School Details
Founded in 1946, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. It began as Wilmington Community College but was authorized to offer bachelor’s degrees in 1963 and master’s degrees in 1977. What was Wilmington College became the Wilmington campus of the University of North Carolina in 1969. Today, UNCW is a nationally recognized large public doctoral university with a private feel. Students benefit from a powerful and supportive academic experience that “…nurtures creative inquiry, simulates critical thinking, and welcomes thoughtful expression in a beautiful coastal setting.”
UNC Wilmington offers a comprehensive range of degrees and certificates from the following colleges and schools:
- College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts
- College of Health and Human Services
- Cameron School of Business
- College of Science and Engineering
- Watson College of Education
- Graduate School
The Department of Distance Education offers degrees at all levels that may be earned completely online. These online degrees receive the same accreditation as on-campus programs and are taught by the same talented and dedicated faculty that are found on campus. These online programs are convenient, innovative, and flexible and are designed with students in mind. UNCW online degrees are taught using the latest in innovative technology which provides interactive, engaging, and academically rigorous coursework.
Accreditation & Licensing
University of North Carolina-Wilmington is accredited by:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
The online Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree program is designed to provide students with a core liberal arts education combined with focused knowledge and skills. The curriculum draws on prior course work while allowing students to focus on a particular area such as:
- Enterprise & Economy
- Global & International Studies
- Social Institutions & Human Behavior
- Science & Technology
- Arts & Humanities
- Human Wellbeing
Enroll in this online history degree and advance your professional opportunities. This program is designed for current teachers. Take your knowledge and career to the next level in a program that strengthens and sustains a love of history in a learning environment. The curriculum covers the most current research practices and questions in relation to historical problems.
The online education degree is flexible, allowing you to study wherever it is convenient. Further your education without leaving your home or quitting your job.
The online Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree program from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington is designed to provide a highly integrated exploration of the liberal arts and give learners a deeper understanding of the social, scientific, and humanistic dimensions of the modern world. Courses are divided into three broad thematic areas:
- Social concerns and cultural systems
- Environment, science, and society
- Literature, arts, and society
The online Post-Master's Certificate in Liberal Studies program from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington is designed to provide a highly integrated exploration of the liberal arts and give learners a deeper understanding of the social, scientific, and humanistic dimensions of the modern world. Courses are divided into three broad thematic areas:
- Social concerns and cultural systems
- Environment, science, and society
- Literature, arts, and society
Business
Prepare for leadership positions with the Executive Master of Business Administration online degree. Develop effective responses to challenges and opportunities while deepening your knowledge in the functional areas of business law, accounting, information analysis, business analytics, operations management, corporate finance, marketing, strategic management, and more in a rigorous program. Plus, students gain practical leadership and team-building knowledge so that they can lead organizations and act as change agents in dynamic environments while also learning to apply their knowledge in unfamiliar circumstances as they adapt and innovate to solve problems. Examine regulations within the business environment, study the principles and theory of financial and managerial accounting, and learn about decision making and information technology concepts and issues managers face. The program provides diverse options for customizing your degree to align with your career goals and interests while allowing you to complete the program in as few as 12 months without needing to relocate or leave your current position.
Customize your degree by choosing a concentration in such areas as:
- Business Analytics
- Cybersecurity
- Entrepreneurship and Business Development
- Healthcare Management
- Human Resources
- International Business
If you have 5 or more years of experience in public administration and want to advance your career, check out this Executive Master of Public Administration degree online. Designed for busy working professionals, the asynchronous classes allow students to study on their own schedule, working around career and family commitments. In as little as 2 years of part-time study, students are able to graduate from this program, ready to advance effective public and nonprofit governance.
This online public administration degree emphasizes these learning competencies:
- Public governance leadership and management
- Policy process participation
- Apply a public values perspective
- Communication with diverse groups
Students learn to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions so they are ready to take on careers as leaders, managers, and analysts in the public or nonprofit sector.
