The master’s program includes four core courses as well as six electives. The core program provides a common, academic foundation, while electives allow students to individualize the program of study. For example, in conversation with a faculty advisor, ECS students identify elective coursework not only in education, but also in other fields across the university such as social work, political science, sociology, public policy, and so on. All course selections should be reviewed in consultation with a faculty advisor. The program culminates in a robust academic master’s paper.
For information on courses and requirements, visit the Education, Culture, and Society M.S.Ed. program in the University Catalog.
Sample Courses
Core Courses
- School and Society in America
- Master’s Seminar in Education, Culture, and Society
Diciplinary Courses
Disciplinary Foundations courses critically bring to bear a disciplinary perspective on the understanding or practice of education. Students should select any one of the following:
- Philosophical Aspects of Education Policy
- Anthropology and Education
- American Education Reform: History, Policy, Practice
- History of American Education
Research Methods Courses
Methods courses prepare students in both the practical and theoretical implications of collecting, interpreting, analyzing, and presenting data on the human condition broadly—and education/learning in particular. Options include (but are not limited to) courses such as:
- Qualitative Methods: Principles and Techniques Ethnographic Filmmaking
- Advanced Qualitative and Case Study Research
- Ethnographic Research Methods
Elective Courses
In conference with a faculty advisor, students are encouraged to identify graduate level courses that align with their planned program of study from across the university. As such, electives may be taken in Education, Culture, and Society, other programs in the Graduate School of Education, or from programs across the University of Pennsylvania. Options include (but are not limited to) courses such as:
- Politics and Education
- Basic Education in Developing Countries
- Global Citizenship
- Merit and America
- Education and the American Metropolis
- The Social and Political Philosophy of Education
- Examining the School to Prison Pipeline
- Culture Wars and American Education
Program of Study
Our recommended course of study is to complete the program in 1.5 years (fall, spring, summer, fall). This allows students to build relationships with faculty and make the most of their time at Penn. We also offer an expedited option (fall, spring, summer), which is very intensive, or a part-time option across two years. Students are expected to work closely with their advisor in planning their course of study.