Community Development Program
Earn a flexible, fully online master’s degree designed for experienced and aspiring professionals who want to tackle today’s most urgent community challenges while advancing their careers.
You’ll Learn to:
- Build climate-resilient communities
- Create affordable housing solutions
- Lead nonprofit and civic innovation
- Apply data for measurable change
What can you do with a Community Development master’s degree?
A master’s degree or graduate certificate in community development is ideal for current and aspiring professionals in areas such as:
- Community, regional and local planning departments
- Economic development organizations
- Community health and wellness
- Cooperative extension services
- Housing and infrastructure agencies
- Natural resource management
- Parks & Recreation Offices
- Non-profit organizations focused on community enhancement
Why Choose the MAS - Community Development Program?
Why UNL is the Right Choice
When you choose UNL, you earn your degree from a prestigious Big Ten university recognized nationwide for quality and credibility. As a Big Ten student, you gain access to outstanding faculty, extensive research and library resources, excellent student support services, and a powerful alumni network that can help you advance your career.
Program Snapshot
Degree:
Master of Applied Science (MAS) Community Development Specialization
Length:
36 credit hours
Format:
Fully online, asynchronous
Tuition:
$622/credit hour
(IDEA rate)
Capstone Options:
Choose between a degree project tailored to your professional goals or a comprehensive exam based on coursework
Start Dates:
Rolling admissions: Fall, Spring, or Summer
Community Development Online Curriculum and Requirements
No Thesis Required
Students must either:
- Complete a capstone project (3–6 credits), or
- Complete 36 credits of coursework and pass a final comprehensive examination.
Studying through Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA)
The Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA) is a consortium of renowned public universities from across the United States, offering online, flexible, and affordable degree and certificate programs across a range of subjects in human services and agriculture.
Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA) provides educational freedom, creating rewarding pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and community growth in an ever-changing society.
This program is 100% online.
- Community Development at Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA)
- Innovative Digital Education Alliance(IDEA) Tuition and Cost
- How Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA) works
This program is delivered through the Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA), a consortium of leading public universities. However, your degree is granted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Service you expect from a leading University
- Access the same student services available to on-campus students
- An academic adviser will guide you along your journey
- Career services are available when you are ready to take your next step
Flexibility
- Combine a number of disciplines to create a unique degree
- Choose more than 50% of the courses you take as electives
- Complete coursework during the time of day that works best for you within a select timeframe
Quality learning experience
- The University of Nebraska has offered distance education courses for more than 100 years
- Interact with faculty and students through e-mail, discussion forums and chat groups
- Direct access to world-class faculty – researchers who are experts in their fields or practitioners with real-world experience
Admissions
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree
- 3.00 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
- Taken the TOEFL or IELTS
(Only required if English is not your native language) - A written personal statement
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Official/Unofficial transcripts from all previous schools
NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states
Application Deadlines
Rolling admissions. Application review will begin upon receipt of all required application materials.
Questions?
Matthew Douglass
Assistant Professor of Practice / Chair, Master of Applied Science Graduate Committee
Daniela M. Mattos
Community Development Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Practice
dmattos2@unl.edu
Get Started Today!
This is more than a degree - It's the starting point for a meaningful and impactful career.
Contact Mel Sedlacek
Email: msedlacek5@unl.edu
Phone: 402-472-2957