Curriculum & Instruction, MA Ed (School Librarian)
Master of Arts in Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in School Librarian

University of Nebraska at Kearney
Overview
Admissions and Requirements
Courses You’ll Take
Tuition & Fees
Program Overview
The online Curriculum and Instruction Master of Arts in Education (MA Ed) with an emphasis in School Librarian program prepares students with the best practices for instruction and assessment based on the students they teach.
This unique program is designed to provide educators with the opportunity to:
- Gain knowledge and skill in the design, development and evaluation of school curriculum.
- Develop skills and knowledge to lead a school library in a PK-12 school.
- Acquire technological expertise for their school or district.
- Advance their professional growth.
This concentration leads to a School Librarian Endorsement, which has received national recognition from the:
- American Library Association (ALA)
- American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
More about the Curriculum and Instruction, MA Ed Program:
The Curriculum and Instruction program is designed to provide educators with the opportunity to gain knowledge and skill in the design, development and evaluation of school curriculum. The program requires four core courses covering areas of research, democracy, diversity and technology in accordance with the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Course options are available for students who already have a teaching permit as well as those seeking to qualify for a transitional teaching permit through the Curriculum and Instruction program.
The Curriculum and Instruction, MA Ed program offers the following specializations:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- English as a Second Language
- Instructional Effectiveness
- Montessori Early Childhood
- Montessori - Elementary I
- Reading/Special Education
- School Librarian
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Secondary Education
- Transitional Certification
Career Outlook: Curriculum specialists support teachers by providing foundation materials for courses and giving constructive feedback on how teachers are implementing those materials. Sometimes they are called instructional coordinators.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of instructional coordinators is projected to grow 11% between 2016 and 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. As states and school districts put greater emphasis on student achievement data, schools may increasingly turn to instructional coordinators to develop better curriculums and improve teachers' effectiveness.
Admissions and Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
A Bachelor's degree
2.75 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
Official transcripts from all previous schools
A professional biography
NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states
Courses You’ll Take
Core Courses
Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
TE 800 | Education Research | 3 |
This introductory web-based course in educational research focuses on evaluating and interpreting educational research and applying its findings to educational practice. The course will provide opportunities for students to (a) define and differentiate between and among basic, applied, and action research and explain how each contributes to practice; (b) conduct and interpret preliminary, primary, and secondary sources of research in both online and hard copy formats; (c) compare and contrast various research designs, and (d) analyze qualitative and quantitative research methodology. This will include the use of statistical techniques and conditions to describe educational phenomena and to determine the validity and reliability of research methods, case studies, critical-theory, historical, and ethnographical methodology. | ||
TE 804 | Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education | 3 |
Students learn to evaluate, create, and implement multicultural lesson plans, unit plans, textbooks, curriculum guides, classroom rules and regulations, and school policies. | ||
TE 803 | Philosophy of Education | 3 |
Survey of the philosophical foundations of western culture and their relation to the development of earlier and contemporary educational philosophies. | ||
TE 805P or TE 886P | Select one: Overview of Assistive Technology or Technology Tools for Teachers | 3 |
Overview of Assistive Technology (TE 805P): This course examines the applications of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities as it relates to teaching and learning. Existing research with students with special needs will be reviewed and new applications of existing and developing technology will be explored. Technology Tools for Teachers (TE 886P): This course will focus on using technologies in an instructional environment with an emphasis on ethical, human, legal and social issues, methods and skills appropriate to planning and designing learning environments and instructional management methodologies using appropriate materials, methods, resources and curricula for integrating technology. |
Elective Courses
Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
---|---|---|
TE 871 | Collection Development and Management | 3 |
Prereq: TE 869. Collection Development and Management is designed to provide the student with the basic competencies needed for print and non-print collection selection, development and evaluation. | ||
TE 870 | Developing Web-Based Portfolios | 3 |
This course will focus on planning, revising, and developing web-based working and academic portfolios. Tools such as web editors and imagine editing software will be used. Student will create a working portfolio to use during their academic programs. | ||
TE 893 | Field Experiences in School Library | 3 |
Prereq: TE 869, TE 871*, TE 872*, TE 873*, TE 875*
This course is the capstone experience for students in the MSED-Instructional Technology (Library Media) or Library Media Endorsement programs. Students will be gain experiences in school library media center settings. Students must have completed TE 869, TE 871, TE 872, TE 873 and TE 875 as prerequisites. | ||
TE 875 | Administration of the School Library | 3 |
Prereq: TE 869. This course will focus on the administration of the library media program's mission, budgeting, supervision of personnel, planning, resource needs, communication within the school and public communities, the role of the information specialist in the instructional process, and the interrelationships of information agencies. | ||
TE 869 | Introduction to School Library Program | 3 |
This course is an overview of selected school library topics: current trends, genres, issues, and instructional and motivational strategies in children's and adolescent literature; school library and educational professional ethics including issues concerning the individual, society and the profession; and an introduction to information literacy. | ||
TE 872 | Organization of School Library and Technology Resources | 3 |
Students will learn a variety of techniques for providing access to resources, including exploring the types and functions of automation systems and basic methods and procedures of cataloging and classification within a school library program. Prerequisite: TE 869 | ||
TE 868 | Copyright, Fair Use and Ethics | 3 |
This course focuses on the ethical use of copyrighted material and Fair Use Guidelines as they relate to education and business training. | ||
TE 873 | Reference Services and Resources | 3 |
Prereq: TE 869. This course will focus on the range of reference resources which support the school library media center, including the evaluation and use of print and electronic reference sources, reference procedures, and the instructional role of reference resources in the overall school curriculum. |
Tuition & Fees
Nebraska Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $315.00
- Fees
- $52.25
- Total
- $367.25
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $945.00
- Fees
- $156.75
- Total
- $1101.75
Out of State Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $444.00
- Fees
- $52.25
- Total
- $496.25
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $1332.00
- Fees
- $156.75
- Total
- $1488.75
About Faculty
University of Nebraska online courses are taught by expert faculty who embody the qualities resulting from research experience and professional/field experience. Students learn from faculty with a variety of backgrounds, many of whom are published researchers in their fields. NU faculty who teach online do so in a way that optimizes learning within the online modality and because technology enables students to access education they may otherwise may not be able to pursue.
Application Deadlines
- Fall SemesterJul 11
- Spring SemesterNov 11
- Summer SemesterApr 10

