Overview

Since the early 1980s higher education has seen an explosion of service-learning and engagement programs, especially in the New England area, and particularly in Massachusetts. Drawing on the rich institutional and professional experience in engagement in New England, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School of Education is pleased to announce a masters degree program to prepare and to mentor future leaders of service-learning and engagement in higher education.

Our faculty and advisory board bring both scholarly and professional experience in service-learning on student and faculty civic engagement to this program. In addition, an advisory board of leaders in the field assists us in mentoring, networking, and career placement.

The UMass higher education masters track in service-learning and community engagement is committed to developing leaders of engaged campuses who are passionate about developing reciprocal university-community partnerships that enhance learning, conduct high quality research, and address the real and intractable problems of our society. Graduates of our program will have a better understanding of:

• The history of college and university service and the service-learning movement in the U.S.
• How civic engagement impacts students, communities and institutions of higher education.
• Why the location and organization of service-learning within institutions matters.
• The academic culture and reward systems that influence faculty involvement in engagement.
• And much more . . .

The Masters in Service-Learning and Community Engagement Program is a two-year, approximately 39 credit experience. Students will take 3 classes each semester for 4 semesters and complete a summer practicum in between the first and second year. Throughout their 2 years students often hold graduate assistantships in service-learning offices, become involved in service-learning projects at UMass, within the 5 colleges and with community partners, and find multiple opportunities to engage in research and presentation on engagement. The 5 college consortium includes UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mt. Holyoke College, and Smith College

Students are advised by the coordinator of the Masters Track, Dr. KerryAnn O'Meara, who has significant professional experience in service-learning, and are assigned a mentor from our advisory board as well. This program is is the only one of its kind in the country and provides a unique learning community for the professional development of directors of service-learning in higher education.