Frequently Asked Questions - Urban Education Master's Program
Dear prospective applicant:
We are thrilled to hear of your interest in our Master’s program in Urban Education. You can start learning about our program by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions below. Do feel free to contact us for additional information.
We encourage you to research our program carefully, since a good fit is an important consideration in selecting a graduate program. We will also be happy to schedule telephone or in-person informational interviews with faculty and campus visits that can include visits to classes and informal meetings with our students.
Do you consider students who don’t have a background in education?
- Our current Master’s students come from varied backgrounds, and this is one of the strengths of the program. Of course, we do look for students who are generally interested in studying issues related to education in cities, which may include formal, school-based education as well as community-based education
How many credits are required to complete the master’s?
- The Master’s program requires a minimum of 30 credits. A capstone experience is also required, which can be either a Master’s Project or a Master’s Thesis. The Project is included in the 30 credits, while completing the Thesis requires an additional 3 credits. This means that a Master’s with Thesis requires a total of 33 credits. Generally, the project involves applied and practice-oriented work while the thesis involves library or empirical research. We encourage students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate to complete a thesis.
Can I take any classes before I apply or am accepted into the program?
- It is possible for anyone who has an undergraduate degree to take graduate courses as a non-matriculated student. If admitted, up to 6 credits may be counted toward the Master’s. For students who are enrolled in the CLUE program (Certificate of Learning in Urban Education) up to 9 credits obtained prior to matriculation may be counted toward the Master’s degree. Enrolling in CLUE does not guarantee admission to the Master’s. You can register for courses as a non-matriculated student through the Shimada Resource Center, 150 Ritter Annex.
- To get started, contact Ms. Doreen Conway (doreen.conway@temple.edu). Some of the process must be done in person. Make sure you bring proof of your undergraduate degree. You can enroll in the following Urban Education courses without prior instructor approval: UE 5401, Introduction to Urban Schools (offered every semester, including the summer); Urban Education 5501 (Issues in Urban Education, offered every fall); and Urban Education 5516 (offered every fall); Urban Education 5620 (Special Topics, offered every spring. Topics vary).
What are the deadlines for applying, and when could I expect to hear if I am admitted?
- We have a rolling admission policy, which means that we review applications as they are completed and make admissions decisions on an ongoing basis. Please ensure that all your materials are received by March 1st if you are applying for fall admission and by October 1st if you are applying for spring admission. We do not admit for the summer terms. An application is only considered complete when all the elements are in hand. Also see question 12 and information on the College of Education website: http://www.temple.edu/education/grad/admissions.html.
What qualities do you look for in your applicants?
- We look for a good fit between the student’s goals and interests and our program’s emphases. In addition, because our program allows for considerable choice, we look for evidence that the applicant is self-directed and ready to undertake graduate studies.
I am interested in administration and/or a teaching or administrative certificate. Can I combine these with a Master’s degree in Urban Education?
- Our program does not offer teacher or administrative certification and while some courses may overlap, combining these areas will usually require an additional 9 to 12 credits of coursework beyond the Master’s. If you are primarily interested in educational leadership and related administrative certificates, these specialties are offered through the Educational Leadership Program, that is also housed in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
- Teacher certification programs are offered in the department of Teaching & Learning. For further information on these programs, see Teacher Education at Temple University.
What is the application process like, and what should I include in the application?
- You may apply online and send any additional materials in the mail (for information, see http://www.temple.edu/education/grad/admissions.html). Do also include your resume with your application materials. You may also collect or request an application packet from the College’s Graduate Programs Office (contact above). Application matters are addressed in questions 8 - 12.
Letters of reference
- We require two letters. At least one of the letters should be from someone who is familiar with your academic work and can comment knowledgeably on it, as well as on your potential to undertake graduate studies successfully. Referees may mail their letters directly to the College of Education (NOT the Program) or you may collect them and send them in together. The letters must be in sealed envelopes with the writer’s signature across the back flap.
Transcripts
- The university requires official transcripts from all institutions listed in your application, regardless of whether you completed a degree there of not. You do not need official transcripts from Temple University, however. You may have transcripts sent directly to the university or you may follow the same procedure as for letters of reference.
Test scores
- We require the GRE (the general test only). Any scores you may have from a previous administration are valid for up to 5 years: simply direct ETS to send us an official copy (do make sure that they it to Urban Education and not Urban Studies).
- GRE scores should be at or above the 50th percentile. At times otherwise good applicants fall short of this or have very good scores in one area and lower scores in the other. If the application otherwise meets our criteria for admission, we are able to request an exception. If you have takes the GRE more than once, we use only the best scores you received within the last five years, in any given area of the exam, and disregard the other scores.
GPA
- We require an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. As with the GRE, we can request exceptions for otherwise excellent applicants.
How do I know if my application is complete?
- After you have submitted your application, you will receive an e-mail from the Student Services office, with an initial status report. The e-mail includes contact information for their staff. Thereafter, you can check on the status of your application either online, through Apply Yourself or by contacting the Student Services staff person via email. Please be proactive in ensuring that all the elements of your application are completed and received by our office in timely fashion.
What financial support is available and how do I apply for it?
- The university’s financial aid office can help students process regular financial aid packages that consist mainly of loans.
- Part-time work is also available at times through individual faculty and college/university offices, and we encourage you to be proactive in seeking such opportunities. If you let us know of your interest when you apply, to the extent possible, we will try to keep you informed of any appropriate opportunities as they become available.
- Full-time Masters’ students have occasionally been awarded assistantships, which carry tuition remission and a monthly stipend. This is not common, however, and tends to happen once a student has enrolled and taken some courses rather than prior to enrolling. The College gives priority to doctoral students in awarding assistantships. We also encourage you to be proactive in looking for outside grants.
How many courses per semester should I take and what is the usual time it takes to complete a degree?
- Full-time students usually register for 9 to 12 credits per semester.
- Part-time students may start with only 3 credits, but we encourage them to take 6 credits per term. Usually, students are able to complete their coursework in one and a half to two years, depending on full-time or part-time status.
When are classes offered?
- Graduate classes in the College of Education are usually offered once a week in the evening (Mondays through Thursdays), starting at 5:30 pm. This is done in order to accommodate working professionals. Some classes are also offered on weekends. In the other colleges, classes tend to be offered more frequently during the daytime.
How can I find out what courses are available?
- A list of courses offered the following semester is available online. You can access it from the Temple University home page, by selecting “course schedule” from the “quick links” window on the right side of the screen. The direct link is: http://prd-challenger.erp.temple.edu/tucourses/default.asp Do take a look at what courses are offered under Urban Education but also remember that we are an interdisciplinary program and students take courses in other departments as well. The information also includes the number of open spaces left in the course and the time the course is offered.
What are the major steps for completing the program?
- Refer to our Helpful Tips for Master’s Students in Urban Education for an idea of the program requirements and process.
How do I apply for Graduation and submit my Thesis or Final Project?
- Refer to the Graduation Process for Master’s Students in Urban Education for details and helpful tips.
Still Have Questions?
We hope these FAQs address most of your immediate questions and concerns. Again, thank you for your interest in our program.
For more information about applying to the Urban Education program please contact:
Graduate Programs Office, Ritter Annex 150
email: grad.ed@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-5631
For more information about the Urban Education Master's Program program, please contact:
Dr. Will Jordan
e-mail:
will.jordan@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-6677
or
Dr. Erin Horvat
e-mail:
erin.mcnamara.horvat@temple.edu
phone: (215) 204-6178
Ritter Hall 264
