We’re here because we believe education has the power to serve our communities and address society’s challenges.

This fully online Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program is designed for individuals who are already working full-time in educational settings. Grounded in research-based frameworks of teaching and learning, the program offers a flexible, innovative pathway to advanced study. It also represents the first fully online degree offering at Penn GSE.

Program Details

  • Rolling Application Deadline

  • Fall Entry Term

  • Full or Part-Time Enrollment Format

  • 10 Courses

  • 2 Years Duration

  • Online Modality

Overview

The online Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program at Penn GSE provides solid academic training and professional mentoring necessary to create effective teachers, researchers, educators, and community advocates who are interested in the distinct needs of children and families in high-need contexts.

Designed with working professionals in mind, courses are structured to accommodate busy schedules, allowing students to advance their careers without compromising their current responsibilities.

The program emphasizes inquiry, reflection, and applied research, culminating in a master's thesis. This rigorous approach equips graduates to become reflective educators who actively center student voices, foster strong relationships, and engage learners effectively. By empowering teachers as intellectual leaders and innovators, the Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program prepares graduates committed to equal opportunity in urban educational settings.

Take the Next Step

Application Requirements and Deadlines     Tuition and Fees     Financial Aid

What Sets Us Apart

Earn an Ivy League Master’s Online in Urban Education

Penn GSE’s fully online Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program offers a flexible, practice-based path for professionals committed to equity in urban education. With a rigorous curriculum and thesis component, it’s ideal for educators, advocates, and leaders seeking to advance their impact—without pausing their careers.

What Sets Us Apart

Penn GSE’s fully online Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program offers a flexible, practice-based path for professionals committed to equity in urban education. With a rigorous curriculum and thesis component, it’s ideal for educators, advocates, and leaders seeking to advance their impact—without pausing their careers.

Admissions Events

Curriculum

Equal access and opportunity are foundational principles of the online Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program. Faculty integrate cutting-edge research with practical strategies to help students critically examine structural inequities in education. The program emphasizes asset-based perspectives and culturally responsive teaching practices that honor the strengths and experiences of urban communities.

Through coursework, students explore the complex relationships among schools, communities, and systems of governance, gaining a deeper understanding of how educators can address systemic barriers and advocate for transformative change—particularly in urban settings.

Students learn to engage with local communities through an asset-based lens and apply inquiry-driven methods to real-world challenges in urban education. Core courses encourage deep reflection, intentional planning, and informed action, while examining the dynamic interplay between human agency and systemic oppression.

The online Urban Education, M.S.Ed. shares the same curriculum as the Urban Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. program. For information on courses and requirements, visit the Urban Teaching Residency, M.S.Ed. program in the University Catalog.

Do you have questions about the plan of study?

We are here to help! Contact the Program Director, Nicole Mittenfelner Carl, mittenfe@gse.upenn.edu.

Our schedule is designed with working professionals in mind. Our courses meet online, asynchronously and synchronously, with the option of taking some classes on campus. Our master’s program can be completed in just two years.

Master's (M.S.Ed.) with Concentration in Urban Education (no certification): 10 Graduate Course Credits (2 years)*

Year 1: Fall Semester
Contemporary Issues in Urban Education1.0 CUIntensive, One-Month Fall Course2 evenings a week, one month only (August)
School and Society1.0 CU 1 evening a week; Oct.-Dec.
Outside of the Schoolbox1.0 CU Synchronous & Asynchronous; Oct-Jan
Year 1: Spring Semester
Racial Literacy1.0 CUIntensive, One Month Fall Course2 evenings a week, synchronous (January)
Politics of School Reform1.0 CU 1 evening a week; February-May
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy1.0 CU 1 evening a week; February-May
Year 2: Fall Semester
Research Seminar1.0 CUPreparation for completion of the Master's thesis1 evening a week
M.S.Ed. Elective Course (500 and above)1.0 CUNote: Courses outside of UTR are more expensive (UTR courses are identified by using EDTF)Depends on course
Year 2: Spring Semester
Urban Education Capstone Writing Seminar1.0 CUMaster's Thesis Completed1 evening a week, Jan-May
M.S.Ed. Elective Course and above1.0 CU Depends on course

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.

Outcomes

Alumni of the Urban Education, M.S.Ed. program are working as skilled teachers, leaders, researchers, community advocates, and policymakers who are committed to promoting equal access to education and making an excellent education a reality for all children.

Alumni Careers

  • Assistant Principal, Saint Francis Catholic High School, Sacramento, CA
  • Assistant Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia
  • Policy Advisor, Mayor's Office, Philadelphia
  • Managing Partner, Post Script Coaching and Consulting (Chicago)
  • 9th Grade Spanish Teacher, Humanitas Academy of Arts and Technology
  • Mathematics Curriculum Developer, School District of Philadelphia

Apply Now

A graduate degree from Penn GSE opens up whole new worlds, intellectually as well as professionally. If you are a passionate, innovative, impactful leader—or aspire to be one—Penn GSE is the place for you.

Contact Us

Do you have questions about the application, financial aid, or requirements? We're happy to help!

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

Penn GSE

215-898-6415

admissions@gse.upenn.edu

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