education, the principles and practices that are integral to curriculum and instruction have applications in higher education and adult/professional education as well.
At the graduate level, teachers and educators who specialize in curriculum and instruction commonly learn leadership skills that can be used at the school and/or school-district level, as well as tools for evaluating textbooks and other classroom materials and for using data to make evidence-based assessments of educational programs and initiatives. Another important issue that is commonly addressed under the umbrella of curriculum and instruction is diversity and best practices for introducing a global perspective in the classroom.
Identifying and Classifying Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Certificate Programs
To be classified as a graduate certificate in curriculum and instruction, a program must offer a cluster of master’s-level courses in the design, assessment, and improvement of curricula, as well as instructional strategies and practices. In addition, it must be offered by an accredited college or university, and it must be designed for students who have, at minimum, completed a bachelor’s degree program. Many curriculum and instruction graduate certificate programs are post-baccalaureate programs, which means that bachelor’s program graduates and professionals who have started or completed a master’s degree are eligible for admission. However, some graduate certificate programs require a master’s degree for admission, and these programs may be referred to as post-master’s graduate certificate programs.
While naming conventions for these programs vary by school, examples of graduate certificate programs that are classified as curriculum and instruction programs include:
- Graduate Certificate in Advanced Study in Teaching and Learning
- Graduate Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction
- Graduate Certificate in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership
- Graduate Certificate in Curriculum Development and Leadership
- Graduate Certificate in Curriculum Development in Early Childhood Education
- Graduate Certificate in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction
- Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design
- Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design for e-Learning
Prospective applicants to graduate certificate programs in education should note that some programs have additional requirements for admission, such as an undergraduate degree in teaching or a related field, one or more years of teaching experience, an active teaching license or credential, and/or current employment status as a teacher.
Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Certificate Coursework
The specific course names and the content of individual courses vary by school and by program. However, there are several generalizations that can be made regarding the curriculum of graduate certificate programs in curriculum and instruction. For example, most programs include coursework focusing on curriculum assessment techniques, models of instruction, and best practices for diversity and inclusion in the classroom.
The list below is meant to provide a representative overview of the types of courses that are commonly offered as part of a curriculum and instruction graduate certificate program.
- Curriculum Design and Evaluation
- Classroom Technology for Teachers
- School Leadership
- Collaborative Models of Teaching
- Educational Supervision and Leadership
- Diversity and Inclusion in the K-12 Classroom
Some graduate certificate programs in curriculum and instruction provide students with the opportunity to engage in student teaching practicums, although this is not always the case. It is also important to note that graduate certificate programs do not automatically qualify students for additional state endorsements or licensing, as the requirements for teaching licensure and other credentials vary by state. Students who wish to pursue a state-specific endorsement should review their state’s policies and requirements prior to enrolling in a graduate certificate program to ensure the program they choose will provide the necessary training and curriculum to meet their state’s requirements.
Online Graduate Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction Programs
To accommodate working professionals who cannot or would prefer not to attend campus-based classes, and to extend the reach of academic offerings beyond their immediate geographical area, many accredited colleges and universities offer fully or partially online graduate certificate programs. This includes curriculum and instruction programs that can be completed fully online or with limited in-person requirements. Certificate programs that require more than three campus visits annually are classified as hybrid programs rather than as fully online programs on GraduateCertificates.com.
An online graduate certificate program in curriculum and instruction provides students with the same type and level of training and instruction as a corresponding campus-based program. However, instead of attending on-site classes, students in an online program receive their instruction in one of two ways. Some programs utilize synchronous online instruction for regularly scheduled online lectures and class meetings, while others rely exclusively on asynchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction typically involves online students logging on to their school’s learning management system to attend virtual lectures using web conferencing software. Live classes are generally scheduled in the early morning, late evening, or on the weekend so that working professionals across time zones can still attend.
Students in an online program that utilizes asynchronous instruction, and therefore does not have any synchronous components, can view lectures and complete assignments at their own convenience, 24-7. While asynchronous instruction provides more scheduling flexibility than synchronous instruction, it typically requires students to be more self-motivated and to have strong time management skills in order to complete coursework and keep up with assignments in the absence of regularly scheduled class meetings.
Examples of Online Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Certificate Programs
There are several graduate certificate programs in curriculum and instruction that are listed below to provide representative examples of the types of programs that are available in an online format. These programs are all offered by fully accredited colleges and universities.
Ball State University in Indiana offers a Graduate Certificate in Curriculum Development and Leadership program through Ball State Online. This is a fully online program with a curriculum and instruction focus. It includes coursework in curriculum development and curriculum evaluation, as well as the option of specialization in elementary, secondary, junior high and middle school, alternative school, or adult education curriculum and instruction. Students complete four courses that confer 12 credits, all of which may be applied to the Master of Arts in Secondary Education program or the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Educational Technology program offered by Ball State. To qualify for admission to this program, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a four-point scale. For additional details, visit www.bsu.com.
California Coast University (CCU) offers an online Graduate Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction program that is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in education and who are interested in taking graduate courses without enrolling in a full master’s degree program. The CCU program is fully online and does not require any campus visits. It consists of four courses that cover topics in teaching models, curriculum design and evaluation, classroom technologies, and multiculturalism in the classroom. This is a self-paced program that can be completed in less than one year. For more information on the program, visit www.calcoast.edu.
Oregon State University offers an online Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design that prepares students to engage in research and instructional program development for adult learners. This 20-credit program features courses that cover established and cutting-edge educational technologies, principles of adult learning, educational needs assessments and research, and instructional design methodologies. To apply for this program, candidates need to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and have maintained an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. To learn more about this program, visit ecampus.oregonstate.edu.