USD Professional and Continuing Education offers a customized, online curriculum design and development course during the Spring through the Summer in 3-unit, 4-unit and 6-unit options and a 6-unit option during the fall.
While our curriculum design and development course is adapted for each successive year, the mission remains the same: to provide K–12 educators with the tools and education to successfully refine, design and enhance their course curricula. Enrollment opens each January and completion of course work ends in August. All unit courses are in the Online Self-Paced format with a specific start and end date.
Gather inspiration to become creative with your curriculum development. Enrollment in this course will help with the designing of new projects, lessons and materials for your classroom.
Inspire your students by powering up your classroom with the development of new plans, projects and materials so they can become more creative. Enrollment in this course will help with the designing of new projects, lessons and materials for your classroom.
Our online self-paced courses are similar to online fixed-date courses, but are designed to give you a six-month period from time of enrollment to complete all assignments. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.
How is the self-paced course structured? Like fixed-date courses, online self-paced courses are asynchronous meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime; the difference being there are no assigned due dates in self-paced courses. The content is divided into learning modules. Each module will cover one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
To meet the needs of the widest range of educators, USD offers three options for the curriculum design and development course. The more units you choose to earn in one semester, the more time you should expect to devote to your course.
At the end of your curriculum design and development course, you will be able to:
K–12 educators like you who are looking to improve and elevate their classroom curriculum. Choose the schedule and course units that best suit your goals for the coming school year.
Not only will you discover various improvement strategies for designing and developing engaging, effective lessons — you’ll also earn credit while planning for your next school year. Curriculum design and development courses at USD can be as customized as your planning strategy needs to be, providing you with the accessibility, flexibility and convenience to control your own learning pace.
I love the continuing education classes at USD because unlike classes I’ve taken at other universities, I feel like the material is really applicable and I’m actually learning something. The courses push my learning without being too challenging/time consuming to complete while working full time. The professors also really seem interested in your growth rather than just checking off that you completed the requirements.
Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.
Employment opportunities in the education field — including adult education — are expected to grow by almost 1 million new jobs by 2030 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With so many new and emerging opportunities, adult learning institutions and programs are going to have to compete heavily to attract and retain the most talented educators.
This makes furthering your education and diversifying your teaching skill set all the more important. By growing your expertise in a wide variety of educational concepts, you will broaden your career prospects and become a valuable asset in any learning environment.
Industry Insights
Job growth
Median salary
Career Opportunities
District Level Professional Development ProviderInstructional CoachAcademic DirectorConference SpeakerWorkplace TrainerContinuing Education Instructor Anyone interested in leading other adults through trainings, workshops, or presentations.
While a master’s degree is not necessarily an indicator of teaching skill, teaching candidates with master’s degrees are consistently given preference over those with bachelor’s degrees only. Regardless, the more time and dedication given to improving your teaching ability, the more likely you will be considered for higher-level (i.e. higher paid) positions.
A teaching salary is highly dependent on geographical location, even down to the part of town you teach in. The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that, as of May 2021, the annual mean wage for elementary and high school teachers tops out at roughly $87,000 and $94,000, respectively. Salaries typically increase for academic specializations.
12.5 hours are required per 1.0 unit.
Credit validation units can be classroom, online, or a combination of both. Assignments and readings can count towards the time requirement. Credit can also be earned for attending a conference.
If you experience issues enrolling, or have questions, complete our Contact Us Form or call our Enrollment and Student Services team between 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (PST), M-F, at (619) 260-4585 or toll free at (888) 321-6658.
DoDEA POC’s usually have their own template for their course requests which include all the information that is needed. If they do not, there is a template they can use.
The course must be approved by the school principal, Area Supervisor, Subject specialist (ISS), or area superintendent before being sent to USD for approval.
USD primarily checks that the time requirement is being met since the DoDEA representative should have checked the content to ensure its relevance and quality.
If the course approval meets the time requirement, USD assigns a course number.
When approved, send the course link to the DoDEA POC
Remind the POC that they, or the instructor, will need to reach out to USD to request the roster any time after the registration period has closed/course has concluded.
Encrypt the roster and send to POC/instructor. They will send the roster back and we enter the grades in Destiny.
Let the POC/instructor know that grades have been posted.
Graduate Level Extension Credit.
It is the responsibility of the participant to confirm with their school district/organization if our units will be accepted before registering for credit.
The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.
High-quality, career-building courses to choose from
In-depth, innovative, and relevant topics
Career advancing certificates
Download eBook: 7 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Curriculum Design Course
The Beginning Teachers Series is designed for those who are new to teaching, as well as those wanting to advance their teaching career. Beginning teachers will receive an introduction to teaching with these beginning teachers courses.
Character Education remains an essential but often overlooked discipline in today’s schools. This online Certificate program is designed to enhance your understanding and facilitation of teaching character to your students.
Classroom management is an essential skill for both new and experienced teachers. USD’s classroom management certificate is designed to help teachers learn how to make the classroom a place where both you and your students can focus on educational goals in a positive environment.