Education Specialist (Ed.S.)

Curriculum and Instruction Online

Develop evidence-based practices in schools.

Ready to Get Started?

Offers area of focus electives so you can make the most impact in the area you serve.

Your advisor may direct you to a sequence of courses that satisfy a selected area of focus and may transfer into the Ed.D. C&I program.

Received the "Community Engagement Classification" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Curriculum and Instruction, Ed.S. Overview

The University of West Florida offers an Ed.S. degree in curriculum and instruction online. We designed this program to increase your expertise in curriculum-related content and give you the ability to make evidence-based decisions.

The program will teach you how to properly use research to design curriculum development, assessment and evaluation so you can better solve the challenges you face at your institution. You’ll learn how to best find and evaluate research necessary to support your positions regarding curriculum, testing and more, and implement action accordingly.

Choose From 2 Area of Focus

The online Ed.S. degree at UWF offers two area of focus so you can make the biggest impact in your leadership role. Choose the area of focus that will best help you solve the challenges you face.

Administration and Leadership Studies Area of Focus

Excel with advanced management and supervisory skills as well as ethics, budgeting and communication strategies in complex, dynamic educational environments.

Curriculum and Assessment Area of Focus

Evaluate, measure and assess effective instructional practices and curriculum development strategies so you know how to best drive change in any educational environment.

Candidates for This Program Include:

Professionals with an M.Ed. who currently hold a leadership position
Those with an M.Ed. who have a career history in education, training, social sciences or the military
Teachers and administrators with an M.Ed. who want the flexibility of learning online without sacrificing a quality education

You Will Be Able To:

Apply advanced knowledge and research to decision-making and problem-solving processes
Solve institutional challenges using advanced management skills as well as ethics, budgeting and communication strategies in complex educational environments
Drive change in education when you evaluate, measure and assess effective instructional practices and curriculum development strategies
Advocate for and work with vulnerable and marginalized groups at all levels or think-tank organizations for social and educational equity issues
Create curricula to empower administrators and leaders as well as curriculum and instruction developers

Courses and Requirements

The online Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction is a 30-credit-hour program inclusive of a competency-based portfolio. It offers two areas of focus that provide richly focused content so you can excel in the area that impacts you and your students the most.

: EDF 7404 - Quantitative Methods and Educational Statistics I
3.0 Credit Hours
Quantitative Methods and Educational Statistics I
Designed as an entry-level course in statistics and covers both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to solve applied research problems. Emphasis is also placed on using statistical software packages and will cover the most widely used statistical procedures in education. This course presumes an understanding of basic statistics. Thus, students should complete the online statistics tutorial before enrolling. Prerequisite: EDF 7938
EDF 7475 - Qualitative Research I - Methods
3.0 Credit Hours
Qualitative Research I - Methods
This course is to prepare doctoral students for the process of designing scholarly research in general and their dissertation in particular. This course will guide students in constructing a qualitative design methodology section and developing the necessary skills required for critical evaluation of published research in their area of expertise. In addition, this course will provide insight to conducting ethical research and will guide students in identifying and designing a study using qualitative methods approach. The course focuses on the design and implementation of research that utilizes qualitative data collection and analysis.
EDF 7685 - Philosophical Foundations of Education
3.0 Credit Hours
Philosophical Foundations of Education
This course explores the fundamental nature of education. The learner will consider what it means to educate, the purpose of education, the foundations of knowledge, the roles of educators and educational leaders, as well as the best means by which to achieve the goals of education. Students will examine problems of education through the consideration of questions of metaphysical, ontological, epistemic, and axiological import. Major historical trends in educational philosophies including Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, and Existentialism will be incorporated through application to problems of educational authority, responsibility, curriculum and instruction. Foundational educational theorists, including Plato, Aristotle, John Locke, John Dewey, and Nel Noddings will be studied in order to understand their historical importance and the impact of their work on the conceptual structure of educational philosophy. Students will compare and contrast theories of education, specifically, Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, and Social Reconstructionism. Students will investigate the major ideologies under-girding policy, curriculum and advocacy in education, including Nationalism, Liberalism, Conservatism, and Marxism.
EDF 8749 - Psychological and Social Theories of Education
3 Credit Hours
Psychological and Social Theories of Education
This course is designed to provide an extensive study of psychological and social theories in the field of education. The historical/social milieu that gave birth to the theories will be examined. In addition, the major tenets of the theories and their implications for educational policy, research, and practice will be critiqued. Further the strengths and weaknesses of the theories will be interrogated.
EDF 7442 - Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
3 Credit Hours
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
This course provides an understanding of the nature and connections of curriculum and instruction. Emphasis is on applied skills and philosophical underpinnings of the components of developing, implementing, and delivering instruction within the framework of curriculum considerations. Topics include the background and philosophy framing curriculum and development, the development of goals and objectives for curriculum and instruction, the assessment strategies for aligning curriculum and instruction and the various approaches for assessing instructional strategies including the assessment of curriculum content, and the issues associated with curriculum and instruction within educational environments.
: Select five courses from one of the following focus areas. Your advisor will need to approve the course selections.
Administration and Leadership Studies
Curriculum and Assessment

