Curriculum Design Degree Program and Career Education

Curriculum design and instruction refers to the creation, analysis, and revision of learning methods, curriculum, and instruction within the school system. Professionals in this field analyze learning processes and help develop or revise the way knowledge is organized and delivered in schools. Their goal is to increase the quality of education

Experts in curriculum design and instruction determine the material students need to learn and the timeline in which they should learn it. They integrate instructional theories into their research, and help develop training materials, textbooks, course curriculum, and testing procedures. Professionals in this field often focus on a specific education level, such as elementary school, and a specific subject, such as science.

Curriculum designers and instructional coordinators should be analytical, organized, and problem solvers. They should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, a good grasp of psychology, and they should enjoy working with both computers and other people.

Education, Training and Degrees in Curriculum Design

Experts in the field of curriculum design and instruction must have at least a bachelor's degree, typically in education, although most school systems and educational organizations prefer that individuals in this position have a master's degree or higher. They should be trained in curriculum development or the specific field in which they're working, such as science, math, or English.

Instructional coordinators who work in the public school system must have either an education administrator license or a teaching license, depending on the state.

Find more information about online degrees, certificates, and diplomas in Education.

Explore Career Opportunities in Curriculum Design

Instructional coordinators train teachers, develop course curriculum, and select textbooks, software, and other educational materials. They research teaching methods, develop new procedures, analyze how well a learning program is meeting the needs of its students, and recommend improvements in instruction and course curriculum.

Curriculum design and instruction professionals work in many educational sectors, including public schools, school district offices, private schools, public colleges and universities, day care facilities, research centers, and consulting services.

Instructional coordinators typically choose a childhood age on which to focus their studies. For example, they may choose to concentrate on education in preschools, elementary schools, high school, or college. They also focus on a specific field within this group, such as mathematics, history, science, music, social studies, or foreign language.

Due in part to an increasing demand for a high quality of education in public and private schools and to the introduction of new technologies and teaching methods into schools, the position of curriculum designer or instructional coordinator can be considered a fast-growth position, with excellent prospects during the next decade.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 117,000 individuals were employed in this position in 2004. Their average annual salary was $48,790, with a range running from under $27,000 to a high of over $80,000.

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