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The International and Comparative Education Program brings together faculty committed to the improvement of education policies and practices around the world. We approach education (broadly defined) from critical interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary perspectives, and we draw on multiple ways of knowing with sensitivity to social contexts. In our collective work, faculty, students, and alumni engage with multiple stakeholders across national and international contexts, including government institutions such as education ministries, bi- and multilateral donors, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, community organizations, families, and social movements. Our scholarship is responsive to current developments in the field, including education in conflict and post-conflict regions, sustainable development, and multilingual education for inclusiveness.
The Program prepares scholars, practitioners, and policymakers for leadership positions in the field of international and comparative education. Our teaching framework emphasizes theory, content knowledge specific to clusters and related sub-fields, research methods (quantitative analysis, qualitative inquiry, and mixed methods), and applied skills (e.g., program design, strategic planning, curriculum development, program monitoring and evaluation). Our Master’s students typically aim to work in support of educational practices and programs upon graduation, while our doctoral students are poised to enter academia and/or assume leadership positions in various international organizations.
Description of the Program:
In 1899, Teachers College became the first graduate institution in the United States to develop a Program in Comparative Education. In 1956, its faculty members co-founded the Comparative and International Education Society and created one of the field's most prominent peer-reviewed journals, Comparative Education Review.
By the 1960s, Teachers College became instrumental in the study of the international development of education as well and founded the Program in International Educational Development. The Program's faculty plays prominently in research and other education-related initiatives around the world.
Since the early 2000s, the two Programs – Comparative and International Education (CIE), and International Educational Development (IED) – operate as two degree-programs under one academic unit International Comparative Education. Both Programs offer M.A. and Ed.M. degrees; CIE offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) and IED offers a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.).
The primary distinction between the degree programs is the area of specialization. Students applying to the Comparative and International Education track select a discipline focus (Anthropology, Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, or Sociology), whereas students applying to the International Educational Development track select a cluster within the field of education (Global Governance, Policy, and Planning; Human Rights, Emergencies and Peacebuilding; Multilingual and Decolonial Dimensions of Education). The courses offered in these clusters vary each academic year.
Students in the International and Comparative Education Program are encouraged to select a geographical area of specialty. Geographical areas currently represented by faculty in the Department of International and Transcultural Studies are Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia, and the U.S. (for a transcultural/immigration focus). Area studies courses are available within our program and through various departments at Teachers College and Columbia University, and our students in International and Comparative Education have access to those offerings.
Applications are reviewed once a year for matriculation in the fall semester only. The deadlines for applications are in December or January depending on the degree program.
Degree Program: Comparative and International Education
Up to 30 graduate-level credits may be transferred into the Ed.M. and Ph.D. degree programs.
Areas of specialization offered inside the Department of International and Transcultural Studies:
The list of courses offered in Anthropology can be found under the degree programs, listed in this section of the catalog.
Areas of specialization offered outside the Department of International and Transcultural Studies:
The courses for these areas of specialization in the Comparative and International Education Program - offered outside the department - can be found under the respective degree programs, listed in other sections of the catalog.
The Ph.D. degree program in Comparative and International Education includes a foreign language requirement as well as comprehensive training in research methods and data analysis. Ph.D. students are expected to take some of the courses in their discipline at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Columbia University.
Degree Program: International Educational Development
Up to 30 graduate-level credits may be transferred into the Ed.M. and 45 credits into the Ed.D. degree programs.
The following presents a description of clusters in International Educational Development.
Cluster I: Global Governance, Policy, and Planning
Liaison Faculty: Associate Professor Oren Pizmony-Levy and Professor Gita Steiner-Khamsi
The Global Governance, Policy, and Planning cluster prepares students for policy, planning and advocacy in an international context. The students acquire skills to prepare data-based reports, develop education sector plans and sector strategies, learn how to monitor and evaluate programs, and understand the different approaches for comparing educational systems. In addition to practicing these professional skills, students learn to problematize and reflect on the opportunities and limitations of global norm-setting for national developments and priorities, including the impact of PISA, TIMSS, and other large-scale student assessments.
