Master of Education with a Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction Online

Prepare for leadership in the classroom and beyond as you gain C&I expertise that enhances teaching effectiveness and improves student outcomes.

Apply by 8/1/26
Start class 8/24/26 Apply Now
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Program Overview

Transform your classroom with this online M.Ed. in C&I program

The online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program from University of North Carolina Wilmington prepares students to translate curriculum theory, learning and design principles into professional practice. The program equips students to lead in-depth curriculum design processes in a variety of global educational contexts, including schools, organizations and communities.

Courses are designed for students from various professional settings, including but not limited to PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, military and government agencies, privately owned businesses and nonprofit organizations. By the end of the program, students will complete an integrative capstone project that requires the synthesis of content learned across all courses. 

In this online master’s in curriculum and instruction program, you will:

  • Critically evaluate educational policies, practices and curricula to identify implications for learners, organizations and communities
  • Design adaptive curriculum and learning experiences that are responsive to learners, organizations and communities
  • Apply leadership strategies that build collaborative, inclusive learning communities across educational, organizational and community settings
  • Leverage emerging technologies and creative design approaches to integrate critical inquiry and enhance curriculum, instruction and organizational innovation
  • Engage stakeholders in reflective, data-informed decision-making and growth-oriented discussion that challenges assumptions and fosters systemic change
In this online master’s in curriculum and instruction program, you will:
  • Critically evaluate educational policies, practices and curricula to identify implications for learners, organizations and communities
  • Design adaptive curriculum and learning experiences that are responsive to learners, organizations and communities
  • Apply leadership strategies that build collaborative, inclusive learning communities across educational, organizational and community settings
  • Leverage emerging technologies and creative design approaches to integrate critical inquiry and enhance curriculum, instruction and organizational innovation
  • Engage stakeholders in reflective, data-informed decision-making and growth-oriented discussion that challenges assumptions and fosters systemic change

With an online M.Ed. C&I degree, you can explore career opportunities that include:

  • Curriculum Specialist
  • Instructional Coach
  • Instructional Designer
  • Department Chair/Teacher Leader
  • Education Program Evaluator
  • Learning and Development Specialist
With an online M.Ed. C&I degree, you can explore career opportunities that include:
  • Curriculum Specialist
  • Instructional Coach
  • Instructional Designer
  • Department Chair/Teacher Leader
  • Education Program Evaluator
  • Learning and Development Specialist

Also available:

UNCW offers additional education degree and certificate programs online.

Total Tuition $10,645.50*
Duration As few as 12 months**
Credit Hours 30

Accreditation:

All educator preparation programs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

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Need More Information?

Call 855-306-4734

Call 855-306-4734

Tuition

Learn about tuition for the online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program

UNCW offers convenient, pay-by-the-course tuition for our online programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year pending legislative approval. View more information on your cost of attendance.

View additional tuition information+

Program Total Tuition & Fees*
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (in-state residents) $10,645.50
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (out-of-state residents) $39,915.60

*All amounts shown are estimates for full program tuition and fees. Tuition and fee rates are based on 2025-2026 figures, are subject to change, and do not include textbook costs and future tuition and/or fee increases. You can review the estimated costs of attendance for information about the full cost of attendance.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $10,645.50*

Calendar

Discover program start dates and deadlines

The M.Ed. in C&I program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring rolling admissions and six start dates each year. Choose the date that best suits your goals.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 18/24/268/1/268/1/268/26/268/27/2610/11/26
Fall 210/19/269/26/269/26/2610/21/2610/22/2612/6/26
Spring 11/11/2712/12/2612/12/261/13/271/14/272/28/27
Spring 23/8/272/13/272/13/273/10/273/11/274/25/27
Summer 15/10/274/17/274/17/275/12/275/13/276/27/27
Summer 26/28/276/5/276/5/276/30/277/1/278/15/27

Students must register for courses by 5 p.m. (EST) on the registration deadline date.
Students must remit tuition payment by 10 a.m. (EST) on the tuition deadline date.

