Careers in Curriculum and Instruction

<p>Curriculum and instruction careers are in the field of education; there are numerous job titles and areas of practice available related to developing, implementing and assessing education methods. For example, you could choose a career as an instructional coordinator, which involves developing new curriculum and helping schools in the implementation of it. You could also become a postsecondary education instructor. These are teachers who instruct classes in the field of education, generally for students who aspire to become teachers themselves one day. They may introduce students to new technologies they could use in the classroom and help them develop good teaching practices. Another option is a job as a training and development specialist. These professionals are often employed by companies and businesses who want their employees to undergo a training session in a new idea or technology. The specialists will also conduct surveys to see how effective trainings were so they can improve them if possible. The table below outlines the general requirements for instructional coordinators, postsecondary education instructors and training and development specialists. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>

</td><td> <b>Instructional Coordinators</b>
</td><td> <b>Postsecondary Education Instructors</b> </td><td>
<b>Training and Development Specialists</b></td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b>
</td><td> Master's degree
</td><td> Master's degree, doctoral degree commonly required </td><td>
Bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Education Field of Study</b> </td><td> Education, curriculum and instruction </td><td> Education or related field
</td><td> Training and development, human resources, education, instructional design</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td>
Develop and coordinate curriculum implementation, plan and conduct teacher training conferences, evaluate teachers' instruction
</td><td> Teach education-related courses, might instruct future counselors, instructors or professors, create and teach curriculum </td><td>
Use surveys and interviews to assess training needs, design training materials, deliver training materials to employees or hire training instructors</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Licensure/Certification</b>
</td><td> Licensure often required in public schools </td><td> Licensure might be required
</td><td> Certification recommended for advancement</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b> </td><td> 12%* </td><td>
12%* </td><td> 11%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2020)</b>
</td><td> $66,970*
</td><td> $80,560*
</td><td> $62,700*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatDoesCurriculumAndInstructionInvolve">What Does Curriculum and Instruction Involve?</h3> <p>Curriculum and instruction are foundations that aid academic and procedural success in the field of education in schools, government agencies and corporate offices. Schools and businesses often use a vast array of curriculum and instruction models to educate and train people and to create a consistent learning culture. As a curriculum and instructional coordinator, you may hold such titles as director of instruction, development specialist or instructional coach, but your occupational goal would be the same. You'll make sure the school or business you work for has successful plans, programs and materials to ensure people receive adequate education. </p> <p>You might work as an educator, introducing new technology. You'd train others how to properly use it and help them develop effective practices for their classrooms. In addition, you could serve as a mentor for new educators, facilitators and administrators. At one school or company, you might find yourself focusing on developing coursework and choosing the proper written materials to be reviewed and studied. At another, you'd observe how educational materials are being used and provide feedback for change and improvement. </p> <h3 id="section---HowCanIStartMyCareer">How Can I Start My Career?</h3> <p>Much of the curriculum and instruction work is done in the field of education, so you might need experience as a licensed teacher in the classroom. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a master's degree is often preferred or required for this kind of work (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). Once you've completed the requisite education, you'll need to obtain a teaching or administrator license from your state to work in public schools. You'll usually need to keep up with the changes in the field by taking continuing education classes, such as consulting practices and evaluation procedures. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatJobsMayIApplyFor">What Jobs May I Apply For?</h3> <p>In the field of curriculum and instruction, there are many different jobs available and companies that might hire you. You could find work as a professor of education, a textbook editor or an educational consultant. You could become a corporate training facilitator, civilian military trainer or private school instructor. Some institutions and employers that hire curriculum and instruction specialists include universities, public school districts, government agencies, textbook companies and consulting firms. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsTheJobOutlookAndSalaryPotential">What Is the Job Outlook and Salary Potential?</h3> <p>According to the BLS, job opportunities for instructional coordinators are anticipated to grow by 12% between 2020 and 2030. This employment growth is expected to be a result of schools' desire to improve curricula while making their teachers more effective in the classroom. Your salary will likely vary depending on where you're employed, but the BLS reports that the median annual wage for instructional coordinators in May 2020 was $66,970. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3> <p>As some of these jobs are related to the field of education and require a degree in education, you would also be qualified to pursue a job as an elementary or high school teacher. These professionals work in schools and instruct students of varying ages. Depending on the level of students you teach, you would either focus on one particular subject or teach several. You may also be interested in a job in human resources as a manager, which would also require a bachelor's degree. Human resources managers plan and coordinate a number of administrative duties in an organization or company. They may be in charge of recruiting and interviewing prospective employees, dealing with workplace conflict, and generally are the link between the employees and the executives in a company.</p>