Students who complete the degree at the Masters level typically work in policy or planning sections of governments or non-governmental organizations or are hired as consultants for preparing program design, evaluation, and planning documents. They work for intergovernmental organizations (OECD, Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank), bilateral donors (FCDO, JICA, USAID, etc.), international NGOs (Save the Children, Open Society Foundations, World Vision, etc.), foundations (Al Qasimi Foundation, Lego Foundation, Mastercard Foundation) and other organizations that work internationally.
Cluster II: Human Rights, Emergencies and Peacebuilding
Liaison Faculty: Associate Professor Mary Mendenhall and Associate Professor S. Garnett Russell
The Human Rights, Emergencies and Peacebuilding cluster is designed for students interested in research, policy, and practice in humanitarian (natural disasters and armed conflict), forced displacement, post-conflict, and peacebuilding settings. The cluster brings together interdisciplinary and critical approaches to examine the role of education (including its limitations) in fostering social justice, social cohesion, sustainable peace, and human dignity across the humanitarian-development nexus. Students acquire skills in program design, curriculum development, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, and empirical research.
Students who complete the master’s degree typically assume roles doing project design; program implementation; technical assistance; and research, evaluation and learning. They work for international, national, and local non-governmental organizations (e.g., ChildFund International, Concern, Education Development Center, Facing History and Ourselves, FHI360, Global Nomads Group, International Rescue Committee, IREX, Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council, Sesame Workshop, The Brookings Institute, The DREAM Project, Visions Global Empowerment, World Education); intergovernmental agencies (Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, UNESCO IIEP, UNHCR, UNICEF, World Bank); global networks (Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies); foundations (LEGO Foundation, Open Society Foundation); and bilateral donors (USAID).
Cluster III: Multilingual and Decolonial Dimensions of Education
Liaison Faculty: Professor Regina Cortina, Professor Hope Leichter, and Associate Professor Nicholas Limerick
The Multilingual and Decolonial Dimensions of Education cluster focuses on building knowledge about language policies, multilingualism, and literacies; gender inequalities; interculturality; and the role of families and communities as they relate to policy and practice. It is an interdisciplinary field of study that encourages students to focus on key social, cultural, and political dynamics that affect education systems around the globe, and alternative ways of seeing education. Through courses, individual research, and group projects, students develop critical thinking skills from a comparative perspective to advocate for educational access and quality. Students consider strategies for the inclusion of Indigenous and other non-dominant languages and cultures in education and the decolonization of schooling practices throughout the Global South. The cluster’s strengths include topical knowledge and research methods such as comparative policy analysis, participant observation, discourse analysis, assessment of student achievement and literacies, and classroom-based observation.
Students who complete this master’s degree become educators and professionals in various international organizations, civil society organizations, foundations, and schools. Alumni with strong interest in forms of multilingualism and education, for example, are working at USAID, the Education Development Center, Pass Education, and various NGOs and schools. Graduates who completed their degree and focus on Latin America are working in the Fundación Escuela Nueva and The Alas Foundation, organizations advocating for education quality, intercultural and bilingual schools, education for climate change and biodiversity, and as teachers and administrators within international schools domestically and abroad at the World Bank, UNICEF, and Brookings Institution. Several graduates interested in Latinx education have become consultants and project managers in companies and organizations advocating for education equity, immigrant rights, language rights, and culturally competent teachers in U.S. schools.
Points/Credits: 32
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
Comparative and International Education (CIE – code: COMP)
Check the Course Planning sheet in the Student Handbook for the most recent degree requirements.
Coursework (at least 32 graduate level credits).
M.A. coursework falls into four broad areas:
Area 1: Core Courses (12 credits)
Area 2: Concentration (at least 9 credits)
Area 3: Transcultural/Area Studies (at least 5 credits)
Area 4: TC Electives (at least 6 credits)
Integrative Project (IP)
Graduation
For more information, review the full International and Comparative Education Student Handbook here.
