Why Pursue a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction
The Curriculum and Instruction Program features both breadth and quality. Students can choose from a variety of possibilities relating to teacher leadership in curriculum, curriculum development and administration, and specialties in curriculum focused on specific subject-matter areas. Additionally, this program boasts relevance to a variety of professional contexts from early childhood to middle school and secondary to higher education and other adult learning situations.
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Choose Your Degree and Certification Pathway
Interested in learning how to design and deliver high-quality curriculum and instruction at any level? The MA in Curriculum & Instruction is designed for you. This program provides versatile options for current teachers wanting to gain a deeper understanding of their context or to pursue a dual credit teaching endorsement, new educators needing certification, or professionals seeking instructional skills. UT San Antonio offers multiple pathways within the Curriculum & Instruction Master’s Degree, so you can pick a plan that aligns with your current professional status and future aspirations.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
| Curriculum and Instruction (MA) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Coursework | Completed adequate credit hours or foreign institution equivalent coursework as preparation for the program. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 79 TOEFL iBT / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.0. |
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| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Curriculum and Instruction (MA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed as they are received. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the completed application. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2027 | November 1 | December 1 | |
| Summer 2027 | April 1 | May 1 | |
| Fall 2027 | June 1 | August 1 | |
| Spring 2028 | November 1 | December 1 | |
| Summer 2028 | April 1 | May 1 | |
Funding Opportunities
ResourcesCareer Options
UT San Antonio prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below are based on data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
Standard CI Program
MACI courses are offered once a week from 6:00 to 8:45 pm Monday – Thursday during the Fall and Spring semesters. During the Summer, courses are offered two or three days a week during each of the five-week sessions or during the eight-week session. Summer courses may be offered during the day, but are mostly offered in the evening. This program is housed on Main Campus, but courses are taught across both Main and Downtown Campus.
MACI+T program
MACI+T courses are offered once a week and are mostly offered in the Spring and Fall due to required field experiences in public schools. Students must be able to attend field experiences and clinical teaching during the day while in the program. This program is housed on Main Campus, but courses are taught across both Main and Downtown Campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (MACI) is a graduate program that focuses on how curriculum is designed, taught and improved across different educational settings, according to our Curriculum & Instruction program page. It emphasizes curriculum and instruction theory, research, practice, policy and critical issues, with a strong focus on curricular innovation and teaching excellence.
The program offers flexible pathways for different types of professionals: certified K–12 teachers (including options like a Dual Credit Teaching Endorsement or the I-STEM Education Graduate Certificate), people seeking initial teacher certification through the MACI+T route, and professionals in higher education, nonprofits or corporate training. You can also choose between a 36-credit thesis option or a 30-credit portfolio option, as outlined in our Curriculum & Instruction (MA) overview.
This program is a good fit for several types of people, based on our Curriculum & Instruction (MA) page:
- Certified K–12 teachers who want to deepen their expertise in curriculum, improve their instructional practice, or add options like a Dual Credit Teaching Endorsement or the I-STEM Education Graduate Certificate.
- Individuals who need initial teacher certification, through the MACI + T pathway, and want to earn both a teaching certificate and a master’s degree.
- Professionals in higher education, nonprofits, or corporate training who design or deliver learning experiences and want stronger grounding in how people learn, how to design curriculum and how to lead instructional improvement.
The MA in Curriculum & Instruction is designed to give you a strong foundation in how curriculum is designed, taught and improved across settings. According to our Curriculum & Instruction program page, the program emphasizes curriculum and instruction theory, research, practice, policy and critical issues, with a focus on curricular innovation and teaching excellence.
Within that, students can choose from options related to teacher leadership in curriculum, curriculum development and administration and curriculum specialties focused on specific subject-matter areas (from early childhood through secondary and even higher education and adult learning). For detailed course lists and official degree requirements, you’ll want to review the current Graduate Catalog for Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching (note: catalog requirements can differ for students who started in earlier years, so it’s always wise to confirm your specific plan with your academic advisor or One Stop).
Our MA in Curriculum & Instruction doesn’t list a single fixed length because timing depends on how many courses you take each term and which pathway you choose (standard MACI, MACI + T, thesis vs. portfolio), as described on our Curriculum & Instruction program page.
We do note that MACI courses are typically offered once a week in the evenings during fall and spring, and more intensively in summer sessions, which makes it possible for many students to study part time while working, according to our course scheduling details. To get a realistic timeline for your situation (e.g., full-time vs. part-time, certification needs), I recommend reviewing the degree plan in the Graduate Catalog and then checking with the Graduate Advisor of Record or One Stop so they can help you map out a term-by-term plan.
Graduates of the MA in Curriculum & Instruction are prepared for a range of education-focused roles where curriculum design, teaching expertise and instructional leadership are central. According to our Curriculum & Instruction program page, the degree is relevant from early childhood through middle and secondary school, higher education and other adult learning settings.
While specific job titles aren’t listed, this kind of program commonly supports careers such as classroom teacher (with advanced expertise), curriculum or instructional specialist, teacher leader or coach, dual-credit instructor (with the Dual Credit Teaching Endorsement pathway), and educator or trainer in higher education, nonprofits, or corporate training environments. For more detailed labor market data tied to this program, you can explore the “Career Options” section on this program page, which uses Emsi data, and you’re always welcome to follow up with our college’s advising team or One Stop for more personalized guidance.
Graduate Advisor of Record
Marissa Munoz, PhD
210-458-5969
