Understanding the Areas of Emphasis in the Curriculum and Instruction Degree Program

October 26, 2020 3:46pm

When considering a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction at SC, it’s important to understand the five areas of emphasis and what career paths they can lead to. While many of the areas can assist with curriculum and instruction positions in a school or education setting, others can lead to positions in a variety of industries across the map!

Generalist:

This is perhaps the broadest area of emphasis, which can be a benefit to anyone with a passion for education, but not necessarily wishing to work in a classroom or school environment. Training and development positions are needed in a vast number of industries including healthcare, technology, financial, government, military, and more! These industries need instructional coordinators and curriculum developers to create the content necessary to train and educate their workforce. And these types of positions will remain in demand. According to bls.gov, instructional coordinator positions pay an average median salary of more than $66k and are projected to grow by 6% until 2028.

ESOL:

Obtaining an English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) endorsement will also prepare graduates for jobs in high demand. According to the U.S. Department of Education, enrollment of English learners in K-12 schools has grown by more than 1 million since 2000, leaving educators across the county in need of quality curriculum and instructional materials to teach English fundamentals to their growing number of learners. And as more schools adapt to remote (or online) education, the ability to work remotely will likely increase as well which only broadens job opportunities. Salaries for these positions vary but average around $60k, according to Glassdoor.

Early Childhood Education:

Those choosing an early childhood education emphasis will be responsible for assisting preschool educators with planning and implementing new curricula for the youngest of learners, while adhering to state standards. These positions often require work year round and are needed in both private and public schools. Anyone who prefers a change of scenery may enjoy these roles as many public schools share curriculum developers, meaning visits to multiple schools. Salaries for these jobs range depending on whether they are in the public or private education system, but according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median salary in 2019 was about $66k. The highest 10 percent of these workers earned more than $100k, but the lowest 10 percent earned under $40k.

Special Education:

Curriculum coordinators for special education will experience similar tasks to those of others in an elementary or secondary school setting – only they will focus on developing curriculum for teachers who educate learners in either low or high-incidence special education. The material is more specialized since it is written to educate learners with disabilities that include ADHD, autism, and other physical and behavioral disabilities. The jobs can be found in both private and public school settings and the pay is similar to that of those with an emphasis in early childhood education.

School Improvement Planning & Technology Integration

While any of these areas of emphasis can lead to leadership positions at the elementary and secondary level, this area of emphasis is especially helpful to those wishing to become a principal or school administrator. Career opportunities can extend beyond the school building and be found at a district level as well. Students studying this area of emphasis will learn to use comprehensive data analysis to guide the process of effective school improvement. Additionally, they will learn about the latest technologies available for their students as well as those with special needs. School administrator and principal position salaries will vary by type of school (elementary or secondary), whether they are private or public, and the region in which they are located. According to PayScale, the average median salary for high school principals is just more than $93k while elementary school principals earn about $83k annually.