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 8/1/26
Class Starts 8/24/26

Admissions

Review the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction admission requirements

Learn more about admission guidelines for the master’s in curriculum and instruction program. UNCW reviews applications on a rolling basis, so you are urged to apply promptly for your preferred start date.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Official transcripts
  • 3.0 GPA
View all admission requirements +

Admission requirements include:

  • Application for graduate admission
  • Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree, or its U.S. equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an approved institutional accreditor completed before graduate study begins.
  • Unofficial transcripts may be submitted for the initial application review. If admitted, applicants are required to provide an official transcript showing proof of their bachelor’s degree(s).
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • A statement of purpose describing your professional background, future goals and how earning this degree helps in meeting stated goals
  • Two recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant roles

Candidates interested in licensure must pass the examination required by the State of North Carolina and submit the necessary paperwork to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Courses

Here’s a look at the online curriculum and instruction master’s courses

The online M.Ed. in C&I program curriculum is comprised of 10 courses (30 credit hours).

Expand All

Students must complete the following courses

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course engages curriculum studies by examining the historical, theoretical, ideological, and contextual forces that influence learning in schools, organizations, and communities. Through critical inquiry and reflective practice, students will examine how curriculum frames knowledge, reflects educational goals, and influences design and delivery. Students will also study approaches to curriculum development and apply them to analyze and create curricula for specific professional settings.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces students to design thinking as a human-centered approach to problem-solving and innovation, emphasizing creativity as an active, engaged practice. Students will explore design thinking frameworks—empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iteration—and apply them to challenges in curriculum, instruction, and organizational learning, organizations, and communities. Through experiential activities, case studies, and collaborative projects, students will learn to reframe problems, generate innovative solutions, and design learning experiences that foster creativity and adaptability. The course highlights the role of creativity not just as an individual trait but as a collective process essential for building responsive, inclusive, and transformative learning environments.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the principles and practices of facilitating group learning in diverse environments, including various educational settings, community-based organizations, military contexts, and non-profit organizations. The course equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to foster collaborative learning, manage group dynamics, and apply evidence-based strategies for effective facilitation.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on contemporary theories regarding colonization and decolonization emerging out of Indigenous studies, critical ethnic studies, and postcolonialism studies. Attention is paid to the relationship between colonization and learning, organizations, and communities.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course develops skills for conducting program evaluation using stakeholder involvement approaches, including collaborative and participatory evaluation. The course focuses on appropriate evaluation approaches given stakeholder needs and program context; evaluation planning, implementation, dissemination, use, and capacity building; and standards of professional evaluation practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course engages students in the use of participatory research processes to inform learning with organizations or communities. curriculum development, models of curriculum, alignment of curriculum, and instructional strategies to develop and design an action research project. on curriculum and instruction.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide the knowledge and skills required to evaluate, re-imagine, and collaboratively develop learning communities. Students will examine how relationships, culture, and structures shape collaborative learning and shared knowledge-building. Emphasis is placed on designing inclusive spaces where participants feel belonging, co-create meaning, and sustain engagement over time. This course also includes examining strategic planning and leadership for change and iterative improvement
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the field of comparative and international education, including a focus on exploring complex global educational issues of access, and quality. The course explores comparative case studies of education around the world through the lenses of formal schooling, informal education, and community-based organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the opportunities and challenges of integrating emerging technologies into educational and organizational contexts. Students will explore the pedagogical, cultural, and ethical implications of technologies. such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, mobile learning, and social networking platforms. Emphasis is placed on critically evaluating the promise and pitfalls of innovation, ensuring access, and designing technology-enhanced learning experiences that serve both local and global communities. Through applied projects, students will develop strategies to lead responsible adoption of emerging technologies in ways that enhance creativity and collaboration, and inclusion.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The integrative capstone offers students a chance to demonstrate their learning from the program while creating a project that could improve their practice and positively impact learning in schools, organizations, and communities.

**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months. Consult with your advisor.

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