Who Says I'm Overeducated--Curriculum and Instruction

How can I make a living doing something fulfilling? This is one of those questions that we all ask ourselves at one point or the next. The answer to this question lies in finding a market for your talents. Sometimes, you won't know what your talents are until you've taken a few wrong paths.


One way to discover new talents is to go to school. This weekly column explores different college degrees as a way to help you investigate different educational paths which will hopefully lead to fulfilling careers. This week, we're going to take a look at earning a degree in curriculum and instruction.

Who Decides What a Child Learns?

Have you ever wondered who decides what third grade students should learn in school, or why fourth graders learn certain subjects that aren't taught to third graders? Why is it that most students learn addition before they learn subtraction, or why do upper level math students typically learn algebra before geometry? Most of us can't really answer these questions, but just accept that the sequence of things has been around for so long that no one really needs to question why certain subjects are taught at certain time. The truth of the matter is that the subjects our children learn are determined by people who create educational curricula for a living.

Want to Change the Curriculum? You'll need a Teaching Degree

Those who work in the curriculum and instruction field generally have an undergraduate teaching degree. Most of those who focus on curriculum and instruction do so in a graduate school of education. Many have already taught students in a variety of different levels and subjects. Those who go back to curriculum and instruction school generally have ideas on how to improve current curricula to better educate students.

Curriculum and Instruction: An Important Responsibility

Maintaining a school curriculum is very challenging. Educational best practices are continuously changing, as well as teaching methods. Student populations are dynamic, and their needs vary by region, culture, and age. Curriculum and instruction officials have to take all of these considerations to heart before tweaking a curriculum. Because the ultimate education of a large number of students relies on curriculum management, only those who have advanced degrees and ample experience are generally given this responsibility.

About the author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University.