Griffons Support Others

Today’s Pre-K – 12 classrooms are more diverse than ever, and finding effective ways to teach all students is more important than it’s ever been.

Best Online Master's

Gain a deep understanding of how to effectively differentiate instruction for learners who are: English learners, gifted, at-risk for school failure, or who experience mild to moderate disability. Graduates of the program will gain specific skills associated with differentiating:

  • content: what is to be learned
  • process: how learners acquire information
  • product: how learners demonstrate learning
  • learning environments: where and with whom learners learn.

All the courses for this degree are available 100% online.

Master of Applied Science in Assessment

The Master of Applied Science in Assessment – Differentiated Instruction option provides a deep understanding of fundamental issues associated with differentiating instruction methods.


Students will obtain:

  • Knowledge of differentiated instructional methods needed to successfully teach all learners in diverse classrooms
  • Knowledge of effective approaches to differentiated instruction
  • Opportunities to develop leadership skills, including: needs analysis, shared vision, improved communication, adult learning, measurement of efficacy and overcoming resistance
  • Enhanced general knowledge of diverse, inclusive classroom settings
  • Training in analytical and critical thinking methods
  • Support for an internship experience

The Differentiated Instruction option is designed to meet the needs of the following professionals:

  • Current and future teachers, from early childhood, elementary and secondary education, who want to learn techniques to more effectively support all learners in diverse, inclusive, PreK-12 classrooms
  • School administrators, who are interested in improving instructional practices in their school or district
  • Current or future educational policy makers, who wish to enhance their understanding of the power of differentiated instruction for meeting the unique needs of ALL learners in diverse, inclusive, PreK-12 classrooms

While successful completion of the Differentiated Instruction master’s degree will prepare graduates to better meet the diverse challenges of teaching in today’s classrooms, it is not a program that will lead to licensure.  The State of Missouri does not currently offer a teacher certification unique to differentiated instruction.

  • Strong foundation in current research in the field of differentiating instructional content, process, product and learning environments
  • All required courses are available online
  • A professional core sequence, which focuses on critical reading of education literature and analyzing research in education
Dr. Kipton Smilie Portrait

Dr. Kipton Smilie

Education Graduate Program Director & Professor


educgrad@missouriwestern.edu
(816) 271-4301

differentiate-instruction

About Our Graduate Programs

Delivery: 100% online
Application Deadlines:

  • Spring 2023: Jan. 10, 2023
  • Summer 2023: May 23, 2023
  • Fall 2023: Aug. 21, 2023

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