College of Education

The Online Master of Arts in Social Foundations and Community Education is an interdisciplinary graduate program for students with a broad range of experience and goals both within and outside of professional education, eager to explore issues pertaining to quality of life: social and ecological justice, globalization, and the ethics of teaching in schools and society.

A primary interest of Social Foundations of Education is to affirm the importance of social and ecological justice, democracy, and equity as these affect and are affected by the social, cultural, historical, and political contexts of schooling.

What You Will Learn

The goal of the program is to strengthen and inform a commitment to education for participatory democracy in a pluralistic society. You will assess the complex forces—economic, historical, social and political—that shape the structure and control of education both nationally and internationally. You will also engage in a theoretical analysis of cultural diversity as it impacts the practices and processes of education and life in a democratic society.

Students are introduced to a broad range of social theories and philosophies as they learn to analyze educational contexts and apply new interpretive frameworks to practice in a variety of settings inside and outside of schools.

Topical areas include the study of gender, race, and class in education, ethics and the philosophy of care, globalization and international contexts, militarization of schools, ecojustice education, and others.

Tailor Your Program

The student and the adviser have maximum latitude to tailor a program consistent with the student's abilities, competencies, and aspirations. It is a program combining flexibility and depth, along with close mentoring relationships.

• Admissions
  1. Meet the Graduate School admission requirements.
  2. To meet the Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement, applicants will choose one of the following options:
     • Option 1 - Hold a 2.75 undergraduate GPA
     • Option 2 - 3.0 GPA in the last half of the undergraduate work
     • Option 3 - 3.3 GPA in 12 hours or more of work at the graduate level
     • Option 4 - A minimum 2.7 undergraduate GPA and 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination writing. If taken, GRE scores must be sent to GradCAS.
  3. Submit a statement of interest. This statement should discuss the candidate’s interest in the SFCE program and demonstrate how it aligns with their professional goals.
  4. Optional: Request and submit two letters of recommendation that address the candidate’s professional commitment, experience, and potential.

  The transcripts, statement of interest, and letters of recommendation (if requested) should give evidence of potential for graduate-level scholarship.

• Handbook & Policies

  Handbook

  • Graduate Student Handbook [PDF]

  Policies & Procedures

  • Use of Human Subjects in Student Research

Featured Courses

• SFCE 535 Multicultural and International Education
• SFCE 550 Philosophy, Ethics and Teaching
• SFCE 580 Sociology of Education

Careers & Job Market Outlook