ECS FAQ

Admission requirements

1. Why should I get a degree in Education, Culture and Society?

A. M.Ed.: The master's degree from ECS provides individuals who are interested in amplifying their professional skillset with culturally competent tools. Many of our graduates are employed with companies and or non-profits as educators who work with underserved and culturally diverse populations. Equally, the ECS master's degree is a strong stepping stone towards a Ph.D. in the social foundations or curriculum and instruction education fields.
B. PhD: ECS is one of the top foundations programs in the country. The program prepares graduates for careers as professors who contribute to their respective fields. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach brings forward a wide range of educational questions that may be seen as peripheral in other departments.

2. How do I Apply?

A. M.Ed. To apply for the program, you will need to fill out the application on "Apply Yourself"; a valid bachelor's degree; a 3.0 G.P.A.; three letters of recommendation; a personal statement and a current vitae or resume. Once you are accepted into the program, you will need to send official copies of your transcripts from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. For more information, follow this link.
B. PH.D.: You will need to complete the graduate school application through "Apply Yourself"; a valid bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA; a graduate degree with a 3.5 GPA; three letters of recommendation; a personal statement; and a current vitae or resume. Once you are accepted into the program, you will need to send official copies of your transcripts from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. For more information, follow this link.

3. Do you require GRE for admissions?

A. No, you do not need GRE scores to apply to our program. The admissions' committee base their decisions on the strength of your writing ability, personal statement, G.P.A., transcripts, and letters of recommendations.

4. When will I hear about my admission status?

A. Once the February deadline has passed, you will hear back from us regarding your application after 3 to 4 weeks.

5. What if I want a secondary licensure degree?

A. To apply for the secondary licensure degree, you will need to do a joint application with Urban Institute Teacher Education (UITE) program. You will need to submit an application through the "Apply Yourself" system to apply to the ECS program. You will need to complete and submit a separate application through Urban Institute Teacher Education for the licensure. For more information about how to apply through UITE, click here.

6. Do I need any teaching experience to apply to the program?

A. You do not need any teaching experience to apply to the program.

7. Can I work full time while working on my degree?

A. While we do offer hybrid courses, we do not offer classes that are exclusively online. Most of our classes are held at night beginning at 4:35pm or 7:10pm. So you are able to work full-time and complete your degree.

Program Information

1. How long does it take for student to complete the program?

A. M.Ed.

1. For a full-time master's degree student, it takes one and a half to two years to complete the program. If you are a part-time student, it takes three years to complete the program.

B. Ph.D.

1. It typically takes 5-7 years to attain the Doctorate of Philosophy degree in the ECS department as a full-time student.

2. What are the average class sizes?

A. The average class sizes range from 7-15 students.

3. What does a sample schedule look like?

A. The M.Ed. program is a 30 credit hour thesis degree. Click here for sample schedule.

B. Ph.D. Schedule - click here.

International Students

1. What type of bachelor's degree do I need in order to apply to the ECS graduate program?

A. You will need a bachelor's degree from a ministry of education that is an internationally recognized college or university. We will also consider a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university degree. International admissions' officers will determine if applicants with international degrees meet the Graduate School's requirement of a recognized bachelor's degree.

2. How recent must my TOEFL scores be?

A. Two years from time of admission.

3. What is the minimum TOEFL score required by the University?

A. You must have a minimum TOEFL score of 80 iBT (550 pBT) or better or a minimum IELTS band score of 6.5 or better.

**Note undergrad admissions are different from graduate.