Educational Studies

MA

Why study Educational Studies?

The Master of Arts in Educational Studies is a multi-disciplinary graduate degree program designed to provide students with greater understanding of the foundations of education, learning, development, and research in education and social change. Our program allows student to focus on one area that is essential to the educational industry. By honing in on a specific concentration, our students will become experts in their desired specialty and become better advocates for education.

Students are able to choose from one of the following concentrations:

• Higher Education Administration: Students will focus on content that higher education leaders and college and university administrators are required to be knowledgeable in, as well as, provide students with foundational knowledge and innovative solutions that build stronger academic and postsecondary institutions.

• Educational Psychology and Child Study: Students will gain expertise in developmental learning sciences (human learning and development; cognitive and developmental psychology) and the developmental study of children.

• Applied Research Methods: This concentration prepares students to learn the application and development of quantitative methodologies and/or mixed research as tools to gather evidence in the field of education and other social and behavioral sciences.

• Research for Social Change: Students will gain expertise in research-to-action and educational approaches toward social justice and strengthening of communities.

Admission Requirements

  1. Transcripts: Unofficial or official transcripts documenting completion of a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. GPA: A preferred minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 [on a 4.0 scale].  
  3. English Language Proficiency: Please view the university's Graduate Admissions Requirements to determine if this applies to your application. 
  4. Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf are required. 
  5. Personal Statement: Responding to several questions depending on your concentration area of choice. 

Application Deadline and Procedures

Prospective students will complete the online application for their requested program by the posted application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted by that deadline. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.

The program requires that applicants have strong skills in verbal and mathematical reasoning and technical writing. Successful participants will have a passion for education, learning, and research.

Graduates of this program will be prepared for the careers listed below. All opportunities may not be listed. 

The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.

Students in this program will have two sources of advising:

  1. A general program advisor who provides initial coursework and timeline advising for students early in their programs, and
  2. A faculty advisor who works with individual students to complete master’s projects and thesis options.

The Master of Arts in Educational Studies is a unique multidisciplinary program that allows participants to gain advance knowledge in the study of education and learning and educational research and tailor program content to their areas of interest and professional goals. Participants may be teachers, administrators, community-based professionals working with children and families, or individuals working in institutions of higher education.

Before a candidate can graduate, he or she must meet the following requirements:

  1. Have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0
  2. Be registered for at least one credit in his or her program in the academic year, after having met minimum degree course requirements to be considered a graduate candidate throughout the academic year.
  3. Have all NG, N, I, UP, SP and F grades removed for degree courses.
  4. Post satisfactory grades for the semester of graduation.
  5. Satisfactory completion of all applicable College and program requirements approved by the major advisor through the Checklist for Completion of College/Departmental Requirements for Graduation and sent to the Graduate Program Director.
  6. Completion of 30 graduate semester credit hours.
  7. Completion of the on-line graduation application (through the Graduate School’s website) prior to the posted deadline.

A)  A maximum of 50% of semester credit hours taken as a matriculated candidate in another UC college may be transferred into a candidate’s program. Candidates must have earned a grade of B or higher in these courses. In no case can the Culminating Experience requirement be fulfilled by transfer of credit from another college or university. Applicability of transfer credits is subject to program review and approval.

B)  A maximum of 1/3 of semester credit hours taken as a matriculated candidate at another university may be applied toward a candidate’s program. Candidates must have earned a grade of B or higher in these courses. Requests for this credit require the completion of the Recommendation for Advanced Standing Form, which is subject to program, Graduate Program Director and Graduate School approval. In no case can the Culminating Experience requirement be fulfilled by transfer of credit from another college or university.

C) A maximum of 12 semester credit hours taken as a non-matriculated candidate at UC may be applied toward the degree. Candidates must have earned a grade of B or higher in these courses. Requests for this credit require the completion of the Recommendation for Advanced Standing Form, which is subject to program, Graduate Program Director and Graduate School approval. In no case can the Culminating Experience requirement be fulfilled by transfer of credit from another college or university.

Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Educational Studies

Application Deadlines

Applications open one year in advance of commencement of the term to which one applies and will be reviewed per the following timeline:

  • Fall Admission Deadline: August 1*
  • Spring Admission Deadline: December 15
  • Summer Admission Deadline: May 1

*International students are encouraged to apply for fall admissions.

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Office of Recruitment
PO Box 210014
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(513) 556-6308
cechrecruit@uc.edu

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Program Code: 18MAS-EDST-MA