OVERVIEW
What is a Curriculum Director?
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A curriculum director is hired by a school board to ensure that an effective educational program is in place, helping students reach their learning potential. This type of role involves working closely with students and teachers to implement and oversee a curriculum that meets the unique challenge faced by each particular school board.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Curriculum Director Do?
While every curriculum director鈥檚 job will differ depending on the needs of the school and the requirements of the school board, here are some common tasks that they鈥檒l likely be asked to perform during their career.
- Planning and evaluating.听A curriculum director鈥檚 main task is planning the curriculum, whether that is implementing one from scratch or improving one already in place. They will use their years of experience to ensure the curriculum is appropriate for staff and students while staying up to date with the latest developments in education.
- Developing a team.听A good curriculum doesn鈥檛 appear out of nowhere. Behind any good system is a team of experienced teachers, senior members of staff, librarians, educational researchers, and curriculum designers. It鈥檚 the job of a curriculum director to meld these personalities together and produce the best possible outcome for the school board.
- Curriculum in action.听It鈥檚 one thing to have a great plan on paper, but a curriculum director must keep his eyes on the trenches: how are students responding to it? How are teachers implementing it? If a curriculum is to be effective and not just a piece of bureaucratic paperwork, curriculum directors must help teachers implement these changes and navigate their way to a successful learning outcome.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Curriculum Director?
This is a high-level position within a school requiring at least a听bachelor鈥檚 degree, but those who are serious about thriving in this career will be best served by studying for a听尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听degree. Getting a degree from 黑料传送门 allows students to get into the workforce faster by cutting years of the required study time. 黑料传送门 students can take courses at a pace that suits them. In fact, the average 黑料传送门 student completes their undergraduate studies in听36听months.
The path to becoming a curriculum director is long, but relatively straightforward. It requires a strong background in education, advanced degrees, and years of experience. But a fulfilling career at the heart of the education system awaits.
Here are the steps towards becoming a curriculum director:
Step One: Earn a bachelor鈥檚 in education
A听Bachelor鈥檚 in education听will kickstart one鈥檚 career as a curriculum director. Aspiring curriculum directors will be able to learn the fundamentals of teaching and the education system, as well as study courses that will be very helpful to their future careers, such as curriculum design, the latest educational theories, and many more.听
Step Two: Become certified as a teacher
The next step on the road to becoming a curriculum director is听getting certified as a teacher. This varies state by state but the basics are roughly the same:
- Attain a bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Get some work experience teaching students, and pass the corresponding course
- Pass a general test (Praxis) and a specific test for one鈥檚 specialized subject
- Pass a criminal and professional background check
Step Three: Get experience in the field
It鈥檚 time to enter the workforce. But not as a curriculum director鈥攜et. To land this job, more experience is required. The exact amount can vary depending on the school board but sources recommend听. Those who can use this time to shadow an existing curriculum developer will find that worth it when it comes to job hunting later on.
Step Four: Earn a 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree
A curriculum director is a relatively senior position within a school and as such, some school boards will ask for a 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree. We recommend studying for a course that will provide direct knowledge of听curriculum design, such as a听尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 in curriculum and instruction听that will elevate a prospective curriculum director鈥檚 chances of landing that perfect job.听
This program will equip students with the knowledge and know-how when it comes to designing an innovative curriculum that will engage students no matter their background. This program also teaches the latest in curriculum design and instruction, data-informed practices, and even courses on being an effective leader.听
Best Degree for Curriculum Directors
Education
Curriculum and Instruction 鈥� M.S.
An online master's degree for those who have educational experience and...
An online master's degree for those who have educational experience and are looking to further their careers with a graduate program focused on curriculum development and design.
- Time: 62% of students earn this degree within 12 months.
- Tuition:听$4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 included in this program:
- Differentiated Instruction
- Curriculum and Instruction Design
- Educational Research
- Assessment
Help schools create engaging, meaningful, and memorable learning experiences to improve learning outcomes for all students with this M.S. degree.
How Much Does a Curriculum Director Make?
$97,500
The U.S. Department of Labor says that postsecondary education administrators (including curriculum directors) had a median average salary of听听in 2020. The lower end of the scale comes in at $56,310, and the top ten percent of earners brought in $199,400. All of that is above the national average wage, which is $41,950.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
4%
The BLS projects a听听growth from 2019 to 2029 period, which is slightly above the national average of 3%. That translates to around 7,100 new jobs during this period. But curriculum directors with the necessary experience and a solid 尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree will be sure to stand out during the job search.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Curriculum Director Need?
A good curriculum director needs more than just a set of qualifications. They need other skills to thrive in this position. Curriculum directors will need to show the school board that they wish to work for that they have and can demonstrate:
- Organization and time-management skills
- Open channels of communication with other team members
- A love of education for students and for themselves
- Confidence as both a teacher and a leader
- Planning and design skills
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at 黑料传送门 year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree鈥攕ooner than you might think!
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