Learn to influence public buying decisions with the Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications degree online. This program is designed for recent college graduates, mid-career professionals, and military members, with the flexibility allowing the students to study when and where it is convenient. In addition to flexibility, students will benefit from the same expert faculty who teach on campus.
The broad-based curriculum of this online marketing degree goes beyond other strategic communication programs by emphasizing ethical decision-making and diversity and inclusion in communication. Courses teach a strategic framework for unifying and managing organizational communication while students also learn to promote brand awareness and loyalty with advanced knowledge, cutting-edge tools, and business insights. You will learn to:
- Craft strategy
- Conduct research
- Devise appropriate messaging
- Enhance storytelling skills
- Manage media platforms in a proactive and responsive manner
The online MBA with a concentration in Business Analytics from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington is designed for students who want to become qualified management analysts. Courses focus on descriptive, prescriptive, and predictive analytics while teaching students how to access and analyze data to generate informative, actionable reports. Students will examine statistical inference as applied to management decision making and develop skills for implementing statistical analysis in real situations.
You will also learn:
- Prescriptive analytics modeling techniques for optimization, simulation, and decision making
- Techniques and algorithms from statistical and machine learning disciplines
- Programming foundations, application development, and how to integrate applications with business operations
In addition to the Business Analytics courses, the curriculum includes MBA courses that will deepen knowledge in general business operational areas, including business law, accounting, information analysis, business analysis, operations management, economics, corporate finance, marketing, strategic management, and more.
Bring your entrepreneurial ideas to fruition with this MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship & Business Development. This online entrepreneurship degree combines your passion for innovation with a solid understanding of business, allowing you to turn conceptual ideas into viable businesses, ventures, and projects. Achieve your dreams by learning to form a solid business/commercialization plan, planning everything from design concept through engineering, marketing, and distribution. Courses, which are taught by the same experienced faculty found on-campus, are rigorous and utilize case studies as you learn to protect and commercialize products and ideas. The curriculum in this online entrepreneurship degree focuses on specialized topics that include:
- Valuation
- Venture capital
- Scalability
- Franchising
- Licensing
Like all MBA programs, this concentration covers core business topics in such areas as management, business law, marketing, operation management, accounting, and more.
The online MBA from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington offers a concentration in Finance for those who want to move into executive management roles in business. The program will look at investment management, financial statement analysis, real estate investment analysis, and more while examining financial markets, portfolio risks and variances, and behavioral finance. Students learn to apply valuation models to equity securities, analyze fixed-income portfolios and the term structure of interest rates, and discuss the payoff and profit associated with derivative securities. This is a flexible program that gives students the option of learning about real estate and career options in the real estate sector while providing other options for customizing your degree to align with your career goals and interests. In addition, you will gain core business management knowledge in areas including business law, accounting, information analysis, business analysis, operations management, economics, marketing, strategic management, and more.
The online General MBA program from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington prepares students for leadership positions and develops effective responses to challenges and opportunities. The curriculum deepens knowledge in the functional areas of business law, accounting, information analysis, business analytics, operations management, economics, corporate finance, marketing, strategic management, and more in a rigorous program. In addition, students gain practical leadership and team-building knowledge so that they can lead organizations and act as change agents in dynamic environments while also learning to apply their knowledge in unfamiliar circumstances as they adapt and innovate to solve problems. You will examine regulations within the business environment, study the principles and theory of financial and managerial accounting, and learn about decision making and information technology concepts and issues managers face. The program provides diverse options for customizing your degree to align with your career goals and interests while allowing you to complete the program in as few as 12 months without needing to relocate or leave your current position.
Prepare for a career as an executive leader working with employees with this MBA with a concentration in Human Resources degree online. With employees that are mobile and diversly motivated, there is a need for skilled leaders who are able to help retain a qualified workforce. Gain the unique knowledge and skillset that will make you a valuable human resources leader. Learn organizational initiatives, strategic thinking, and practical skills that help create and maintain a positive workplace while also learning how to balance the needs and wants of employees and employers. In addition to critical thinking, negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution development, this rigorous curriculum also includes issues that are relevant in the modern workplace, such as:
- Sexual harassment
- Racial discrimination
- Wellness programs
- Employment law
- Talent development
This online human resources degree, like all MBA programs, improves the students’ understanding of core business topics, including business law, management, marketing, strategic management, organizational behavior, and economics.
