30
Credit Hours
2
Years

Degree

  • Master of Arts https://www.stmarytx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/professor-white-board.jpg

Format

  • Online

Department

Program Director

Amplify Student Success While Advancing Your Career

Elevate your students’ chances of success while boosting your own career prospects with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Curriculum and Instruction with Dual Credit Certification from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Complete a master’s degree, along with the classes you need to earn dual credit teaching credentials, in just two years.

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What is Dual Credit Teaching?

Dual credit courses allow Texas students to earn college credit before graduating high school. In order to teach those advanced courses, high school teachers must complete 18 credit hours of graduate-level training in a specific discipline and obtain a master’s degree.

Why Earn Your Curriculum and Instruction Master’s at St. Mary’s?

High school students who earn college credit before they graduate get a head start on their future. With a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and dual credit certification from St. Mary’s, you can play an important role in their journey.

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  • Fully Online

    You don’t have to put your career — or your life — on hold to earn your graduate degree. The M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction is delivered fully online, with weekly virtual class meetings and flexible coursework you can complete on your own schedule.

  • Two Years to Completion

    Start working on a master’s at St. Mary’s today and complete your degree in just two years. Why wait? Teachers with master’s degrees earn 10 to 15% more than their counterparts without advanced credentials.

  • Subject Specialization

    A passionate teacher is an effective teacher. Whether you love English Language and Literature, Government, or U.S. History, you can tailor the M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction to reflect your interests.

  • Program of Study

    This 30-credit program can be completed in two years. Earn an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction through 12 credit hours of core classes focused on effective teaching and lesson design. Then, earn dual credit certification with 18 credit hours of instruction in discipline-specific classes.

    Core Curriculum and Instruction courses include:

    • Contemporary Issues in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners
    • Effective Teaching and Learning Methods
    • Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction

    Dual Certificate Options

    You’ll earn your 18 credit hours of discipline-specific training in one of three different subject areas:

    In addition to earning a certificate for dual credit teaching, you can apply your completed credit hours toward a master’s degree in the subject from St. Mary’s University.

Education Career Opportunities with Dual Credit Certification

Nearly 250,000 Texas high school students enrolled in dual credit courses in 2024 — a number that has increased almost every year since 1999 and is up over 36% since Fall 2020. It’s obvious why these classes are in demand — not only do they allow students to graduate college more quickly, but they also make it more likely they attend college in the first place.

But students and their families aren’t the only ones who benefit. As a teacher with dual credit certification, you’ll increase your earning potential and open the door to additional teaching opportunities, including at the community college level.

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Admission

St. Mary’s makes it easy to apply for graduate study. There is no application fee, and no GRE scores are required. If you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or will have earned your degree before the first day of classes, you’re eligible to apply. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, and students can enter during the fall, spring or summer terms.

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International students whose native language is not English must also complete the TOEFL or IELTS English competency exam with these minimum scores in one of the following (This requirement is waived for students graduating from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university):

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-based Test (iBT)®: 80
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0
  • Duolingo English Test: 115+
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Close the Achievement Gap with Dual Credit Certification

Erika Melero smiles and poses for the camera.

To come back to this campus and to do my master’s in the same place where I already felt this strong connection is such a wholesome feeling.”

Erika Melero (B.A. ’01)
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with Dual Credit Certification in English student

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Opportunity Awaits for You and Your Students

Graduates of St. Mary’s M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with dual credit certification don’t just teach. They bridge the gap between high school and higher education, giving students earlier access to college-level learning and a head start on achieving their goals.

Through this program, you’ll reduce barriers to college completion while expanding your professional outlook through a specialized skill set. Expand your impact at St. Mary’s; apply today.

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