Curriculum & Teaching

1.    What is the Masters of Education (CURR-M.Ed.) degree?

The M.Ed. is an advanced masters’ degree (between an M.A. and an Ed.D.) that offers a flexible program of study focusing on leadership in curriculum and teaching in a range of educational settings. This degree program offers students the opportunity to develop specialized understandings and a capacity for leadership in curriculum and pedagogy, as well as, to design their own program of study and pursue their individual interests. Leadership is interpreted broadly in this program to include developing curricula, studying teaching, designing professional development, and engaging in research, all with a focus on challenging inequalities and imagining new possibilities for education. The M.Ed. program allows students considerable latitude to design a program of study in consultation with their advisor. Program advisors draw on knowledge of the many Teachers College programs and professors to help students construct a program of high interest, interdisciplinary coursework, and educational relevance. The M.Ed. program of study does not lead to New York State certification as teacher or as building administrator.

2.    What are admissions requirements?

The following are minimal requirements for admission to the M.Ed. program:

The applications committee reads applications holistically and will consider grade point average, letters of recommendation, your personal essay, and your teaching-related experiences. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are not required in the application.

If you do not meet the two criteria above, please consider the M.A. Elementary or Secondary Professional Certification Programs (CUED or CUSD).

3. If I don't have 2 years of teaching experience what "applicable experience" would satisfy the application requirements? 

 

The applicable experience depends on your career and career goals. For example, if you have been working in children's television and want to continue in that work but gain experience in curriculum design, then two years in children's television would be the applicable experience.  Or, if you have been working in a youth organization or a research or policy organization, then two years of experience in that field  (or one year of teaching and one year in that field) would be sufficient.  If you are interested in teaching infants through high school, then it does not matter how many years of applicable experience you have in another career; you would still need two years of teaching experience or you could apply to one of our preservice or inservice programs.  

http://www.tc.edu/c%26t/#Programs 

4.    Can I transfer credits from my masters degree?

Up to 30 credits from a recent masters degree can be transferred to the 60 credit program. Once admitted to the M.Ed. program, you apply to have your transcript reviewed for transfer credits by the admissions office.  Then your advisor approves the total number of applicable transfer credits. This assessment is completed during your first semester of enrollment. You can find more information about applying for a transfer credits review here:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/admissions.htm?id=Transfer+Credit

If your masters degree is from Teachers College, all of your credits will transfer to the M.Ed. program, with the exception of student teaching credits.

5.    What if I want to specialize in Early Childhood Education Policy or Elementary Multicultural Education or Urban Education or Gender and Education? The application form doesn’t allow me to indicate a focus.

The Ed.M. is an umbrella program that includes all specializations in the Department of Curriculum & Teaching. Applicants cannot indicate a specific programmatic focus on the Ed.M. application.  However, the program is intentionally flexible to allow for students’ interests and specializations. Once admitted, you will be assigned an advisor to support your programmatic focus.

6.    What is the required “Integrative Project”?

The Integrative Project is the culminating requirement of the M.Ed. program. The Integrative Project is an individually designed project that will integrate each student’s learning experiences and expand her/his knowledge and practice of leadership. The project may take a number of forms, including an article for publication, a curriculum framework, curriculum development, and action research.

It is strongly recommended that new M.Ed. students enroll in the one credit Integrative Project Seminar (C&T 5500) in the fall term of their first year. The seminar instructor will be responsible for guiding students’ design of and completion of their integrative projects. The final project will be evaluated by two readers, the seminar instructor and one other faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. Students will have up to four semesters following the seminar (not including summer) to complete the integrative project.

Here are the titles of some recent M.Ed. Integrative Projects:

•    Instructional Leadership: Making Principals Leaders of Learners (A Model for the Singapore Principal)
•    Proposal for Service-Learning at a Rural School in India
•    Rethinking Mathematics Education in Singapore
•    Teacher Professional Development Course: Challenging Stereotypes in a Global Context

Students who completed an M.A. program in the Department of Curriculum & Teaching will have designed and written a Masters Action Research Project, with a similar course number (C&T 4502). However, the M.Ed. Integrative Project is required of all degree candidates, and it is not a duplication of the M.A. Action Research Project.

7.    What courses are required?

The following Core Courses are required, in addition to the Integrative Project Seminar (1 credit):

A total of 15 credits with the Department of Curriculum and Teaching must be taken (including the above 10 credits).

Three out-of-department Teachers College courses are required (2-3 credits each).

Course selections should be made in consultation with a faculty advisor. The program is extremely flexible and allows enrollment in the wide array of courses offered at Teachers College.

8.    What will the M.Ed. program cost?

Please consult the Teachers College website for current tuition and fees:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/controller/detail.asp?CenterId=135&Id=Description+Label&Info=Tuition+and+Fees

9.    What scholarships and financial aid programs are available?

For information on scholarships and financial aid, please consult the Teachers College financial aid website:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/finaid.htm

When an applicant creates an admissions account, s/he will have full access to financial aid information and guidelines. The TC application system is available at:
https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=col-tc

10.    How long does the M.Ed. program take to complete?

The length of the program depends upon the total number of credits transferred from a student’s masters program and the number of credits a student takes per semester.  Some recent students, who transferred 24 to 30 credits from their masters programs, completed the M.Ed. in 10-12 months, including summer coursework.  Many students have completed the M.Ed. in two years, with one summer of coursework.  The main graduation ceremony each year is in late May, there is a separate TC Master's ceremony and the Columbia graduation, but degrees are also conferred in October and February.

11.    Do I have to begin a program in fall semester?

Students may begin their program in fall, spring, or summer. New students are required to meet with their advisors in person before registering for their first courses.

12.    I have questions about Teachers College, living in New York City, etc.

Additional information about Teachers College, living in New York City, orientation sessions, and other materials for prospective students is available at: http://www.tc.edu/users/prospective.htm

An application for Teachers College housing is available at the TC Online Application System: https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=col-tc

13.    How do I apply to the M.Ed. program?

Applications are submitted online. Step-by-step directions are available at:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/admissions.htm

For full information about the admissions process, please read the 24-page Guide to Admission available at:
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/admissions/admissions.htm

14.    I want to browse the schedule of courses. Can I do that?

This link takes you to the schedule of classes:

http://www.tc.columbia.edu/tc-schedule/schdsearch.cgi

15.    If I have a question, whom should I contact?

Please e-mail your questions and requests to the following address:  ctmed@tc.edu


Revised 1-24-11