The Division of Education, Culture, and Society

• Degree Programs
• Summer 2012 and Tentative Fall 2012 Schedules
• Contact the ECS Division
• ECS Course Descriptions

The ECS Division provides students strong theoretical and disciplinary foundations for the study of a broad range of educational processes, forms of cultural production, transmission and socialization, across the life span. On the one hand, the program is based on the recognition that education (broadly conceived) is shaped by the dynamic and changing structures of society, culture and political economy in our contemporary world. On the other hand, educational phenomena have also become increasingly crucial to the understanding of a wide variety of social processes such as identity formation, immigration, nationalism, globalization, state formation and political and economic transformations.  Programs in the Division help students appreciate the central role of education in our complex and changing world, as well as the ways in which the theory and practice of education are shaped by this larger context.  ECS programs also ask students to pay attention to the interplay between these broader processes and the local contexts in which they play out, and to the ethical issues that underlie educational practice. Thus ECS programs explore education as a deeply social, cultural, political and moral activity.

Students are encouraged to deconstruct the social, cultural, psychological, and historical underpinnings and assumptions that that every individual carries with them into educational settings.  Deconstruction however is a means, and not an ends: the critical examination of current contexts allows us to examine what works, for whom and with what consequences so that new frameworks can be articulated through which schooling can potentially promote social change (both in the United States and around the world).  The ECS Division thus emphasizes the philosophical, historical and sociocultural foundations of education. Drawing on disciplines in the social and human sciences—particularly social and political theory, anthropology, history and philosophy—the program offers students normative, interpretive and critical perspectives on education.  The program prepares students for careers in academic research environments, educational administration, international development and social policy institutions and non profit organizations.

ECS Degree Programs:  

• Ph.D. in Education, Culture, and Society:  The doctoral program in Education, Culture and Society provides a rigorous and systematic theoretical and methodological framework for the study of education, and it also provides a foundation upon which new models of education can be built.  Following a rich academic curriculum based in anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy and history, the program invites students to interrogate and contribute to scholarship on the social and cultural contexts of learning, both in and outside of schools.

• M.S.Ed. in Education, Culture, and Society: The Masters degree in Education, Culture and Society trains students in a broad array of theoretical and methodological approaches to the nuanced study of education as a social, cultural, and historical phenomenon.  Following a traditional yet flexible/individualized academic curriculum, this program invites students to examine and study the social and cultural contexts of learning in preparation for doctoral study as well as for careers in schools, administration and educational research.

• M.S.Ed. in International Education Development: The International Educational Development Program (IEDP) of the Graduate School of Education at University of Pennsylvania is designed to prepare students with the distinctive skills required for working in the field of education and development in an era of globalization through both academic coursework and hands-on experiences. The program provides students with a foundational knowledge of international development as well as an enhanced understanding of the interplay of local, national and international politics, policies and priorities.   IEDP offers a unique program of international internship opportunities worldwide that help to foster the application of academic knowledge to policy and practice in the field. 

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Summer 2012 Courses

The following courses are being offered in the spring semester [Course Descriptions for ECS are available here].  Only courses marked "PERMIT required" are permit protected.  Permits for any of the courses below should be e-mailed to the Program Manager for the Division.  This schedule is subject to change, and was updated on April 27, 2012.

Summer Session I

• EDUC 545.910, Policy Planning in  Developing Countries, Oketch, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Summer Session II

• EDUC 682.910, Qualitative Modes of Inquiry (MS & Doctoral) Aplenc, Monday and Wednesday, 4:30 to 7:00 PM.  PERMIT required. 

Fall 2012 Courses (Tentative)

Mondays

• EDUC 547, Anthropology & Education, Posecznick, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, PERMIT required. 
• EDUC 548.001, American Education Reform: History, Policy, Practice (Master’s Level), Puckett, 10:00 to 12:00 PM  (note this course is housed in Educational Policy)
• EDUC 727.001, Education, Culture & Society, Ben-Porath, 12:00 to 2:00 PM. PERMIT required, Doctoral Students Only.
• EDUC 544,School and Society Ingersoll, 1:30 to 4:30 pm.  PERMIT required.
• EDUC 682.001, Qualitative Modes of Inquiry (Doctoral), Ravitch, 4:30 to 6:30 PM, PERMIT required. Doctoral Students Only.

Tuesdays

• EDUC 710.001,Methods of Discourse Analysis, Rymes, 12:00 to 2:00 PM.
• EDUC 524, Philosophy of Educational Policy.  Ben-Porath, 12:00 to 2:00 pm.
• EDUC 548.002, American Education Reform: History, Policy, Practice (Doctoral Level), Puckett, 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Doctoral Students Only.  (Note this course is housed in Educational Policy)
• EDUC 706, Culture/Power/Subjectivities, Hall, 2:00 to 4:00 PM, PERMIT required, Doctoral Students Only.
• EDUC 682.002, Qualitative Modes of Inquiry (MS), Instructor TBA, 4:30 to 6:30 PM.  PERMIT required.

Wednesday

• EDUC 514, Basic Education in Developing Countries.  Wagner, 2:00 to 4:00 pm.  PERMIT required.  (Requires international experiences).  
• EDUC 545.001, Knowledge as Embodied Practice. Wortham, 2:00 to 4:20 pm.
• EDUC 668.001, Master’s Research Seminar.  Aplenc, 7:00 to 9:00 PM. PERMIT required.  TLL and ECS master's students only (note this course is housed in Teaching, Learning and Leadership). 

Thursday

• EDUC695, IEDP Proseminar.  Wagner, 12:00 to 2:00 pm.  PERMIT required.  IEDP students only.
• EDUC 514, Basic Education in Developing Countries.  Ghaffar-Kucher, 2:00 to 4:00 pm.  PERMIT required.  (Requires international experiences).

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Contact ECS

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