Sociology and Education

Master of Arts (MA)

Sociology Core Courses (12 points) from among the following:

• EDPS 4000 Education and public policy (3) (required for the policy option)
• HUDK 4011 Sociology of online learning (3)
• EDPS 4021 Sociology of education (3)
• EDPS 4022 Sociology of urban education (3)
• EDPS 4024 Social stratification and education (3)
• EDPS 4027 Sociology of classrooms (3)
• EDPS 4028 Sociology of the life course (3)
• EDPS 4029 Sociology of schools (3)
• HUDK 4031 Sociology of evaluation (3)
• EDPS 4032 Gender, difference, and curriculum (3)
• EDPS 5022 Sociological analysis of educational systems (3)
• HUDK 5621 Technology and society (3)
• EDPS 6525 Seminar in sociology of education (3)
• ITSF 5023 The family as educator (3)
• ITSF 5026 The family and television (3)
• ITSF 5120 Education in community settings: Museums (2-3)
• ITSF 6520 Seminar in families and communities as educator (1-3)
• ORLA 4010 Introduction of organizational change theory in education (3)

 For the policy option only, the following courses may be taken:

• ITSF 5120 Education in community settings (3)
• EDPA 6030 Institutional theory: Sociological perspectives on institutional change in education (3) 

      Or other approved courses.

Research Methods (6 points):

• HUDM 4122             Probability and statistical inference (3) 

And an approved course in qualitative methods, including one or more of the following: 

• C&T 5502 Introduction to qualitative research in curriculum and teaching (3)
• ITSF 5000 Methods of inquiry: Ethnography and participant observation (3)
• ITSF 5001 Ethnography and participant observation: Fieldwork, analysis, reporting (3)
• ITSF 5007 Race, class, and schooling: Ethnographic approaches (3)

Policy Sequence (6 points; or 9 points with policy option): 

• EDPS 5645 Policy seminar I (3), and
• EDPS 5646 Policy seminar II (3)

For the policy option, both of the above courses plus an approved content-driven policy course. See the Teachers College Office of Policy and Research website for more information. 

Colloquia (3 points): 

•  EDPS 4620              Introductory colloquium in sociology and education (2-3) or
•  HUDK 5100             Supervised research and practice (1-6)

Electives (3-5 points; or 0-3 points with policy option):

Selected in consultation with an advisor. 

For the policy option:

• EDPA 4899 Federal Policy Institute (3) (recommended)

Culminating Experience (0-3 points):

• Master’s comprehensive examination, or
• Master’s essay and EDPS 6021, Social research methods: Reporting (1 point in fall; 2 points in spring)