Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Curriculum & Teaching
The Ed.M. is an advanced master’s degree 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. Leadership is interpreted broadly in this program to include developing curricula, studying teaching, designing professional development, and engaging in action research, all with a focus on challenging inequalities and imagining new possibilities for education.
Graduates of the program go on to pursue doctoral degrees, conduct research and inquiry as master classroom teachers, become administrative leaders in schools, and design curricula, facilitate professional development, and bring educational expertise to a wide range of learning organizations.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Education
- Points/Credits: 60
- Entry Terms: Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time, Part-Time
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Evidence of two (2) years full-time teaching experience is expected | |
| Initial Master's degree is recommended but not required, applicants without a prior Master's might consider the Master of Arts program | |
| Program does not lead toward certification, applicants should already be certified or not seeking certification |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact CTadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
The Ed.M. is a 60-point program, with the possibility of transferring in 30 points from relevant graduate study. It does not lead to New York State certification as a teacher or building administrator. Two years of teaching experience or the equivalent is a prerequisite for admission. Many students hold an initial master's degree.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
The Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree is an advanced master’s degree (between an M.A. degree and an Ed.D. degree) 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. Leadership is interpreted broadly in this program to include developing curricula, studying teaching, designing professional development, and engaging in action research, all with a focus on challenging inequalities and imagining new possibilities for education.
The Ed.M. is a 60-point degree program, with the possibility of transferring 30 points from previous relevant graduate study. Students typically enter the program with a prior master’s degree and a minimum of two years of teaching experience, or the equivalent. Courses are primarily offered in person during evening hours on the Teachers College campus. As a requirement of New York State, students may not take more than 49% of their courses online.
CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE
The Ed.M. degree in Curriculum and Teaching does not lead to New York State certification as a teacher or as a building administrator.
The Department of Curriculum and Teaching also offers two Master of Arts programs leading to elementary or secondary-level professional certification in New York State. For advice on New York State licensure requirements, interstate reciprocity, alternative routes to certification, and related matters, please consult the Office of Teacher Education (OTE): www.tc.columbia.edu/office-of-teacher-education/
REQUIRED COURSES
The program is organized around a core of common coursework, dealing with principles, history, theories, and skills of curriculum design and pedagogy. Beyond the core common coursework requirements, Ed.M. students work with a faculty advisor to design individual program plans reflecting their particular interests, needs, and desired area(s) of professional expertise. Toward the end of the program, all students identify an issue, problem, or question of concern to serve as the basis of an Integrative Project.
| CORE COURSES | C&T 4002 Curriculum Theory and History (3 points) C&T 4005 Principles of Teaching and Learning (3 points) C&T 4052 Designing Curriculum and Instruction (3 points) C&T 5500 Ed.M. Project Seminar (1 point; Fall only) |
ELECTIVE COURSES
Beyond the core, EdM students have considerable latitude to design a program of study relevant to their interests in consultation with their advisor. Program advisors draw on the knowledge of many Teachers College programs and professors to help students construct a program of high interest, interdisciplinary coursework, and educational relevance. This flexibility allows Ed.M. students to select additional courses that support their unique professional goals for curriculum leadership.
It is possible to take elective courses in and out of the C&T department and at other Columbia University graduate schools. While numerous possibilities will satisfy this requirement, students work with an advisor to ensure that electives meet the following criteria:
| SOCIAL CONTEXT COURSES | At least 6 points must be taken within the C&T department to address the social context of educational issues, rather than solely pedagogical methods. There are numerous other possibilities and students are encouraged to check the course schedule and discuss options with their advisor. The following list of suggested courses will satisfy this requirement. C&T 4000 Disability, Exclusion, and Schooling C&T 4010 Immigration and Curriculum C&T 4021 Nature and Needs of Gifted Students C&T 4026 Giftedness and Intelligence C&T 4032 Gender, Difference, and Curriculum C&T 4114 Integrated Curriculum: Diversity, Equity, and Technologies C&T 4131 Play, Language, and Early Childhood Curriculum C&T 4161 The Teacher: Social-Historical, Cultural Contexts of Teaching C&T 4615 Young Children and Social Policy C&T 5004 School Change C&T 5033 Globalization, Democracy, and Curriculum C&T 5535 Black, Latina, and Transnational Feminisms Special Topics Courses (C&T 4199 and C&T 5199) are also offered and vary every semester. Examples of past courses include: C&T 4199 Curriculum of Neighborhood Spaces C&T 5199 Critical Theory and Quantification: A Workshop C&T 5199 Abolitionist Teaching for Educational Justice C&T 5199 Issues in Curriculum: Latin American Education Thought C&T 5199 Intersectionality in Curriculum and Teaching |
| TC BREADTH REQUIREMENT | In order to ensure breadth of study, the College requires students to earn at least 6 Teachers College points outside of their home department. In addition, Ed.M. students frequently take more than six credits outside of the Curriculum and Teaching Department, based on students' interests, and selected in consultation with an advisor. In order to see the most up-to-date list of available courses outside of the department please review the Online Course Search A&HA 5804 Museum Experiences Across Disciplines A&HB 5020 Inclusive Bilingual Education and Issues of (Dis) Abilities A&HE 4152 Literacies and Technologies Secondary English Classroom A&HM 4122 The Artistic Lives of Young Children EDP 5063 US Education Policy in Historical Perspective ITSF 5015 Political Anthropology: Labor, Race, and Belief MSTC 4010 Hip Hop & Cultural Studies of Urban Science Education MSTU 4141 Social Media and Learning ORLD 4051 How Adults Learn |
