Educational Specialist in
Curriculum & Instruction
Program Highlights & Benefits
100% online or Hybrid format available
Accelerated, dissertation free pathway
No GRE required for admission
Seamless pathway to Doctoral study available
What You Learn
The Educational Specialist in Curriculum & Instruction (ESCI) at Gardner-Webb University is a fully accredited, 36- credit hour graduate program designed for advanced candidates pursuing leadership roles that support high-impact learning. The program emphasizes empowering individuals and communities through facilitated collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Candidates progress through ESCI coursework in a cohort model, completing courses together and developing professional relationships that support collaborative leadership and sustained improvement.
How You Learn
This program is delivered in an 100% online or hybrid format, cohort-based format designed to support working professionals. Each semester students will take one course, consisting of six or 9 integrated semester hours.
Hybrid Format: Candidates complete the program in a blended format that includes both face-to-face and online learning. During fall, spring, and summer semesters, candidates attend three face-to-face weekends. In addition to the in-person sessions, coursework is completed online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities.
Career Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all program coursework, required evidences, and the Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (5411) assessment, candidates may be recommended for S-level North Carolina licensure as a Curriculum & Instructional Specialist. In South Carolina, candidates who already hold a master’s degree may apply credit hours from this program toward Master’s plus 30 (MA+30) certification.
Prerequisites
Applicants must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. A minimum of three years of professional experience is preferred. A valid teaching license is required. Applicants without a teaching license must submit a letter verifying equivalent teaching experience as part of the application.
Degree Requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
| EDCI 730 | Organizational Theory Needs Assessment | 6 |
| EDCI 732 | Issues and Models in Curriculum | 6 |
| EDCI 734 | Reform and Change Theory | 6 |
| EDCI 738 | Curriculum Assessment and Evaluation | 6 |
| EDCI 740 | Instructional Leadership | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
Pathway to Doctoral Study
Graduates may also pursue a seamless pathway into doctoral study through Gardner-Webb University’s Ed.D. program. The 36-credit hour Educational Specialist (ESEL) coursework in Educational Leadership and Curriculum & Instruction (ESCI) may serve as advanced standing toward the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership or Curriculum & Instruction only in cases where the candidate elects not to graduate with the Educational Specialist degree. This option is designed to support candidates who initially enroll in the Educational Specialist track at Gardner-Webb University but later determine that their academic and professional goals are best served through direct progression to doctoral study. Candidates must formally declare intent prior to graduation to pursue this option.
Request Info
What Teachers Are Saying