Points/Credits: 32
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
International Educational Development (IED – code: INTL)
Check the Course Planning sheet in the Student Handbook for the most recent degree requirements.
Coursework (at least 32 graduate level credits).
M.A. coursework falls into four broad areas:
Area 1: Core Courses (12 credits)
ITSF 4580 International Comparative Education & Development Studies (Part 1)
ITSF 4581 International Comparative Education & Development Studies (Part 2)
Two Research Methods Courses (Not Limited to ITS Methods Classes)
Area 2: Cluster-related courses (at least 9 credits)
Courses counting towards the cluster must be faculty advisor- approved.
Students considering a change in cluster must discuss the change with the faculty advisor.
Area 3: Transcultural/Area Studies (at least 5 credits)
Courses must come from at least two of the following categories: topics, research methods, professional skills, internship/practicum.
Area 4: TC Electives (at least 6 credits)
To fulfill the TC breadth requirement, M.A. students must take at 6 points of courses that are at TC but outside of the International and Comparative Education Program.
Courses offered by other programs within the ITS Department (anthropology) can also count as TC breadth electives if they are outside of the student’s concentration.
Integrative Project (IP)
Completion of an IP is required for the M.A. degree. Please see the Guidelines for Master’s Integrative Project (IP) in the handbook.
Students should consult with the faculty advisor about the IP at least one semester before the intended graduation date. After the IP topic has been approved, the IP Advisors are available to guide students through the completion of the IP.
Students who are working on the IP but are not registered for any other classes may register for IND 4000 (Masters Candidate).
Graduation
Full-time students may complete the M.A. degree within one academic year (fall semester, spring semester, and summer session).
In order to graduate, students need to review their coursework on Degree Audit (accessed through myTC portal) and have it approved by their faculty advisor. Once the IP is completed, the student's faculty advisor must approve it through Degree Audit. Students may contact the Registrar for specific deadlines. Students must submit a soft and hard copy of the IP to be filed in the International and Comparative Education Program office (374 GDH). Students will complete a release form indicating whether or not they grant permission for the IP to be viewed by other students.
For more information, review the full International and Comparative Education Student Handbook here.
Points/Credits: 60
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
Comparative and International Education (CIE – code: COMP)
Check the Course Planning sheet in the Student Handbook for the most recent degree requirements.
Coursework (at least 60 graduate level credits, including up to 30 transferred credits).
Ed.M. coursework falls into four broad areas:
Area 1: Core Courses (12 credits)
Area 2: Cluster-related courses (at least 18 credits)
Area 3: Transcultural/Area Studies (at least 15 credits)
Area 4: TC Electives (at least 15 credits)
Transfer credit:
A maximum of 30 credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Only graduate courses which have been (1) completed with grades of B or higher, (2) submitted on an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution, (3) granted/assigned graduate credit on the transcript of that institution, and (4) completed prior to enrollment at Teachers College may be considered for transfer credit. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the faculty advisor and according to College policy. After registering for the first semester, students should obtain and fill out an Advanced Standing Review (ASR) application from the Office of the Registrar and return it to the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts will be evaluated and sent to the International and Comparative Education Program Assistant, who will then contact the student with further instructions. The entire process can take several months.
Integrative Project (IP)
Graduation
For more information, review the full International and Comparative Education Student Handbook here.
Points/Credits: 60
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
International Educational Development (IED – code: INTL)
Check the Course Planning sheet in the Student Handbook for the most recent degree requirements.
Coursework (at least 60 graduate level credits, including up to 30 transferred credits).
Ed.M. coursework falls into four broad areas:
Area 1: Core Courses (12 credits)
ITSF 4580 International Comparative Education & Development Studies (Part 1)
ITSF 4581 International Comparative Education & Development Studies (Part 2)
Two Research Methods Courses (Not Limited to ITS Methods Classes)
Area 2: Cluster-related courses (at least 18 credits)
Courses counting towards the cluster must be faculty advisor- approved.
Students considering a change in the cluster must discuss the change with the faculty advisor.
