International Education MEd – Online Program of Study
Program of Study
Master's programs of study are individually designed by the student and their advisor. Students take five required courses, while the remaining credits are elective courses. The remaining credits are elective courses taken within the international education concentration, across the College of Education or across the university, according to the interests and needs of the student. The program of study timeline is very flexible, but typically takes four semesters to complete.
The minimum degree requirements are 33 course credits including the two required core courses, the Foundations in International Education course (EDUC 733) and a master's project (EDUC 630). There are three additional required courses for students starting in the fall of 2025 and after, which are EDUC 678 Cultural Studies, EDUC 720 Development Theories for International Education and EDUC 793D Globalization, Neoliberalism and Education Policy. The EDUC 630 project serves as a capstone experience for the student’s academic study. The project does not need to be a formal thesis paper. It can be a written paper of substantial length (40-50+ pages) or a practical product such as a training guidebook, an action research project, or another project/product which links the student’s program of study with past, present, or future professional work. As the culmination of the program of study, the capstone project provides an opportunity for the student to conduct an in-depth study or activity on a topic of professional interest. Please see some sample master’s capstone projects for reference.
Elective courses are taken within the international education concentration and across the College of Education or the university, according to the interests and goals of the student.
Prior to applying, people are invited to take 1-2 classes as a non-degree student. Please reach out to the program if you are interested. The directions for enrolling are on the How to Enroll in Online Classes Page here.
Required Courses
Core courses- Required
Courses | Descriptions | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 733 | Foundations in International Education (offered each Fall) | 3 |
EDUC 630 | Master's Seminar in International Education (offered each Spring)- Understanding Research in International Contexts | 3 |
Required Courses (for students entering September 2025+)
Courses | Descriptions | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 678 | Cultural Studies and International Development | 3 |
EDUC 720 | Development Theories and International Education | 3 |
EDUC 793D | Globalization, Neoliberalism and Education Policy | 3 |
International Education Sample Elective Courses
Courses | Descriptions | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 626 | Social Theories of Education | 3 |
EDUC 635 | Issues in Literacy Program Development | 3 |
EDUC 719 | Theory and Practice in Non Formal Education | 3 |
EDUC 721 | Research Methods in International Education | 3 |
EDUC 752 | Gender Issues and International Education | 3 |
EDUC 768 | Adult Learning Theory and Practice | 3 |
EDUC 794J | Education in Emergency Contexts | 3 |
EDUC 819 | Alternative Research Methods | 3 |
EDUC 787 | Im/migration, Development, and Education | 3 |
EDUC 881 | Comparative Education | 3 |
Students are also able to take courses in research methods (qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods), teacher preparation and curriculum studies, higher education, and in early grade reading, to name a few online programs. Courses in the graduate certificate programs in the College can be taken within the 36 credit M.Ed. program, with possible certificate completion in Early Grade Reading in Developing Countries, Higher Education, Bilingual and Dual Language Education, Digital Media, Program Evaluation and Social Justice. Please note that not all these programs offer asynchronous classes.
Spring 2025 International Education Classes
Courses | Descriptions | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 630 | Master's Seminar II - Understanding Research in International Contexts | 3 |
EDUC 787 | Im/migration Development and Education | 3 |
EDUC 793D | Globalization, Neoliberalism, and Educational Policy | 3 |
NOTE: Additional in-person classes available |
Summer 2025 International Education Classes - Planned
Courses pending enrollment minimums. Please register prior to April 30th in order for us to get an accurate count of participants.
Courses | Descriptions | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 680B | How Children in Developing Countries Learn to Read | 3 |
EDUC 881 | Comparative International Education Policy | 3 |
Fall 2025 International Education Classes - Tentative
Courses | Descriptions | Credits |
---|---|---|
EDUC 733 | Foundations of International Education | 3 |
EDUC 678 | Cultural Studies | 3 |
EDUC 680B | Systems to Support Early Grade Reading | 3 |
EDUC 769 | Project Management and Implementation in International Education | 3 |
NOTE: Additional in-person classes available |
For further information and course projections, please email Annie Stephany at internationaled [at] umass [dot] edu (internationaled[at]umass[dot]edu)