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Ed.S. program is a selective process. Therefore, meeting the minimum eligibility criteria stated below does not guarantee admission into the program. Preference for admission will be given to those students whose credentials indicate the greatest promise of academic success in their chosen course of study. Admission is made at the department level; thus, there are university and departmental requirements for admission to this program.

How to Apply

Due to the restructuring of the School of Education, the Curriculum and Instruction, Ed.S. program will not be admitting students for Fall 2024.

To apply to the online Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at UWF, you first need to submit an application for graduate admission (plus a $30 application fee) and be accepted for admission into the University of West Florida. In addition, you must submit:

Submit official transcripts confirming a bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF approved accrediting agencies
A letter of intent responding to the prompts below. Note: Your responses to the questions should not be less than six double-spaced pages in size 12 Times New Roman font. Be careful to articulate how your skills and experiences align with the goals of the area of focus and show how these will impact your career trajectory.
- What personal and professional goals do you hope to meet through earning an education specialist degree and why do you think the UWF program in curriculum and instruction is a good fit for your goals?
- What specialized knowledge, skills and experiences would you bring to the chosen area of focus and how are these aligned with the mission of the Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction as a whole? If you have had experiences that may have affected your academic performance, please provide explanatory context.
Current résumé

If you have questions about this program or the admissions process, contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu.

Costs & Financial Aid

Component	Cost	Total*
In-State Tuition	$384.60 per credit hour	$11,538.00
In-State Tuition with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 6)	$384.60 per credit hour	$9,230.40
Full Out-of-State Tuition	$1,044.24 per credit hour	$31,327.20
90% Out-of-State Tuition Waiver	$478.83 per credit hour	$14,364.90

Tuition waivers cover up to 90% of the non-resident portion of your tuition. They are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees. Review Tuition Waiver Information to learn more.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes up to 24 months to complete, depending on course availability.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. For more information and to verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Students who are currently enrolled should contact the Office of the Registrar.

Active Duty Military

All active-duty members of the U.S. military who are residing or are stationed outside the state of Florida shall have all (100%) out-of-state fees waived by the university. Contact the Military & Veterans Resource Center to apply for the Active Duty Military Out-of-State Waiver.

UWF Short-Term Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida provides eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan.

Military Students

UWF is a Military FriendlyⓇ School proudly serving active-duty U.S. military members and veterans. As UWF has been a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program since 2011, you could be eligible to receive free tuition with your military benefits.

See How We Can Serve You

Financial Aid

Funding your college education should not empty your wallet. We offer various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.

Learn More About Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

: You may either contact your enrollment counselor or log into your MyUWF account to view the status of your application.
: No, you may be enrolled part-time and be eligible for financial aid. Different awards have different enrollment criteria. For example, federal direct loans require at least half-time enrollment. All students are awarded assuming full-time enrollment. If you change enrollment plans, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships must be notified immediately, and we will revise your award if necessary.
: UWF will only accept credits from institutions whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF approved accrediting agencies, and the amount of transfer credits allowed depends on the program. For detailed information, visit our Transfer Students page.
: Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates for more information.