In some cases, transferred credits may be applied in this area.
Area 3: Transcultural/Area Studies (at least 15 credits)
Courses must come from at least three of the following categories: topics, research methods, professional skills, internship/practicum.
Transferred credits may be applied in this area.
Area 4: TC Electives (at least 15 credits)
To fulfill the TC breadth requirement, Ed.M. students must take at least 6 points of courses that are at TC but outside of the International and Comparative Education program. Courses offered by other programs within the ITS Department (anthropology) can also count as TC breadth electives if they are outside of the student’s concentration.
Other elective courses can be taken outside of the ITS Department or transferred from other schools.
Transfer credit:
A maximum of 30 credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Only graduate courses which have been (1) completed with grades of B or higher, (2) submitted on an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution, (3) granted/assigned graduate credit on the transcript of that institution, and (4) completed prior to enrollment at Teachers College may be considered for transfer credit. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the faculty advisor and according to College policy. After registering for the first semester, students should obtain and fill out an Advanced Standing Review (ASR) application from the Office of the Registrar and return it to the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts will be evaluated and sent to the International and Comparative Education Program Assistant, who will then contact the student with further instructions. The entire process can take several months.
Integrative Project (IP)
Completion of an IP is required for the Ed.M. degree. Please see the guidelines for Masters’ Integrative Project (IP) in the student handbook.
Students should consult with the faculty advisor about the IP at least one semester before the intended graduation date. After the IP topic has been approved, the IP Advisors are available to guide students through the completion of the IP.
Students who are working on the IP but not registered for any other classes may register for IND 4000 (Masters Candidate).
Graduation
Full-time students who transfer the full 30 credits may complete the Ed.M. degree within one academic year (fall semester, spring semester, and summer session).
In order to graduate, students need to review their coursework on Degree Audit (accessed through myTC portal) and have it approved by their faculty advisor. Once the IP is completed, the student's faculty advisor must approve it through Degree Audit. Students may contact the Registrar for specific deadlines. Students must submit a soft and hard copy of the IP to be filed in the International and Comparative Education Program office (374 GDH). Students will complete a release form indicating whether or not they grant permission for the IP to be viewed by other students.
For more information, review the full International and Comparative Education Student Handbook here.
Points/Credits: 90
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
International Educational Development (IED – code: INTL)
Check the Course Planning sheet in the Student Handbook for the most recent degree requirements.
Coursework (at least 90 graduate level points, including up to 45 transferred credits).
Ed.D. coursework falls into four broad areas:
Area 1: Core Courses (12 credits)
ITSF 6580: Advanced Seminar in Comparative Education
ITSF 6581: Advanced Seminar in International Educational Development
Choose two other ITSF courses (approved by the advisor)
Area 2: Cluster-related courses (at least 27 credits)
Courses counting towards the cluster must be advisor-approved.
In some cases, transferred credits may be applied in this area.
Area 3: Transcultural/Area Studies/Research Methods (at least 27 credits)
At least 6 credits must be in research methods
Other Area 3 courses must come from at least two of the following categories: topics, professional skills, internship/practicum
In some cases, transferred credits may be applied in this area.
In some cases, language credits may be applied in this area. Please check with the Registrar for restrictions on applying language credits
Area 4: Broad & Basic/Electives (at least 24 credits)
Can include courses dealing with the nature of education, the nature of a person’s learning processes, and the methods of evaluation and research
Can include courses that do not fit into any of the previous categories such as courses in related scholarly disciplines, and/or those which give an understanding of the functions of related specialties.
Transferred credits may be applied in this area
Languages:
Only graduate-level language courses at an advanced level of proficiency count towards the degree. These require approval from your advisor and the Registrar. No more than six credits of language courses can be used towards a graduate degree.
Courses Outside of TC:
Please see the TC Catalog for information about taking courses through the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium.