Explore the connection between technology and business with this Master of Business in Administration with a concentration in Information Systems. This online management information systems degree helps students become essential leaders with strategic knowledge and pragmatic skills that will help your organization achieve maximum benefit from technology. Learn to use information systems to achieve corporate goals, resolve issues, and improve processes. The rigorous curriculum bridges the gap between technology and business and technology and people, helping students use data analytics to communicate effectively and strengthen relationships. Graduates are prepared to select, implement, manage, and evaluate information systems to align with organizational initiatives, streamline operations, and accelerate productivity, efficiency, and growth.
The courses in this online management information systems degree, like other MBA degrees, improve core business areas such as business law, management, marketing, operations management, economics, and strategic management.
The online MBA with a concentration in International Business is designed for students interested working with global markets. The curriculum includes courses in International Business and courses in business management operational areas. Students will deepen their knowledge of areas including business law, accounting, information analysis, business analysis, operations management, economics, corporate finance, marketing, strategic management, and more. Courses in International Business broaden the students’ cultural perspectives and examines business trends with a focus on global awareness and international relevance.
You will learn:
- Practical approaches for examining strategies to manage human resources internationally
- Processes for creating and sustaining competitive advantages in foreign and domestic markets
- How to critically evaluate human resource management models and assumptions
- How to effectively manage multinational organizations
Advance your career in almost any organization with the Master of Business in Administration with a concentration in Marketing degree online. Regardless if you have marketing experience or not, this program provides the knowledge and skills needed for a marketing role in the modern and complex business environment. Courses cover branding, advertising, communications, and consumer behavior while also exploring ways to make an impactful decision and implement branding strategies.
With this flexible online marketing degree not only can you study when and where it is convenient, but you can also choose the marketing areas you wish to focus on. Choose to concentrate on:
- Digital Marketing Analytics
- Global Marketing
- “Customer Delight” which involves customer service
Like other MBA degrees, this curriculum also provides a solid foundation in business administration through courses in such topics as accounting, management, business law, information analysis, corporate finance, and more.
Help your organization become more productive and efficient with the Master of Business in Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. This operations management online degree provides a better understanding of logistics, purchasing, and operations. Maintain a high level of customer satisfaction by learning how products and services are created and delivered to consumers. Courses not only help you operate and make critical decisions, but also cover such topics as:
- Implementing quality improvement
- Industry standard tools
- Improving project performance
- Data analytics
The curriculum in this online operations management degree also provides a strong foundation in business administration by teaching accounting, business law, information analysis, marketing, management, and more.
Advance your career in the ever-changing marketplace with the Master of Science in Business Analytics degree online. Learn the advanced analysis skills that will help you remain competitive in the workplace, learning to inform business strategies, recommendations, and decisions. Rigorous courses survey descriptive, prescriptive, and predictive analytics while giving you a strong foundation in programming and application development. Various electives allow you to hone your focus on specific industries, including:
- Marketing
- Healthcare
- Supply Chain
- Transportation
- Cybersecurity
An optional internship is available. Courses, taught by experienced faculty committed to student success, emphasize real-world application and include case studies, simulations, and data-intensive projects.
Advance your career with the Master of Science in Finance & Investment Management. This online Finance degree is designed for working professionals, allowing students to complete their degree in as little as one year or at a pace that allows you to balance your education with other responsibilities.
Prepare for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) examination and for positions in financial management, investment banking, and investment management. Whatever your final career goal is, this online finance degree ensures you are ready to succeed in the rapidly changing financial services field. The curriculum covers traditional finance topics and them emphasizes the application of financial theory to the practice of investment management. In addition to high ethical standards in investment management, students also learn about:
- Equity analysis
- Financial reporting and analysis
- Corporate finance
- Financial statement analysis
- Quantitative methods
Learn to use advanced investment tools to the valuation of equity, fixed-income, derivative, and alternative investments.
