The TLC program is built on the study of complex interrelationships between and among teaching, learning, and curriculum in school and community settings. Faculty and students engage in research on teaching, learning, curriculum theory and design, educational change initiatives, connecting learning experiences across school and community contexts, teacher education, and learning to teach. The program is distinctive

in maintaining an interdisciplinary focus on settings characterized by diversity with a strong interest in issues pertaining to equity and social justice, especially in public urban schools and communities. Through their programs of study, students develop theoretical frameworks that incorporate psychology, philosophy, learning sciences, cultural anthropology, and their explorations of practice.

 

Because of the significance we attach to the building of knowledge from successful experiences as teachers, we expect most students to have, on admission to the program, teaching or relevant educational experiences in or outside of school settings. Students build a program of study that includes courses in teaching and learning, social foundations, and research methods. Field-based research and collaborative projects with practitioners in schools or other educational settings are key aspects of the TLC program. Within TLC, students may concentrate on topics such as science and mathematics education, urban education, learning technologies, child development, and teacher education. Students learn not only from a rigorous program of study, but also from active participation in a community of learners including practicing and prospective teachers.

 

Graduates seek and obtain positions as researchers and teacher educators in universities and colleges, researchers, curriculum developers and evaluators in educational agencies, curriculum specialists in school districts and state departments of education, and curriculum and instructional leaders and classroom teachers in schools.

The M.S.Ed. degree program in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum requires a minimum of 10 course units of approved graduate work beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students must satisfy a distributional requirement that demonstrates breadth within the field of education and write a master’s research paper in order to complete the degree requirements. The applicant is strongly encouraged to have at least two years of successful work experience in educational settings prior to application.

 

Program of Study

Core Courses

EDUC 544 School & Society

EDUC 616 Master’s Foundations of Teaching & Learning

EDUC 668 Masters Research Seminar

 

One research methodology course, such as:

EDUC 591 Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis

EDUC 672 Introduction to Ethnographic Methods

EDUC 677 Introductory Statistics in Educational Research

 

One Distribution Course

One course taken within GSE, but outside of the Foundations and Practices in Education Division

 

Five Elective Courses, such as

EDUC 532 School Law

EDUC 590 Gender and Education

EDUC 619 Critical Issues in Contemporary Urban Education

EDUC 630 Curriculum Theory

EDUC 639 Design of Learning Environments

EDUC 644 Technology Mediated Teaching & Learning

EDUC 665 Research on Teaching

EDUC 707 Curriculum Foundations

The Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum requires a minimum of 22 course units of approved graduate work beyond the baccalaureate degree. Students may choose an area such as technology, mathematics education, or teacher education as a specialization. The Ed.D. requires a minimum of 20 course units. All applicants are expected to have relevant work experience in educational settings. Ed.D. applicants are required to hold a master’s degree. The program will accept up to eight course units of relevant graduate-level coursework towards the degree taken prior to enrollment at Penn GSE. Doctoral students must complete a residency requirement of at least four approved course units taken within two successive terms. They must take a set of written examinations in the area of specialization and complete a dissertation on a problem in education to complete the course of study.

 

Program of Study

Core Courses

EDUC 664 Doctoral Foundations of Teaching & Learning

EDUC 646 Education, Culture & Society

EDUC 621 Doctoral Proseminar

 

Three Research Methodology Courses, including:

EDUC 672 Introduction to Ethnographic Methods

EDUC 677 Introductory Statistics in Educational Research

and one advanced research methods course

 

Two TLC Courses, such as:

EDUC 590 Gender and Education

EDUC 619 Critical Issues in Contemporary Urban Education

EDUC 623 Curriculum Theory

EDUC 639 Design of Learning Environments

EDUC 644 Technology Mediated Teaching & Learning

EDUC 665 Research on Teaching

EDUC 707 Curriculum Development

EDUC 545 Socio-cognitive Issues in Technology and Learning

EDUC 545 Seminar in Teacher Education