Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum

Entrance Exam: GRE (only required for the Educational Psychology concentration)

College of Education

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum (TLC) is designed for practicing educators seeking to strengthen their instructional expertise, expand their leadership capacity, and increase their impact on student learning in K - 12 settings. The program emphasizes the design, implementation, and analysis of high-impact learning experiences grounded in research, theory, and reflective practice. This degree is ideal for licensed teachers and education professionals who wish to deepen their content knowledge, refine their pedagogy, and emerge as instructional leaders in their field.

Students may choose from five concentrations that align with their professional interests and teaching contexts. To learn more about each concentration, click on the concentration name below to visit its program page on the College of Education (CED) website:

Students can select either the 30-credit hour M.Ed. (non-thesis) option or the 36-credit hour M.S. (thesis) option. If you’re interested in pursuing the Master of Science (MS) in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum, please contact Dr. Vandna Bindra at vkgill@ncsu.edu for more information.

Please note: The Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum program was formerly named Curriculum & Instruction. The name change is still pending in the application system. When applying, select Curriculum & Instruction as the program name, and then select the appropriate concentration area.

Eligibility

All applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for The Graduate School at NC State to apply. Specific requirements for each concentration are listed below. Additional instructions for the personal statement and letters of recommendation are detailed for each concentration on the CED website.

Educational Psychology

Undergraduate degree in a relevant area with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Three or more years of relevant teaching experience (preferred but not required)
Submission of transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended
Personal statement
Resume/CV
GRE test scores from the past five years
Three letters of recommendation.

Elementary Education in Mathematics and Science (EEMS)

Undergraduate degree in a relevant area with a minimum GPA of 3.0
NC teacher license or equivalent experience in a relevant area/grade level
Current or prior teaching experience in a K-6 classroom (preferred not required)
Submission of transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, a personal statement, current resume, and three letters of recommendation

English Language Arts Education

Undergraduate degree in English or related focus with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Teaching license or equivalent experience in middle or high school English
Three or more years of relevant teaching experience (recommended but not required)
Submission of transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, a personal statement, current resume, and three letters of recommendation

Reading Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant area with a minimum GPA of 3.0
NC teacher license or equivalent experience in a relevant area/grade level
Three or more years of relevant teaching experience (preferred but not required)
Submission of transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, a personal statement, current resume, and three letters of recommendation

Social Studies

3.0 minimum GPA in undergraduate field (history, social sciences or related filed)
Prior or current teaching experience in secondary (grades 6-12) social studies classroom (preferred but not required)

Plan of Study

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum (TLC) requires 30 credit hours for completion and may be pursued through one of five concentrations:

Please note that the TLC M.Ed. is not an educator preparation program, and it does not lead to a teaching license for beginning teachers. The M.Ed. degree provides specialized knowledge for experienced teachers who already have completed their teacher licensure requirements. View the online M.A.T. program if you are looking for a program that prepares new teachers for licensure in NC.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the Master of Education in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum are prepared to advance their impact as instructional leaders across K–12 educational settings. The program equips experienced educators to design effective curriculum, apply research-based instructional strategies, and lead learning initiatives that improve student outcomes. Graduates often move into roles that influence teaching practice at the classroom, school, or district level while remaining closely connected to instructional work.

This degree supports career growth in areas such as instructional coaching, curriculum development, teacher leadership, professional learning facilitation, and education consulting. With concentration-specific expertise in fields such as educational psychology, literacy, mathematics and science education, English language arts, or social studies, graduates are positioned to take on specialized leadership roles, support educator development, and contribute to data-informed decision-making in schools and education-focused organizations.

Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum

Program Contacts