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
The study of criminology unveils the complex interplay between individuals, institutions, and the forces that shape human behavior. Rooted in sociology, psychology, law, and criminal justice, criminology offers a comprehensive lens through which to understand crime, criminality, and the societal responses to criminal behavior. The online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to delve into the fascinating realm of criminological inquiry.
Classes include, but are not limited to:
- Restorative Justice
- Crime and Public Policy
- White Collar Crime
The curriculum explores strategies for preventing and addressing crime at individual, community, and societal levels. The online Bachelor of Arts in Criminology offers many advantages for individuals seeking to pursue a career in criminal justice, social services, or related fields. By fostering critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for the social dimensions of crime, this online bachelor’s degree program empowers graduates to make meaningful contributions to the field of criminology and the communities they serve.
Advance your career with the Master of Business in Administration with a concentration in Cybersecurity degree online. Students learn to recognize, prevent, and respond to potential cybersecurity threats, a role of vital importance to every organization around the world. Topics covered include:
- Security analysis
- Risk management
- Data analytics and incident response
- Threat mitigation
Graduates of this online business administration degree are ready to ensure that a company’s data remains accessible to employees but also is confidential, protected, and corrupted.
Like all MBA programs, this online cybersecurity degree deepens knowledge in core business courses, such as business law, accounting, information analysis, operations management, and marketing. All MBA students learn from the same distinguished faculty who teach on-campus programs, ensuring students receive the same quality education but in a format that is more flexible.
Education
University of North Carolina – Wilmington offers an online Graduate Certificate in Multimedia & Instructional Web Development. The curriculum meets the needs of professionals who wish to improve their knowledge of media instruction and design. Educators and curriculum developers need to know about innovative technologies and using media to enhance education methods.
Prepare for a career working with an important part of the student population, those who are academically or intellectually gifted, with this online special education degree. Learn to design and deliver effective programs and services for gifted and talented students. Graduates are able to design curricula and programs, advocate for gifted students, and deliver instruction that meets their exceptional needs.
This online special education degree is flexible. Study wherever it is convenient and choose an area of focus from four options:
- Curriculum
- Leadership
- Research
- Special Populations
A social justice degree, this online education degree is designed for current and future curriculum leaders. The curriculum, which is based on equity and critical consciousness, examines ways to foster a culture of inclusion and equity.
This online master’s in education includes real-world learning environments and research projects. Partner with schools, districts, and communities to complete social action-based research projects. You will also build your own community with peers as you move through the program as part of a cohort.
This online elementary education degree is designed for aspiring K-6 teachers who are looking for quality education to be leaders for young learners. Current educators can also benefit from this degree, learning more effective skills for their role. The curriculum, which combines perspectives of theory, research, and practice, features the advanced study of content in the areas of:
- Science
- Math
- Social Studies
- Language Arts
Customize the curriculum through electives and an integrated approach to curriculum design that values students’ varied experiences and influences. You can also choose an intensive study offered in Math, English as a Second Language, and Academically or Intellectually Gifted which can lead to add-on licensure in these content areas.
Prepare for a career in colleges, universities, and community colleges providing administrative and/or academic support to students with this online masters in higher education. The curriculum provides social, historical, philosophical, developmental, and international perspectives on postsecondary education. Graduates pursue careers in such fields as:
- Academic advising
- Career advising
- International education
- Student leadership training
Other graduates go on to pursue doctoral degrees.
Students will complete both classroom instruction and an internship or other applied learning opportunity. Courses are taught by an award-winning faculty.
Become a leader in family and child advocacy with this online early childhood education degree. This interdisciplinary program is specifically geared toward early childhood. Complete a program that focuses on improving the lives of families and children through the collaboration of public policy, community action, and educational support.
This early childhood education degree is 100% online. Study wherever it is convenient without leaving home or quitting your current job.
