Education Studies, M.S.Ed.

Build a broad, interdisciplinary foundation in education studies to pursue specialized interests and diverse career pathways.

The fully online, M.S.Ed. in Education Studies prepares students to critically examine how globalization, technology, and socioeconomic forces shape education across an interconnected world.

Program Details

Full or Part-Time Enrollment Format
10 Courses
Online Modality

Overview

The Education Studies M.S.Ed. is a groundbreaking, fully online master’s program from Penn GSE, one of the nation’s top graduate schools of education. This program represents a bold innovation: it is the first at Penn GSE to bring together faculty and staff from all four academic divisions, offering students a truly interdisciplinary experience that mirrors the complexity of real-world educational challenges.

Designed with the same academic rigor and intellectual depth as our on-campus programs, this online degree empowers students to explore the intersections of language, literacy, leadership, and policy—all within a flexible format that supports both full-time and part-time study.

Students will engage with world-class faculty, collaborate with peers across disciplines, and graduate prepared to lead, educate, and innovate in diverse educational settings worldwide.

More Information

This program is not currently accepting applications. Please fill out the request for information form to receive program news and to be notified when the application opens.

Tuition and Fees Financial Aid

Curriculum

The online Education Studies, M.S.Ed. program is a 10-credit unit program with three concentrations. To complete this program, students will take:

Required Courses: 5
- Education in a Connected Global Landscape
- 1 research methods course
- 2 concentration-specific required courses
- 1 capstone course
Concentration Core Courses: 2
Elective Courses: 3

Do you have questions about the program?

We are here to help! Contact the Admissions team at admissions@gse.upenn.edu.

The University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267) 284-5000. www.msche.org. The MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Information about Penn’s accreditation with MSCHE is available here.

To make a complaint to MSCHE, visit this website.

For more information about Penn’s accreditation status, visit the Penn Provost website.

University of Pennsylvania Required Disclosures

Transfer of Credit Policy

Concentrations & Outcomes

Each concentration offers different career and learning outcomes. Select a concentration below to learn more.

Overview: The Educational Linguistics concentration allows students to focus their studies on language learning and teaching as well as the role of language and multilingualism in education.

Course Themes: Core courses introduce students to the study of language policy and social practices across cultures and contexts.

Learning Outcomes: Students will build a foundational understanding of the practical, theoretical, and professional aspects of language education, and the role of technology both in language teaching and in shaping new communicative practices in and out of the classroom.

Career/Professional Preparation: This concentration prepares students for roles in language teaching, policy, and curriculum development, and as language and culture brokers for organizations serving multilingual and international populations.

Overview: The Learning, Teaching, and Literacies concentration allows students to focus their studies on processes and practices of learning, teaching, and educational design in classrooms and community settings.

Course Themes: Core courses introduce students to foundational learning theories that guide pedagogical practices, approaches to designing tools for learning that are culturally and contextually responsive, and how technologies can be leveraged to enhance learning environments.

Learning Outcomes: Students will build a foundational understanding of how learning unfolds in both formal and informal contexts and how responsive design can support equitable educational outcomes. They will also develop a set of tools and strategies to use in teaching and learning settings.

Career/Professional Preparation: This concentration prepares students for roles in teaching, learning design, curriculum development, and educational support across school and community settings.

Overview: The Policy, Organizations, Leadership, and Systems concentration invites students to explore education systems with attention to leadership, organizational structures, and policy in the connected global landscape.

Course Themes: Core courses introduce students to education policy analysis, institutional leadership, and the dynamics of power and governance in diverse cultural, social, and political contexts.

Learning Outcomes: Students will build a foundational understanding of how education operates as both a site of opportunity and a space of contestation through coursework grounded in global and comparative perspectives.

Career/Professional Preparation: This concentration prepares students to work across a range of educational settings, including K–12 schools, higher education institutions, international development organizations, and community-based initiatives.