Transfer credit:
A maximum of 45 credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Only graduate courses which have been (1) completed with grades of B or higher, (2) submitted on an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution, (3) granted/assigned graduate credit on the transcript of that institution, and (4) completed prior to enrollment at Teachers College may be considered for transfer credit. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the faculty advisor and according to College policy. After registering for the first semester, students should obtain and fill out an Advanced Standing Review (ASR) application from the Office of the Registrar and return it to the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts will be evaluated and sent to the International and Comparative Education Program Assistant, who will then contact the student with further instructions. The entire process can take several months.
Departmental certification examination
Students complete their certification exam (AM) by the end of their first year in the program. The exam is integrated with the Advanced Seminar. Students must be authorized by Office of Doctoral Studies (ODS) to take this exam; please see advisor for more details. The certification exam may be attempted twice.
Specialization examination
Each professional specialization has different examination requirements. Students must register for the exam with ODS during the first week of the semester and should consult the main advisor for more information.
Defense of a dissertation proposal
The dissertation proposal defense requires two readers. The advisor/sponsor is the first reader, and students are responsible for finding a second reader appropriate for the concentration.
Students should register for ITSF 7500 during the semester of the proposal hearing.
Students are responsible for making arrangements with the two readers for the proposal hearing. Students should fill out the “Dissertation Proposal Hearing Report,” available from the ODS website. After a successful hearing, this form needs to be signed by both readers and the department chair. A copy should be submitted to the International and Comparative Education program office and the original should be turned into ODS.
After a successful proposal hearing, students must submit an application to TC’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the research project.
Please refer to the TC IRB website for more information (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/institutional-review-board/). Once approved, copies of the IRB approval letter must be filed with the International and Comparative Education program office and ODS.
Program Plan
Download the document "Ed.D. Program Plan Form" from the ODS website. Students should complete the Program Plan and obtain the advisor's signature on the form. This should be done by the time of the proposal hearing.
Ed.D. Certification
Once students have 1) completed most of the required coursework, 2) passed the department exam, the specialization exam, and the proposal hearing, 3) received IRB approval for the dissertation research, and 4) submitted the approved Program Plan, students are eligible for Ed.D. certification. This process must be completed through the International and Comparative Education Program office with the assistance of the International and Comparative Education Program Assistant. Final determination of certification is by the Office of Doctoral Studies.
Fieldwork Outside of the United States
Students who are conducting fieldwork outside of the United States may register for ITSF 6200 for one or two semesters. This is a 0-credit course. If this course will be taken, it should be included in the Program Plan.
Preparation and defense of a research dissertation
All Ed.D. students must register for ITSF8900, Doctoral Dissertation Advisement, after the Dissertation Proposal Hearing or the submission of the Recommendation for Certification to the Office of Doctoral Studies, whichever comes first. Students who are unable to receive advisement may be eligible for a waiver. Contact the Office of Doctoral Studies for more information.
Students may also refer to the document "General Instructions for the Preparation of Dissertations for the Doctor of Education Degree: A Manual of Style" downloadable from the ODS website for more information on dissertation preparation.
The “Guide to the Dissertation Oral Defense” is available on the ODS website for general guidance on preparing for the dissertation defense.
Consult the Office of Doctoral Studies for requirements on continuous enrollment.
For more information, review the full International and Comparative Education Student Handbook here.
Points/Credits: 75
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
Comparative and International Education (CIE – code: COMP)
Check the Course Planning sheet in the Student Handbook for the most recent degree requirements.
Coursework (at least 75 graduate level points, including up to 30 transferred credits)
Ph.D. coursework falls into four broad areas:
Area 1: Core Courses (9 credits)
Area 2: Concentration in an Academic Discipline (at least 30 credits)
Area 3: Comparative Education/Transcultural/Area Studies (at least 18 credits)
Area 4: Non-Major Foundations/Electives (at least 18 credits)
Languages:
Only graduate-level language courses at an advanced level of proficiency count towards the degree. These require approval from your advisor and the Registrar. No more than 6 credits of language courses can be used towards a graduate degree.
Courses Outside of TC:
Please see the TC Catalog for information about taking courses through the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium.
