Learn to lead curricular and instructional change initiatives that improve teaching and learning in your school or district.

Walden’s Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development is a curriculum and instruction program designed to help K–12 educators and administrators develop the expertise to improve student outcomes and teacher effectiveness. A unique blend of two critical areas of expertise, this program can help prepare you to become a highly effective curriculum specialist and professional developer of teachers.

The Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development is based on the standards of the National Staff Development Council. And with no residency requirement, this curriculum development program allows you to more easily balance your education with your personal and professional commitments.

An Education Specialist degree, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (C.A.G.S.), is ideal for educators who want to remain working in the field but who would like to increase their influence and impact on their learning communities.

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  • What They Say

    “Our nation’s increased focus on quality curriculum and instruction has many K–12 teachers and administrators interested in guiding initiatives to improve teaching and learning in their school or district. Walden’s Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development can help educators develop as effective instructional experts in their learning communities, conducting change initiatives that promote the individual growth of both students and teachers.”

    Dr. Alice Duhon-Ross
    Program Director, Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development

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Completion Requirements

  • 33 total semester credits

This program can be completed in as little as 22 months. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Walden is approved by Minnesota and Ohio to offer the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration program that leads to principal licensure. Walden is also approved by Ohio to offer the M.S. in Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, which leads to principal licensure in Ohio.

In addition, through a partnership with the Harris County Department of Education, Walden’s M.S. in Education, Educational Leadership program leads to principal licensure at the master’s level in Texas. More information about the Texas Principal Certification Program can be found at http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=PrinCert.

Individuals interested in principal licensure in states other than Minnesota and Ohio may qualify for the license by virtue of completing a state-approved program; however, individuals must review their state’s regulations to ensure the program meets all requirements, paying particular attention to any requirements specific to out-of-state program completers.

Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance on licensure issues; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements. Walden makes no representation or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure or endorsement.

  • Foundations: Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development

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    In this introductory course, education professionals explore the connection between curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development as well as the importance of each on student achievement. Education professionals examine leadership, in addition to change and systems theory, within the context of developing and implementing a shared vision for student learning that is embraced by all educators and families within a school community. Additionally, education professionals are introduced to Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership and the requirements of the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program.

  • Leading Effective Curriculum Design

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    Curriculum design is effective when it aligns with a district’s beliefs about teaching and learning. In this course, education professionals examine current research on learning theory, and they consider how to use various curriculum design models to bring such theory to action. They learn how to develop curriculum initiatives that align with standards, contextualize content, and focus on the needs of diverse learners across all grades levels. Education professionals also engage in coursework that emphasizes the importance of building capacity among school leaders by launching learning communities that can lead, monitor, and support successful implementation of curriculum plans.

  • Leading Research-Based Instructional Practices

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    In an age of accountability, leaders must be able to use multiple forms of data to inform curricular and instructional decisions. In this course, education professionals examine the inextricable link between curricular content, instruction, and assessment within a system. They examine the role of formative and summative assessments in making decisions and the various forms and purposes of assessment. Education professionals learn how the ongoing use of assessment data can move curriculum and instruction beyond mediocrity to support rigorous learning for all students. Through conceptual and applied assignments, they explain how to use data to lead school reform, and they examine how to select curricular programs that support struggling students and how to articulate a system’s assessment targets to the larger educational community.

  • Using Assessment and Data for School Improvement

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    In an age of accountability, leaders must be able to use multiple forms of data to inform curricular and instructional decisions. In this course, education professionals examine the inextricable link between curricular content, instruction, and assessment within a system. They examine the role of formative and summative assessments in making decisions and the various forms and purposes of assessment. Education professionals learn how the ongoing use of assessment data can move curriculum and instruction beyond mediocrity to support rigorous learning for all students. Through conceptual and applied assignments, they explain how to use data to lead school reform, and they examine how to select curricular programs that support struggling students and how to articulate a system’s assessment targets to the larger educational community.

  • Qualities of Effective Professional Development

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    Effective professional development is foundational in improving a school system’s ability to raise student achievement. Education professionals in this course examine the history and research that supports the need for ongoing professional learning for teachers, principals, and all adults who interact with students in P–12 schools. They use case studies of schools and districts that have achieved results to learn the standards of exemplary professional development programs and analyze the attributes necessary for success. Education professionals are also provided with the opportunity to explore the roles and responsibilities of professional developers inside and outside the classroom as well as career paths for developing leadership skills in the area of adult and student learning.

  • Designing Professional Development

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    Professional development that ensures quality teaching for all students is based on a model of continuous improvement that is data-driven and grounded in research-based practices. In this course, education professionals examine a variety of professional-development models and select and plan the most appropriate approach to support their goal. Using adult-learning theory as a foundation, they explore models of adult learning and change as well as cycles of improvement. They also design strategies to build strong professional-development programs that include planning, delivering, following-up, and evaluating impact on teacher practices and student learning.

  • Evaluating Professional Development

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    Evaluating the influence of professional-development efforts is crucial to ongoing success. Education professionals in this course explore systemic and comprehensive approaches for linking professional learning to student learning and using data to make informed decisions on how to improve the practices of educators and assess the impact on student learning. Using logic theories, education professionals learn how to collect and analyze data from student work and teacher practice to make informed decisions that lead to continuous improvement. They engage in coursework that emphasizes communicating and disseminating results to multiple constituents within the school system. They also focus on system approaches that promote shared leadership in continuing, improving, and sustaining effective professional development at the district, school, and classroom levels.

