Program Overview

Educational Theory and Social Foundations

The M.Ed. in Educational Theory and Social Foundations explores the intersections of education, community institutions, and democratic values across all types of institutions from PreK12 schools to global nonprofits. Grounded in praxis the powerful blend of theory and action students work alongside faculty and engage with community-based organizations to turn bold ideas into meaningful impact. The program prepares future educators and community leaders.

Program Overview

The program is designed for working professionals. Courses are offered in the evening with opportunities for asynchronous online learning. The program is unique with its emphasis on multidisciplinary training, where students simultaneously complete a certificate focused on community involvement from fields such as:

• Disability Studies
• Higher Education
• Management of Nonprofit Organizations
• Municipal Administration
• Urban and Regional Planning Students complete the program with a hands-on action research project centered on a critical community issue.

Top Reasons to Study Educational Theory and Social Foundations

1. Engage with the community: Our students have opportunities to learn and participate in a range of popular, community-based programs.
2. Engage with experienced peers: Our graduate students bring extensive experience working in schools and other community institutions. Their experiences provide a rich learning environment of collaboration and exchange.
3. Pursue a novel community-based degree: Our M.Ed. program offers a unique focus on the relationship between education and community, geared for individuals interested in growing as community leaders, educators, and activists.
4. Enhance career opportunities with interdisciplinary certificates: Our masters students complete a certificate from a range of fields. The culminating action research project offers students a rare hands-on opportunity to engage with real issues in their communities.

Faculty and Research

Graduate students in the program conduct research, present their work at national conferences, and co-author articles with faculty. Faculty and students strive to address issues such as:

• Raising the academic performance of underserved students
• Equity and access for all in a multicultural society
• Social justice issues such as funding
• Recruitment of a diverse teacher workforce Faculty members have diverse research interests, including:
• Theories of democracy and social justice
• Philosophy of peace education
• The relationships between social policy and education in the U.S. and other countries
• Urban education issues
• The role of educational institutions in human development
• The use of folkloristic theories, methods, and materials in promoting democratic and social reconstructionist education
• The relationship of race, class, and gender to the education of historically marginalized populations in the U.S.
• The impact of politics and institutions on the lives of educators and citizens in history
• Human rights and human rights education

Career Opportunities

A Social Foundations of Education graduate degree prepares students for careers as:

• Professionals in nonprofits and governmental organizations, community agencies, and businesses valuing diversity
• Scholars and researchers
• Teachers and educational reformers
• University administrators, faculty, and staff
• Urban developers and planners Graduates of our masters program have been hired as:
• Assistant professor
• Co-director of The Truth Telling Project and visiting assistant director
• Dean, College of General Studies
• Director of research and operations
• Educational consultant
• Faculty, American Language Institute
• Professor, Al-Quds University
• Professor of English, Ningbo University
• Program and training specialist, Advocacy Learning Center
• Toledo EXCEL coordinator