Graduate Bulletin

Urban Education, Ed.M.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: June 1                                    [December 15 for international applicants]

Spring: December 1                             [August 1 for international applicants]

Applications are evaluated as they are received throughout the year.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from faculty and others familiar with the applicant's academic competence and/or professionals familiar with the applicant's professional achievements.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

No specific coursework is required for admission.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A baccalaureate degree is required for admission to graduate study at Temple University. For admission to the Urban Education master's program, a bachelor's degree in the discipline or a related discipline is not required.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals is taken very seriously in reviewing applications. It should include a rationale for enrolling in the program, with specific attention given to how the program fits your needs and goals; a summary of relevant work, volunteer, and life experience; and a description of your particular research, intellectual, and applied interests.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE/MAT is required. The Admissions Committee reviews each application holistically. Generally, scores should be at or above the 50th percentile. Exceptions are sometimes made for applicants who have outstanding professional achievements.

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 575 paper-based, 230 computer-based, or 88 internet-based. Any student admitted with a TOEFL score below 600 on the paper-based, 250 on the computer-based, or 100 on the internet-based examination must pass an English skills course during the first semester of enrollment at Temple University. Those having taken the paper-based or computer-based test have the additional option of testing out of the English course by taking and passing the SPEAK test at Temple.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate work from accredited institutions may be transferred into the Urban Education program. Awarding of such credits is based on an evaluation of the student's transcript by the student's assigned advisor. Grades must be "B" or better in order to transfer. Typically, no more than 6 transfer credits are accepted, although up to 9 may be transferred under special circumstances.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30 (33 for those completing the master's thesis)

Required Courses:

Students take 15 credits of core courses and 12 credits of electives.  A capstone project is also required for either 3 credits (master’s project) or 6 credits (master’s thesis), depending on the student's area of concentration:  Foundations in Urban Education, Urban Education Policy, Urban School-Community Partnerships, Urban School Leadership, and Urban Teaching.

Internship: An internship is not required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Master's Project:

The master’s project is a 3-credit, field-based experience that allows students to apply their knowledge in a practical setting and to produce a written document that summarizes and synthesizes their learning.

Master's Thesis:

As an alternative to the master's project, the master’s thesis is a research-focused project addressing a contemporary issue in urban education.  The thesis is required of students in the Foundations concentration and is an elective for students in the other concentrations.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/education/elps/urban_ed_intro.html

Department Information:

Urban Education

248 Ritter Hall (003-00)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
urbaned@temple.edu
215-204-8061

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Dr. Novella Keith
urbaned@temple.edu
215-204-6940

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Novella Keith
keithnov@temple.edu
215-204-6940

Graduate Chairperson:

Dr. Novella Keith
keithnov@temple.edu
215-204-6940

Chairperson:

Dr. Kathleen Shaw
kshaw@temple.edu
215-204-8046

About the Program

The Urban Education program is an interdisciplinary program with a social justice orientation. It emphasizes the complexity of the relationships between urban schools and the political, economic, and historic factors that affect urban life more broadly. The program is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers related to urban educational settings.  It addresses the needs of school-based educators as well as other professionals involved in community-based education and other non-school-based educational activities. Students gain a broad knowledge of issues in urban education with an emphasis on the integration of theory and practice and a commitment to equity and social justice. The curriculum is designed to provide students with relevant skills and knowledge while pursuing an area of interest.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location:

Main

Some elective courses are offered at the Ambler, Harrisburg, and Center City campuses.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester) through classes offered after 4:30 p.m.

Department Information:

Urban Education

248 Ritter Hall (003-00)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
urbaned@temple.edu
215-204-8061

Interdisciplinary Study:

The Urban Education program is both interdisciplinary and intercollegiate, taking advantage of the strengths of different schools/colleges and departments at Temple. Program faculty include those with full-time assignments in Urban Education, as well as affiliated faculty whose assignments are in other departments, such as African American Studies, Anthropology, Communication Sciences, Educational Administration, Educational Psychology, English, Geography and Urban Studies, History, Political Science, Social Administration, Sociology, Teacher Education, TESOL (English as Second Language), and Women's Studies.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

Students may participate in a summer abroad program sponsored by Urban Education faculty that involves a month-long stay in a non-tourist area of Jamaica.  The major emphasis of this program, which carries 3 or 6 credits, is international service learning and community development.

Ranking:

The College of Education was ranked 15th by the U.S. News & World Report in 2000. No rankings are available for Urban Education programs.

Accreditation:

This degree program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Areas of Specialization:

Students choose from among five different areas of concentration:  Foundations in Urban Education, Urban Education Policy, Urban School-Community Partnerships, Urban School Leadership, and Urban Teaching.  Students also have the opportunity to design their program individually with their advisor.

Full-time program faculty specialize in class and race issues; historical, sociological, and anthropological foundations of urban education; quantitative research methods; risk and resilience; school-community collaboration; transition to college; urban educational policy and reform; and youth culture. Affiliated faculty specialize in areas such as African American families and youth, community mediation, community-based research, gender issues in administration, higher education, multicultural education, race relations, sociology of education, urban studies, and writing instruction. For students interested in other areas of specialization, the program develops special links with appropriate faculty across the university.

Job Placement:

Ed.M. graduates find jobs in school districts, advocacy agencies, and community-based organizations.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students may not take any course higher than 600 level. If admitted to the degree program, up to 9 credits of coursework may be applied toward the degree.

Financing Opportunities

Assistantships are only available for full-time students, with priority usually given to doctoral students.  Upon admission to the program, interested students should contact their advisor and inquire about opportunities as Teaching or Research Assistants.  The program places students in a variety of positions across the university.

Updated 5.10.06