  • Implementing Professional Development

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    Delivering and sustaining professional development requires an understanding of culture and change. In this course, education professionals develop skills to set expectations, facilitate professional learning, support individual growth, and build collaborative teams. Using change theory, education professionals learn to monitor and support adult learning by organizing professional learning communities that focus on student needs and school goals. They explore strategies for delivering and providing continuous follow-up and support of professional learning. They also learn how to use collaboration, facilitation, coaching, and mentoring skills to involve colleagues, staff, families, and other key stakeholders in making decisions grounded in research-based practices and support a culture of learning that involves educators, students, parents, and community.

  • Applied Research in Education, Part I

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    Being a knowledgeable consumer of research requires the ability to understand and process the philosophies, core components, and designs and methodologies in educational research and scholarship. In this course, education professionals develop the skills to analyze and interpret research studies with a critical eye as well as to communicate or implement the findings. They work toward becoming consumers of research who confidently assess the reliability and validity of a study, interpret the study, and articulate and/or implement the findings of the study into practice. In addition, they engage in practical assignments focused on quantitative methods of design and analysis.

  • Applied Research in Education, Part II

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    Education professionals in this course build upon the concepts learned in EDUC 7745 - Applied Research in Education, Part I, synthesizing acquired knowledge with a quantitative methodology application project. Through this project, education professionals develop an understanding of research design and methodology, focusing beyond quantitative approaches to include qualitative design and analysis, including mixed methodology. They learn to function as consumers of research, gaining skills for reporting and contextualizing research. (Prerequisites: EDUC 7745.)

  • Capstone: Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development

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    Education professionals conclude their program with this capstone course in which they are provided the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained throughout the program to an actual educational environment. Serving as consultants, education professionals examine a school or district’s curriculum plans against a set of data and make recommendations for improvement and reform. (Prerequisites: All other courses.)

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Next State Date is July 1. Apply Now

2013-2014

Curriculum Component  Requirements  Cost 
Courses  33 total semester credit hours  $825 per semester credit hour (includes course textbooks and materials) 
Capstone    $1,000 per course 
Technology Fee  per semester  $150 

Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Call 1-866-492-5336 for information about a full range of options for:

When you choose Walden’s Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development, you can benefit from the flexibility of online learning and from MobileLearn®. Offered exclusively at Walden, MobileLearn not only enables you to choose where and when you learn, it also gives you the ability to choose how you learn. Learn more.

Find out more about what defines Walden’s Ed.S. in Curriculum Instruction and Professional Development program:

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

  1. Organize adults into learning communities whose goals are aligned with those of the school and district.
  2. Require skillful school and district leaders who guide continuous instructional improvement.
  3. Require resources to support adult learning and collaboration.
  4. Use disaggregated student data to determine adult learning priorities, monitor progress, and help sustain continuous improvement.
  5. Use multiple sources of information to guide improvement and demonstrate its impact.
  6. Prepare educators to apply research to decision making.
  7. Use learning strategies appropriate to the intended goal.
  8. Apply knowledge about human learning and change.
  9. Provide educators with the knowledge and skills to collaborate.
  10. Prepare educators to understand and appreciate all students; create safe, orderly, and supportive learning environments; and hold high expectations for their academic achievement.
  11. Deepen educators’ content knowledge, provide them with research-based instructional strategies to assist students in meeting rigorous academic standards, and prepare them to use various types of classroom assessments appropriately.
  12. Provide educators with knowledge and skills to involve families and other stakeholders appropriately.

Walden is committed to providing the information you need to make an informed decision about where you pursue your education. Please find below detailed information for the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development relating to the types of occupations this program may lead to, completion rate, program costs, and median loan debt of students who have graduated from this program.

Occupations
Program Completion Rate
Program Costs
Median Loan Debt

Occupations—This program generally prepares students to enter the types of occupations listed below. For more information on these specific occupations, visit www.onetonline.org.

In addition to this list, there are other career options that graduates of this program may choose to pursue. To enter certain professions, students may need to satisfy specific additional requirements established by state and/or professional organizations in addition to completing their program.

View examples of our student and alumni accomplishments in their chosen fields.

Occupation Name*  Occupation Code* 
Instructional Coordinators  25-9031 
Education, Training, and Library Workers, All Other  25-9099 

*The “occupation name” is a general job title. “Occupation code” refers to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard Occupation Classification.

Program Completion—This program had fewer than 10 graduates during July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. As a result, Walden does not disclose this information in order to protect students’ privacy per U.S. Department of Education guidelines.

Program Costs—The total program costs are the estimated average costs over the duration of the program, excluding any scholarship or tuition reductions, for students completing the program on time. These costs can vary based on the number of credits. Typically, tuition and fees are subject to change annually.

Expense  Cost 
Tuition and Fees  $30,520
Books and Supplies  $0 
Room and Board  Not applicable 

View cost per credit in the Tuition and Fees section.

Median Loan Debt—This program had fewer than 10 graduates during July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. As a result, Walden does not disclose this information in order to protect students’ privacy per U.S. Department of Education guidelines.

Find information about Walden programs and licensure requirements specific to your state.

For assistance in deciding which online degree program fits your goals, request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.