Community of Learning

• Fremont*
• Norfolk*
• South Sioux City*
• Aruba

*New communities starting at these sites in Fall 2024

• Communities meet five Saturdays per semester (once per month), from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Communities are facilitated by college professors and qualified practitioners in the field
• Composed of 20-40 learners/members in a community cohort from all subject areas, grade levels, and special service areas
• Participants support one another through face-to-face and online discussions throughout the two years.
• During the summers, you can complete approved electives and prepare literature reviews to complement classroom research and application. Some electives are part of additional endorsement opportunities.

• Focused on individualized professional development
• Centered around one's own unique problem of practice
• Rooted in evidenced- and research-based practice
• Uses action research methodology to study and improve practice
• Enjoyable and convenient
• Affordable
• Accredited (state, regionally, and nationally)

• Opening circle with the community
• Small group work based on your problem of practice, job, educational interests, or literary research
• Site 'council' meetings to check in with each learner / member
• Active learning experiences
• Individual, small group, and whole community opportunities to broaden and deepen one's understanding of course concepts
• Interact with expert guest speakers
• Extensive integration of multimedia and technology by community members and facilitators
• Closing circle with the community

• Further exploration of topics through readings
• Online interaction with other learners of program
• Opportunity to apply learning in your own work setting
• Written reflections and other documentation of learning and growth

The program is designed for licensed, practicing teachers and others who work in educational settings. You need an educational environment to apply your learning. Example: as the learning community explores a topic of authentic assessment, you will need a place to apply your learning in your work setting and gather evidence of learning and improvement. In some cases this can be done in the role of a parent educator, an early childhood educator, a post-secondary instructor, or a curriculum and instruction/staff developer. Part-time and substitute teachers are also encouraged to participate in the program. You simply need to collaborate with a classroom teacher who might be a community learning colleague or someone in a school near where you live or work.

The attendance expectation is 100%. Adult students may have life circumstances that result in missing parts of a Saturday session. Absence must be worked out with the other learners and facilitators in your community. Keep in mind that missing a session is like missing 15-20 hours of an on-campus program - a significant loss of learning time and something that carries consequences and is not to be taken lightly. When someone is absent not only is that person unable to receive and take part in the learning but the rest of the community is unable to tap into his or her expertise and to expand the learning. You need to maintain the highest of expectations for your learning. Participating in the learning experiences is part of those expectations. A plan of action needs to be designed, approved and implemented to address the hours not in attendance.

We understand some individuals may want to join after the first Saturday if a colleague should return to school and invite others to get involved with the instructional leadership program. If someone wants to joins the second session, he or she will need to complete the admissions form and other paperwork prior to the second Saturday and be responsible for assignments from the first Saturday.

Officially you have 10 years from the date you begin the program to complete it. Candidates will almost always complete their work in two years along with the others in their community. If you need an extension of more than one semester to complete the program of study, you will have to make special arrangements with your facilitators and the Graduate Office - this circumstance should be rare.

You would need to notify your facilitators, your advisor, and the School of Education and Counseling Office.

The MSE in Curriculum and Instruction is a 36-hour graduate program. Costs per credit hour vary, depending on residency. 
View current tuition and fees

Payment options:

View instructions on making payments, including payment method options and policies. Contact the Student Financial Services Office at 402-375-7229 for additional inquiries.

Yes. Because you will be enrolled at least half- time, you may qualify for a federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (DL). The DL program provides loans of up to $20,500 per year for graduate students. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest while the student is enrolled. Students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year.  The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information, contact the Student Financial Services Office at 402-375-7229 or by email at [email protected].

If you are receiving financial aid and it is not processed prior to the payment due date, you must be prepared to pay the balance due from other means by the due date. All fees must be paid in full before you can register for the next semester. Students qualifying for Veterans Administration benefits should contact the Records and Registration Office at 402-375-7239.