Transfer credit:
A maximum of 30 credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Only graduate courses which have been (1) completed with grades of B or higher, (2) submitted on an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution, (3) granted/assigned graduate credit on the transcript of that institution, and (4) completed prior to enrollment at Teachers College may be considered for transfer credit. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the faculty advisor and according to College policy. After registering for the first semester, students should obtain and fill out an Advanced Standing Review (ASR) application from the Office of the Registrar and return it to the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts will be evaluated and sent to the International and Comparative Education Program Assistant, who will then contact the student with further instructions. The entire process can take several months.
Note:
Ph.D. students must complete all degree requirements in no more than seven years. Those with 30 points of advanced standing prior to doctoral admission are to complete requirements within six years.
Departmental certification examination
Students complete their certification exam (AM) by the end of their first year in the program. The exam is integrated with the Advanced Seminar and includes two parts: one completed in the fall semester and one completed in the spring. Students must be authorized by the Office of Doctoral Studies (ODS) to take this exam; please see advisor for more details. The certification exam may be attempted twice. More information is available on the “Ed.D/Ph.D Policies and Procedures” page.
Specialization examination
Each discipline has different examination requirements. Students must register for the exam with ODS during the first week of the semester and should consult the main advisor for more information.
Defense of a dissertation proposal
The dissertation proposal defense requires two readers. The advisor/sponsor is the first reader, and students are responsible for finding a second reader appropriate for their concentration.
Students should register for ITSF 7500 during the semester of the proposal hearing. Please note that students are liable for dissertation advisement fees (ITSF 8900) in every semester following registration for ITSF 7500 or following the term in which the dissertation proposal is approved, whichever comes first.
Students are responsible for making arrangements with the two readers for the proposal hearing. Students should fill out the “Dissertation Proposal Hearing Report,” available from the ODS website. After a successful hearing, this form needs to be signed by both readers and the department chair. A copy should be submitted to the International and Comparative Education Program office and the original should be turned into ODS.
After a successful proposal hearing, students must submit an application to TC’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the research project. Please refer to the TC IRB website for more information (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/institutional-review-board/). Once approved, copies of the IRB approval letter must be filed with the International and Comparative Education program office and ODS.
Foreign Language Examinations
Ph.D. students are required to pass two proficiency examinations in foreign languages. Examinations are usually arranged through the appropriate language department at Columbia University.
One of these examinations may be replaced by receiving a passing grade for two of the following statistics courses offered at TC: HUDM 4122 (Probability and Statistical Inference), HUDM 5122 (Applied Regression Analysis), HUDM 5123 (Experimental Design).
Languages to be used must be listed on the Program Plan.
Program Plan
Download the documents, "Instructions for Completing the Ph.D. Course Program Plan" and "Ph.D. Course Program Plan Form" from the ODS website. Students should complete the Program Plan and obtain the advisor's signature on the form. This should be done by the time of the proposal hearing.
M.Phil. Certification
Once students have 1) completed all required coursework, 2) passed the department exam, the specialization exam, and the proposal hearing, 3) passed the foreign language examinations, 4) received IRB approval for the dissertation research, and 5) submitted the approved Program Plan, students are eligible for M.Phil certification. This process must be completed through the International and Comparative Education program office with the assistance of the International and Comparative Education Program Assistant.
Fieldwork Outside of the United States
Students who are conducting fieldwork outside of the United States may register for ITSF 6200 for one or two semesters. This is a 0-credit course. If this course will be taken, it should be included in the Program Plan.
Preparation and defense of a research dissertation
After taking ITSF 7500, all Ph.D. candidates are required to continuously register for ITSF 8900 and pay a fee in the term in which the dissertation is defended. Students who are not going to receive advisement may submit a “Personal Exemption for Dissertation Advisement” to ODS.
Students may also refer to the document "General Instructions for the Preparation of Dissertations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy" downloadable from the ODS website for more information on dissertation preparation.
Consult the Office of Doctoral Studies for requirements on continuous enrollment.
For more information, review the full International and Comparative Education Student Handbook here.