An Online M.A.Ed. Program Built on Social Justice Competencies
Be an Agent for Change
The Online Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction from the William & Mary School of Education gives you the opportunity to spark change throughout your institution or organization and affect change in educational policy and practice.
With coursework built on a framework of five pillars that emphasize social justice competencies, you can advocate for a more equitable tomorrow. The M.A.Ed. curriculum features classes on teaching for equity and inclusion, teaching for social justice and much more.
The 5 Pillars of the Curriculum and Instruction Social Justice Framework
Inquiry
Inquiry is the process of posing significant questions that focus on complex problems. Through the program, you will gather, organize, judge, aggregate and analyze situations, literature and data in order to challenge the inequities perpetuated by the educational status quo.
Cultural Responsiveness
Become a responsive instructor and designer through your understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy, theories, classroom and school assessment data and research. You will use this knowledge to plan instruction responsive to your students’ local, national and international histories, individual identities, experiences and languages/dialects, as these elements influence students’ opportunities to learn.
Advocacy
An advocate questions and embraces redistribution of power and resources, and recognizes cultural differences to facilitate change. Through the program, you will come to take action by consistently demonstrating cross-cultural communication and skills required to effectively interact with privileged and marginalized students.
Collaboration
Collaborators promote ongoing, systematic collaboration with colleagues, administrators, families, community members, business and community leaders and other stakeholders to improve the educational system and expand opportunities for student learning. You will work for an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are welcomed in addressing challenges.
Leadership
A teacher leader and change agent understands how educational policy is made at the local, state and national levels, as well as the roles of school leaders, boards of education, legislators and other stakeholders in formulating those policies. You will use this knowledge to advocate for student needs and for practices that support effective teaching and increase student learning. You will also serve as an individual of influence and respect within your school, community and profession.
Experience, Innovation and Passion

The distinguished faculty at W&M have experience teaching elementary and/or secondary school students and lead dialogue with an equity-driven focus in research publications in text books. They drive innovative teaching methods and are also advocates involved in local and national causes, such as lobbying on Capitol Hill for students with disabilities.
Through the Online M.A.Ed. and Certificate programs, our faculty work to ensure you will be ready to teach and lead through a fulfilling career in Curriculum and Instruction. With the guidance of the faculty members, you will have mastered and demonstrated the social justice competencies that will make a difference in the lives of countless students.

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