A teacher working with a young female student in her classroom

Our curriculum and instruction master’s program provides the knowledge base for students to design and guide course content. Improve your professional expertise while elevating the academic experiences of those you teach.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

Request Information
Loading…

What Sets Us Apart

The MS in Curriculum and Instruction offers flexible options to accommodate working schedules, with classes held in the evenings, summers and online.

Our graduate faculty members are state and nationally recognized experts in their fields. This gives students the opportunity to:

  • Study the most current theories and practices in curriculum design and instructional methods.
  • Connect with faculty to develop knowledge about teaching, collaborating with schools and research.
  • Interact with metropolitan area educators to learn from their experiences.
  • Improve professional expertise and expand disciplinary and content knowledge.

I can talk about environmental health awareness and talk about what it’s like to be a teacher, but until you’re in it, you really don’t appreciate the passion that can grow from it.


Amy Zientek, PhDBS ’03 Biology and Chemistry
MS ’07, Curriculum and Instruction
PhD ’14, Curriculum and Instruction

The Department of Teaching and Learning offers the graduate program of study in curriculum and instruction. Successful completion of the program of study leads to a Master of Science degree that includes:

Three Concentration Areas

Subject Focus Area

  • Cultures and Communities Education
  • English Education
  • English Language Education
  • Literacy Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Mathematics Teacher Leadership
  • Reading Education
  • Science Education
  • Urban Social Studies Education

Instructional Level Focus Area

  • Early Adolescence-Adolescence
  • Early Childhood
  • Elementary and Middle Education, K-9

Cross-Curricular Focus Area

  • Specialists within Administrative Leadership
  • Cultures and Communities Education

Transcript Designations in Specific Subject Focus Areas

  • Cultures and Communities Education
  • English Education:
    • Creative Writing
    • Literature and Cultural Theory
    • Media, Cinema and Digital Studies
    • Rhetoric and Professional Writing
  • Mathematics Education
  • Mathematics Teacher Leadership
  • Reading Education
  • Science Education
  • Urban Social Studies Education

Program Requirements

The 30-credit degree includes the completion of the master’s seminar in curriculum or a thesis.

Teacher Certification with Master of Science Degree

Persons interested in earning teacher certification and a master’s degree should select their certification area of interest from the following:

Doctoral Specializations

Curriculum and Instruction Specialization

The specialization in Curriculum and Instruction provides program emphasis in a content area (e.g., reading), education level (e.g., early childhood), a general area (e.g., curriculum theory), or special area (e.g., guiding instructional improvement).

Mathematics Education Specialization

The specialization in Mathematics Education integrates mathematical knowledge for teaching, content-focused equitable pedagogy, and practice-based inquiry and research. The program prepares leaders and researchers for mathematics instruction, curriculum and programs.

Admission Process

Complete the UWM Graduate School Online Application.

The Master’s Degree Application Checklist (PDF) may be a helpful resource. For more information on international admissions, please visit the Center for International Education.

Craig Berg, Professor in Teaching and Learning.
  • Professor Emeritus, Teaching and Learning
Jennifer Brownson, Teaching Faculty in Teaching and Learning.
  • Teaching Faculty, Teaching and Learning
Candance Doerr-Stevens, Associate Professor in Teaching and Learning.
  • Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Program Director, Curriculum and Instruction, MS
Leanne M. Evans, Associate Professor in Teaching & Learning.
  • Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning
Jeffrey Hawkins, Associate Professor in Teaching and Learning.
  • Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Program Director, Social Studies Education, Grades 4-12
  • Program Director, Urban Education Doctoral Program
DeAnn Huinker, Professor in Teaching and Learning.
  • Professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Director, Center for Math & Science Education Research
Tatiana Joseph, Assistant Professor in Teaching and Learning.
  • Assistant Professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Program Director, English as a Second Language Education
  • Program Director, World Language Education
Tracy Posnanski, Associate Professor in Teaching and Learning.
  • Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning
Ray Scolavino, Distinguished Lecturer and Teaching Faculty in Teaching and Learning
  • Distinguished Lecturer, Teaching and Learning
  • Program Director, Science Education, Grades 4-12
  • Program Director, Mathematics Education, Grades 4-12
Tara Serebin, Teaching Faculty III in Department of Teaching and Learning
  • Teaching Faculty III, Teaching and Learning
  • Program Director, Elementary and Middle Education, K-9