by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Curriculum & Instruction explores Curriculum And Instruction. A Program That Focuses On The Curriculum And Related Instructional Processes And Tools, And That May Prepare Individuals To Serve As Professional Curriculum Specialists. Includes Instruction In Curriculum Theory, Curriculum Design And Planning, Instructional Material Design And Evaluation, Curriculum Evaluation, And Applications To Specific Subject Matter, Programs Or Educational Levels. Examples: [Effective Teaching]. Continue reading for the essential details every curriculum & instruction major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering curriculum & instruction programs.
In the U.S., curriculum & instruction is a popular field of study, with 21,331 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools ranking analyzes these 418 schools to determine the best overall colleges for curriculum & instruction students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of curriculum & instruction programs later in this article.
Programs in Curriculum & Instruction emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations curriculum & instruction graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a curriculum & instruction program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a curriculum & instruction major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several curriculum & instruction degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 38 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 19,479 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,808 |
People currently working in careers related to curriculum & instruction tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.0% |
| Master’s degree | 35.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.6% |
| First professional degree | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in curriculum & instruction careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in curriculum & instruction can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to curriculum & instruction.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to curriculum & instruction.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Instructional Coordinators | 1,448,345 | -1.3% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of curriculum & instruction graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,665 |
| 4 years | $57,335 |
| 5 years | $63,055 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for curriculum & instruction graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers curriculum & instruction grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $40,936 |
With 418 different curriculum & instruction programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased curriculum & instruction school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
