Master of Science in Educational Studies

This program is designed for those interested in the general study of education. It serves three types of people:

1. Teachers interested in obtaining a masters degree in education, but who work in a subject area other than the certification areas offered by SUNY-Binghamton (i.e., other than childhood education, special education, literacy, or adolescence education in English, mathematics, science, or social studies).

2. Professionals working in schools in non-teaching positions or those in community colleges, human service agencies, or other settings dealing with students or schools, who would benefit from a greater understanding of educational foundations.

 3. Teachers and educators from other countries who desire graduate study in the field of education, but who are not interested in teacher certification.

Note: This program does not lead to certification. Students interested in being certified will have to apply to the state on their own or pursue a different master's degree that does lead to certification.

Program Requirements

The program consists of 36 graduate credits, with a minimum of 24 graduate credits taken in the Graduate School of Education. The student must take at least 4 credits in each of three educational areas: foundations of education, teaching and learning, and research. The following lists are representative examples of courses in each area.

Foundations
EDUC 501. Crucial Issues in Education
EDUC 530. Adolescent Psychology and Education
ELED 502. Child Growth and Development

Teaching and Learning
SPED 521. Positive Approaches to Behavior Intervention
EDUC 596. Learner-Centered, Community-Based Instruction
LTRC 519. Adolescent Learners and Literacy for the Content Areas

Research
EDUC 541. Applied Research Techniques
LTRC 515. Current Research and Practices in Literacy Instruction

These examples are illustrative, not exhaustive. Other courses would be appropriate as determined by the student’s advisor.

In addition to the coursework, a final culminating research-based master's paper or project is required for this degree. This would involve a formal research paper on a major educational issue (or a research report of a field-based study) (15-20 pages). Alternatively, if the student is teaching, this could involve presenting a reflective portfolio of teaching and curricular materials, including a review of relevant research. The focus and scope of the paper or project will be determined by student's advisor in consultation with the student.

M.S. in Educational Studies Applicants

See Masters Degree Admissions page for general directions on applying to master's programs in the Graduate School of Education. Then, pay attention to the following.

1. Make sure at least one recommendation letter speaks to your academic abilities, especially researching and writing academic papers. It's best if it comes from a professor of a recent course or from an academic advisor who has taught you and graded your work.
2. It is your responsibility to ensure that the recommendation letters and all other materials (GRE score report, transcripts, etc.) are in on time. The deadlines are February 1 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission. (You must take the GRE early enough for the scores to be received by the university before the application deadline. There are no waivers of the GRE requirement for this program.)
3. As part of your application, include an essay of about 1,000 words (4-5 double-spaced pages) that describes:
   • Why you are interested in the M.S. in Educational Studies program.
   • Your professional goals, including what you hope to contribute to the field of education.
   • An issue or topic you might like to research for your culminating master's paper/project (a couple of paragraphs).

The essay is important in judging your suitability for the program. It helps us to match qualified applicants with full-time education faculty members as advisors, a key part of the admission process.

Inquiries

Please direct questions about the Master of Science in Educational Studies program to Tami Mann (tmann@binghamton.edu) or Amber Hawley-Figueroa (figueroa@binghamton.edu). Be sure to include "Educational Studies" in your e-mail subject heading

For General Information
E-mail: soe@binghamton.edu
Phone: 607-777-2727
Fax: 607-777-3587