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.
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
- 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
- Curriculum Specialist
- Instructional Coach
- Instructional Designer
- Department Chair/Teacher Leader
- Education Program Evaluator
- Learning and Development Specialist
For educators and instructional professionals aiming at curriculum leadership rather than a single licensure add-on, a master's in curriculum and instruction is generally a direct route to that goal, since the coursework is built around curriculum design, evaluation, and leadership rather than general education theory alone.
UNCW's version is 30 credit hours across 10 courses with a required integrative capstone project, and can be completed in as few as 12 months for students carrying a full course load.
Total tuition is billed by the course rather than as a lump sum, with financial aid available for students who qualify.
A 12-month completion option paired with course-by-course billing lowers both the time and up-front financial commitment compared to many two-year, pay-in-full graduate programs.
Compare your target job titles against the program's career outcomes list, and request information for a cost breakdown based on your residency status before deciding.
This program fits people who want to lead curriculum design and instructional improvement work, whether or not they currently teach in a traditional PreK-12 classroom.
The curriculum assumes you're ready for graduate-level analysis and writing, reflected in the required statement of purpose and two recommendations, but it doesn't require a specific prior major, current teaching license, or classroom background to apply.
If you're deciding between this program and UNCW's M.Ed. in Elementary Education, the difference is scope: Curriculum and Instruction is built for cross-setting curriculum leadership, while Elementary Education is built specifically for licensed K-6 teachers deepening their classroom practice.
That broader scope means the program can be a fit even if your background is in training, instructional design, or program evaluation rather than classroom teaching.
Review the learning outcomes and capstone structure on the program page, and reach out to an enrollment specialist if you're weighing this program against Elementary Education or another education master's.
This degree prepares you for curriculum leadership roles rather than a single licensure credential. Graduates pursue titles such as curriculum specialist, instructional coach, instructional designer, department chair or teacher leader, education program evaluator, and learning and development specialist.
The 30-credit, 10-course curriculum covers curriculum studies, design thinking, group facilitation, program evaluation, action research, and emerging technologies in education, and closes with an integrative capstone project that synthesizes what you've learned across the program.
Courses are designed for students from a range of professional settings, PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, military and government agencies, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations, not just traditional classroom teachers.
Because the program targets curriculum design and leadership skills that apply across sectors, it fits people who want to move into curriculum, training, or program-evaluation roles without being limited to one industry.
Compare the career outcomes list and capstone project details on the program page against your goals, then talk with an enrollment specialist about how the degree maps to the role you want next.
Because admissions are reviewed on a rolling basis across six terms a year, confirming the exact deadlines for your target term matters more than trying to match a previous cycle's dates.
Six annual start dates mean a missed deadline for one term typically costs you a matter of weeks rather than a full academic year.
Check the full calendar on the program page and apply by the deadline for the term you want.
Yes. The program is delivered 100% online, and courses run in 7-week terms rather than traditional 15-week semesters, which is built to fit around a full-time teaching or education-sector job rather than requiring campus attendance.
The curriculum totals 30 credit hours across 10 courses, with six start dates a year (Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer 1, and Summer 2) and rolling admissions.
Total tuition and fees are estimated at based on current rates billed by the course rather than as a lump sum. Students who take a full course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months, though the pace is yours to set.
Because you're billed course by course instead of paying the full program upfront, and because a new term starts roughly every two months, a demanding stretch at work doesn't have to mean putting the degree on hold for a year.
Review the upcoming term dates on the program page and pick the start date that fits your current schedule.
Also available:
UNCW offers additional education degree and certificate programs online.
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.
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.
| 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 2026-2027 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:
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.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | 8/24/26 | 8/1/26 | 8/1/26 | 8/26/26 | 8/27/26 | 10/11/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/19/26 | 9/26/26 | 9/26/26 | 10/21/26 | 10/22/26 | 12/6/26 |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/27 | 12/12/26 | 12/12/26 | 1/13/27 | 1/14/27 | 2/28/27 |
| Spring 2 | 3/8/27 | 2/13/27 | 2/13/27 | 3/10/27 | 3/11/27 | 4/25/27 |
| Summer 1 | 5/10/27 | 4/17/27 | 4/17/27 | 5/12/27 | 5/13/27 | 6/27/27 |
| Summer 2 | 6/28/27 | 6/5/27 | 6/5/27 | 6/30/27 | 7/1/27 | 8/15/27 |
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:
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
The degree itself is a non-licensure master's, but its coursework aligns with North Carolina's standards for Curriculum Instructional Specialist licensure.
If you're pursuing that specific North Carolina licensure, you'll also need to pass the state-required examination and submit the necessary paperwork to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, separately from completing your coursework.
All educator preparation programs at UNCW are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which covers this program's educator-preparation standing.
Structuring the degree this way means the curriculum holds up whether your goal is a specific NC licensure credential or a curriculum, training, or leadership role that doesn't require one.
If NC Curriculum Instructional Specialist licensure is your goal, confirm the current examination and paperwork requirements with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction before or during your program.
You'll need a bachelor's degree, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, official transcripts, a statement of purpose, and two professional recommendations.
Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the initial application review; if you're admitted, you'll need to submit an official transcript confirming your bachelor's degree. The statement of purpose should describe your professional background, your future goals, and how the degree supports them.
The program doesn't require a specific undergraduate major or a current teaching license to apply, since it's designed for students working in PreK-12 schools as well as colleges, government agencies, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Because admission isn't limited to licensed classroom teachers, the path in is broader than programs built exclusively for K-12 educators.
Gather your transcripts and identify two recommenders now, then apply ahead of your target start date.
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).
Students must complete the following courses
**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months. Consult with your advisor.
Request Information
Submit this form, and an Enrollment Specialist will contact you to answer your questions.
