Educational Culture, Policy and Society, EdM
Deep dive into how institutions, policies and practices impact social, economic and educational outcomes, focusing on underserved populations
Drive Meaningful Change
Designed for forward-thinking individuals passionate about understanding the social, political and cultural forces shaping education, this program empowers you to critically analyze and influence educational policies and practices. Whether you aspire to drive policy reform, work in advocacy or lead in educational organizations, you’ll gain the skills and insights needed to create equitable and transformative learning environments.
Examine Education in Diverse Contexts
Offered through the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, the program allows students to examine education in broad-based social, cultural, political and historical contexts in the U.S. and other nations, as well as the cross-national differences in educational policies and practices related to the teaching profession, teaching and learning.
Points of Distinction
Explore how disparities in gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, national origin and language are shaped and addressed through educational experiences.
Connect with a vibrant, diverse community of students from around the globe, each bringing unique academic backgrounds and perspectives.
Pursue certificates in applied statistical analysis, international education data analysis and qualitative research methods as part of your coursework.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Master of Education (EdM) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 32 |
| Time to completion | 3 full-time semesters |
| Course delivery | On campus |
| Application deadline | Priority Deadlines Fall: April 1, then rolling until Aug. 10 Spring: Nov. 1, then rolling until Jan. 10 |
Our program emphasizes flexibility in course selection across disciplines. We've minimized required courses. Use our sample below to create three broad categories, identify multiple relevant courses for each category, then select one from each category. We believe that this approach will ensure flexibility in our EdM program.
Required Courses for Academic Advisement Report (AAR)
Select One Course From the Following Courses:
- ELP 548 Foundations of Education
- ELP 585 Sociological Bases in Education
- ELP 589 Education and Socialization
- ELP 590 Education and Social Stratification
- ELP 586 Reading Urban Ethnographies
- ELP 620 Educational Transitions P–20
Select One Course From the Following Courses:
- ELP 511 Comparative Higher Education
- ELP 566 Comparative and Global Studies in Education
- ELP 574 Education in Asia
- ELP 575 Education and Globalization
Required for Culminating MA Project:
- ELP 700 Project Guidance (2 credits)
Besides these core ELP courses, students have flexibility to design their curricular pathways by choosing coursework from other departments such as:
Department of Anthropology
- APY 575 Literary Anthropology
- APY 521S Language, Culture and Power
Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology
- CEP 500 Fundamentals of Educational Research
Department of History
- HIS 526 The Role of the City in American History
Department of Sociology
- SOC 525 Race and Ethnicity
- SOC 615 Sociology of Immigration
- SOC 613 Sociology of Gender
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required.
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Contact information for at least two individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Sample of academic writing: A sample of academic writing, approximately 5 pages long.
- Statement of education and career goals. In what ways are your interests, characteristics, and professional objectives aligned with the master’s program in educational culture, policy and society?
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admissions decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed. In order to be compliant with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), we are prohibited from discussing the admissions decision with anyone other than you, the applicant.
In-State Residency Tuition
To qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Graduates of this program go on to work at:
- Colleges and universities—administrators and staff of programs (e.g., Educational Opportunity Program, McNair Scholars, Upward Bound) and researchers/analysts of educational policy studies, global studies and related areas
- K–16+ schools—administrators or teachers
- Ministries of education—analysts and policymakers
- International development or human service agencies—administrators, analysts or program officers
- Non-governmental agencies—administrators, analysts, program officers or researchers