Online Master's Degree in English Education (MSE)

Start your journey toward a master’s degree in English Education today! Our program will help fortify your teaching career with a deeper dive into the subject area of English.

English Education master's degree classroom at WSC
Program Overview
Cost of Attendance
Program Courses
Program Excellence
Department Faculty

 

Advance your career with a master's in English Education.

Learn the knowledge and skills needed to become a better English teacher, and prepare for impactful roles in today’s competitive marketing with an MSE in English Education.

Affordable tuition

Affordable
Among the lowest-cost master's degrees in the U.S.

High quality program

High quality
Our graduate programs are nationally ranked for excellence.

 

Flexible

Flexible
100% online. Eight- and 16-week terms available.

Obtainable degree

Attainable
No entrance exams. Complete in as little as two years or up to 10 years.

English Education MSE program overview

Enhance your teaching, leadership, and classroom instruction skills for English education. In the Curriculum and Instruction MSE program, you will explore instructional theory and new approaches to curriculum design that meet the needs of today’s elementary and secondary schools. The English Education program is broad. We encourage students to use the graduate program to gain a broad-based education. Beyond the required hours in education, you will select from a rotation of seminars in English literature, creative writing, criticism, linguistics, and related topics.

Licensure: This program is designed for teachers who are already certified in this content area as an opportunity to go deeper into their specialty while simultaneously earning a master’s degree. This program does not meet initial certification/licensure requirements through the Nebraska Department of Education. It has not been determined if this program meets requirements for all other states. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Learn more about state authorization, licensure, and reciprocity.

Student learning outcomes for the MSE Curriculum and Instruction program:

  1. Analyze literature to improve educational practices.
  2. Develop learning environments that promote student achievement.
  3. Cultivate professional relationships with all stakeholders.
  4. Utilize evidence-based inclusive practices to develop meaningful learning experiences for students.

Download program handbook (PDF)  View program courses

Fast facts

Degree offered: Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Curriculum and Instruction – Instructional Leadership / English Education

Delivery format: Fully online

Program credit hours: 36

  • Curriculum and instruction core courses (12 credit hours)
  • English education focus area courses (24 credit hours)

Schools: Education and Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Humanities

Departments: Educational Foundations and Leadership, Language and Literature

Estimated program cost

$13,608 - $15,876*

Credit hours: 36-42

Cost per credit hour: $378 (includes fees)


*Based on the current tuition rates for 2024-25. Does not include indirect costs. For more information on costs of graduate tuition, visit the Cost of Attendance page.

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Our free application can help you decide if Wayne State College is the right choice for you and your career goals.

Next term starts: March 17, 2025 (8-week spring session)

How to apply  Request more info

Upcoming start dates:

  • May 12, 2025 (8- and 13-week summer sessions available)
  • June 2, 2025 (5- and 10-week summer sessions available)
  • July 5, 2025 (5-week summer session)
  • Aug. 18, 2025 (16-week fall session)

English Education MSE program of study

Students must complete the MSE Curriculum and Instruction core and English education focus area courses. Up to 12 credit hours may be transferred in from another regionally accredited graduate institution and applied toward a degree. Credit that has been applied toward an earned degree will not be accepted except for courses that are part of the core requirements. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a total of 36 credit hours are needed to graduate with this degree.
Additional admission requirements:

  • Submit to the graduate committee a writing sample of an academic essay of five or more pages and a letter of application specifying the applicant’s preparation and goals.
  • Complete an interview by the graduate committee.

Curriculum and instruction core courses (12 credits)

  • Credits: 3

    Description: Beginning graduate students will develop a practical knowledge and application of basic types of research, as well as basic research tools and skills that will be helpful to them throughout their program. Graduate students will create a research plan and write a review of literature (paper). Students will create appropriate survey and interview questions, develop a beginning understanding of educational statistics, and the process for developing a research proposal including Institutional Review Board requirements and application processes.

  • Credits: 3

    Description: This class is designed to acquaint students with the latest research related to instructional theory, and further, to create opportunities for teachers to try new instructional approaches. The course surveys systems that teachers may use to assess the pros and cons of various instructional approaches.

  • Credits: 3

    Description: A course designed to examine the principles underlying the development of a PK-12 public school and post-secondary program curriculum. Emphasis on methods of determining priorities, objectives, scope and sequence and organizational patterns. The roles of state and local involvement will also be examined.

  • Credits: 3

    Description: Philosophies and theories underlying the American educational system. An analysis of the differing philosophies of education and their implications for education in a democratic society.

English education focus area courses (24 credits)

  • Choose all English courses by advisement.

View course catalog  Education course rotation schedule

Approved by the Nebraska Department of Education

Wayne State's educator preparation programs are approved by the Nebraska Department of Education.

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An approved program of the Nebraska Department of Education

Related programs

Students interested in the English Education MSE may also be interested in:

English as a Second Language MSE
ESL supplemental endorsement
High Ability Education endorsement
Reading Specialist MSE
Reading Specialist endorsement

 

Awards and Rankings

Recognized for excellence

Most Focused Curriculum and Instruction Master's Degree

WSC’s Curriculum and Instruction master's degree was recognized as a Top 50 Most Focused program in the U.S. for having teachers with deeper expertise, and more resources and opportunities devoted to the program.

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Curriculum & Instruction Master's Degree award

Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees

Wayne State College was identified as having the No. 9 most affordable online master's degree program for 2025 out of more than 2,000 other colleges and universities in the U.S.

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Most Affordable Online Master's Degree 2025

A Military Friendly® School

We are proud to be named a Military Friendly® School for our commitment in creating meaningful benefits for military students and veterans. For 2024-25, WSC received the Silver Award. Only a select group of institutions achieve this designation.

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Military Friendly School Silver Status award badge

Clubs and organizations for English Education master's degree students

Graduate clubs at WSC
Meet the professors

Education Department faculty

Get in touch

Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership
Benthack Hall, Room 111
Phone: 402-375-7389

Visit the Department

MSE Curriculum and Instruction Graduate Admissions

Your next steps

Apply for admission

A WSC education student on her laptop