Gain the knowledge and skills needed to become a K-12 school principal with this online master’s in education administration. This program prepares students for careers as principals by teaching best practices and innovations in school leadership. Learn to inspire, engage, and lead others. Educational leaders will form their vision and be able to communicate through their institutions.
Students in this online education administration degree receive high-quality learning experiences and are taught by experts in the field. Enjoy interactive and engaging formats, which are designed to allow interaction with faculty, is possible through webinars.
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance professional opportunities. This program provides an education on innovative techniques used in instruction. Gain knowledge and skills from such areas as:
- Psychology
- Instructional systems design
- Computer science
- Systems theory
- Communication theory
With this instructional design degree, you will enjoy a great deal of flexibility. Each individual will meet their career needs no matter how diverse those goals are. Prepare for a variety of roles in everything from business and industry to public and private K-12 education.
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance your professional opportunities. In today’s world, it is hard, if not impossible, to escape technology. The same is true for the education field, bringing a need for educational professionals who are capable of applying technology in instructional settings. This program prepares you to meet this need with a curriculum that teaches such topics as:
- Computer utilization
- Principles of instructional design and development
- Developing Web-based resources and distance education programs
- Multimedia development
- Issues related to the utilization of media/emerging technology
This is a flexible program. Study wherever it is convenient without leaving your home or quitting your job.
Enroll in online higher education degrees and advance professional opportunities. Prepare to begin or advance your career in post-secondary learning environments. The curriculum enhances the teaching competencies of education professionals to develop, implement, manage, and evaluate these learning environments. This program is designed to be flexible to remain current with the ever-evolving landscape of higher education. Courses, which are grounded in the latest educational research of best practices in college teaching, teach students to create engaging learning environments.
Healthcare
The University of North Carolina-Wilmington offers an online MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management for students who want to work in the business area of healthcare. With this program, students learn about the various facets of healthcare, including hospitals, nursing homes, specialized care facilities, independent practices, web-based and IT-supported service companies, managed-care organizations, and major manufacturers. You will gain a thorough understanding of healthcare analytics and the organizational structure of healthcare systems, including the relationship between primary providers, payers, services, and support sectors in the healthcare industry; the impact of constricting reimbursement; and recent healthcare legislation and regulations that influence healthcare delivery and payments. Students learn to navigate the regulatory complexities of modern healthcare while gaining insight into the healthcare industry, preparing graduates for career advancement.
The curriculum will also deepen core business knowledge in operational areas including business law, accounting, information analysis, business analysis, operations management, economics, corporate finance, marketing, strategic management, and more. This provides the business foundation students base their careers upon.
Math & Science
You can develop expertise in reactions—chemical reactions—that is, with the Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. This online science master’s program offers tracks in such areas as:
- Business
- Education
- Clinical sciences
Through the online science graduate program, students learn to apply chemistry to solve real-world problems as well as how to communicate on the scientific level. The asynchronous courses allow for the greatest flexibility to allow you to complete your studies on your terms.
Nursing
The online RN to BSN degree completion program from the University of North Carolina Wilmington builds upon the registered nurse's existing experience and skills, exploring topics such as health assessment, gerontological nursing, population and community health nursing, leadership and management, health policy, and transcultural health care. Students gain:
- The knowledge, skills, and confidence to successfully compete and advance into high demand healthcare areas that serve an increasing aging population
- Knowledge of nurse-led research in clinical issues
- A foundation for career advancement into administrative, research, consulting, and teaching positions
The master of nursing education online program from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington allows professional nurses the opportunity to influence future generations of nurses. In as few as 12 months students gain the knowledge and skills needed to lead and prepare the next generation of nursing professionals. Courses cover advanced theory and practicum experiences emphasizing nursing education for students in various health care education programs and for health care education for patients and families. Not only will you advance your career and become a leader in the field, you will also be prepared to teach in either higher education or clinical settings. Graduates will be ready to pass their experiences and knowledge that can’t be found in classrooms to the next generation of nurses.