Social Justice Education Degrees

Degrees

The Social Justice Education doctoral program (in person) prepares educators, counselors, and school leaders to study, interrogate, and further theorize conceptual, empirical, and applied knowledge in social justice education. Our students are applied scholars, integrating research with practice. They generate knowledge about social justice educational theory and practice and apply this to the design, delivery, and evaluation of effective social justice educational practices in a variety of educational settings. Applicants should have a master’s degree related to social justice education and professional experience in related areas of teaching, counseling, youth development, civic engagement, social work, teacher education, education administration, student affairs, special education, and college residential programs.

The Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) (in person) in Social Justice Education is an option for students who would like to pursue an advanced degree beyond a master's without the dissertation component of the doctorate. The Ed.S. degree is an advanced terminal degree in the United States that is designed for individuals who wish to develop advanced knowledge and theory beyond the master's degree level but may not wish to pursue a degree at the doctoral level.

Our Social Justice Education master’s program (in person) supports students to become social justice educators who are skilled in the use of critically reflective practices and who can demonstrate competency in the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to plan, implement, and evaluate effective social justice education programs in formal and non-formal education settings. Students enter the program with some applied social justice experience, as classroom teachers or residence assistants, and in peer education programs, mediation teams, or community outreach programs.

The Social Justice Education Graduate Teaching Certificate program (In Person) is for graduate students in other UMass Amherst programs who want to develop foundational knowledge and curricular and facilitative skills in social justice education. Students complete five courses (15 credits) and a teaching practicum. The program offers two tracks. One is designed for graduate students teaching undergraduate diversity or social justice courses on the UMass Amherst campus. The second is designed for graduate students preparing for social justice teaching in schools or related venues (such as after-school programs).

Our Online Graduate Teaching Certificate includes four courses and a practicum (15 credits) that focus on Teaching for Diversity. All five courses can be completed online from anywhere in the world. The  certificate provides educators and student services professionals with foundational and applied knowledge and skills in Social Justice Education. Students will learn to develop, facilitate, teach, and assess social justice education curricula in their professional contexts.