| TRANSFER CREDIT | Most points earned through a prior degree at TC with the exception of student teaching, fieldwork, practicum, and internship courses will automatically transfer to the Ed.M. degree. Students with relevant master’s level study from a prior graduate program not at TC, may transfer up to 30 points towards the degree. Information can be found on the Online Transfer Credit Application.* *Note: Credits are only accepted from regionally accredited institutions and meet strict requirements to be considered. Students are advised to research regional accreditation before submitting a transfer credit application. |
| INTERNSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT STUDY | The program does not provide formal opportunities for internships. Ed.M. students who secure independent internships may earn course credit for work experiences through an independent study with a faculty member. The student and faculty sponsor will agree upon learning objectives for the work experience, course readings to supplement the position, regular assessments to demonstrate evidence of learning, and frequency of instructor check-in meetings. This coursework will determine the number of independent study credits earned from 1 to 8 points. Guidelines for determining credit hours can be found at: www.tc.columbia.edu/policylibrary/policies/credit-hour-4006343/ The student will register using the course code, C&T 4900: Research and Independent Study under the direction of the sponsoring faculty member. |
| VOLUNTEER AND INTERNSHIP RESOURCES | The following sources may help students identify volunteer opportunities as sites for independent study or internships:
|
THE INTEGRATIVE PROJECT & SEMINAR
The Integrative Project is an opportunity for Ed.M. students to design and conduct a disciplined and substantial inquiry into an issue, problem, and question of particular interest, germane to the student’s curricular and/or pedagogical investments, educational and social values, and professional contexts and aims. Student projects may take multiple forms, such as practice-based research, curriculum analysis and design, an arts-based creation, or an academic paper synthesizing and critiquing prior research. Students are encouraged to think creatively and incorporate multimodality in how they design their inquiries and share their new knowledge. In all cases, an end goal is for students to arrive at a well-grounded, articulated perspective and/or a set of recommendations for their own practice and continuing thought. Students present their projects to colleagues, faculty, friends and family, at an Academic Showcase at the end of the spring term.
| C&T 5500 MASTER’S PROJECT-Ed.M SEMINAR | Students begin conceptualizing this project in C&T 5500 Master’s Project - Ed.M Project Seminar taken in the fall semester of the first or second year of the program depending on the student’s individual timeline for program completion. The purpose of this seminar is to initiate a project that will integrate course learning and expand knowledge and practice of leadership. The seminar instructor will be responsible for guiding students’ completion of the integrative project. |
ADVISING
All students are assigned a faculty advisor prior to commencing studies at Teachers College. Advisor consultation is required for initial course selection and approval before registration. Newly admitted students receive a comprehensive Program Guide with instructions to draft a Program Plan before contacting their assigned faculty advisor.
TIMELINE
The timeline for completing the Ed.M. degree is flexible. With careful planning and advisement, the program can be completed in 2+ years for full-time students, or less if transferring credits from a previous master’s degree program. Students who continue to work professionally often enroll part-time and complete the program at their own pace. Part-time students are expected to make steady progress towards the degree and have five years to complete the program.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
| Students from other Teachers College departments interested in transferring to the Ed.M. Program must apply to be admitted. The application fee and some application requirements may be waived with permission from the Ed.M. Program Director and after consultation with the students’ current Program Advisor. If granted admission, most coursework previously taken at TC will be applied towards this advanced degree. The exception includes courses designated as student teaching, fieldwork, practicum, and internships, which are not permitted for transfer. All students must fulfill the Ed.M. core course requirements. |
| C&T ED.D. STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE ED.M. DEGREE | Currently enrolled C&T doctoral students who wish to earn the Ed.M degree while at Teachers College should consult with their Program Advisor or Dissertation Sponsor to discuss their goals for the additional degree. While it is possible to earn an Ed.M degree while remaining in the doctoral program, this is discouraged if it conflicts with completing requirements for the doctorate. A decision to transfer to the Ed.M program without completing the doctorate should be deliberated with the current advisor or sponsor prior to notifying the Ed.M Program Director. |
| C&T MASTERS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE ED.M. DEGREE | Master of Arts students in the C&T Department interested in continuing their studies after earning their initial master’s degree may apply to the Ed.M program as they are nearing completion of their program. The full application must be completed for consideration, but application fees and reference letters may be waived with the recommendation of the current Advisor or Program Director. All 32 points of the MA-CURR degree will transfer into the 60 credit Ed.M program. Students from other C&T Programs must complete all core course requirements. |
GRADUATION
Degrees are awarded in October, February, and May, but TC holds one commencement ceremony in May. Students will be permitted to attend the May commencement ceremony after the completion of all coursework and the integrative project.
PROGRAM GUIDE
Additional information about all program requirements is available in the Ed.M. (ME-CURR) Program Guide provided to all enrolled students.