M.S.Ed. in Community and Social Change

https://eps.edu.miami.edu/graduate/masters/csc-msed/index.html

Overview

The Community and Social Change Master’s program is a 30-36 credit program that prepares globally aware leaders, researchers, and agents of change who create, inspire, and engage community organizations. The vision of the program is to be a hub for innovative and applied leadership in community well-being and social justice. The program is based on the philosophy that leaders in community organizations must be knowledgeable in research, theories, and practice. The mission of the program is to create community-engaged leaders and social justice practitioners.  We train students to translate knowledge of individual, organizational and community well-being into action, engaging in action, research and consultation with the community.  We prepare leaders, activists, advocates, administrators, consultants, evaluators, managers, organizers, program developers, and researchers to play a variety of roles in many different types of community settings.  The program is designed to accommodate a variety of students by offering courses in a unique format where classes are held only once a month on the weekend and incorporate the following domains;

1. Core theory and skill-building coursework, 
2. Experiential field experience (practicum), and
3. Capstone requirement (Independent project).

120 hours of practical training are required for the M.S.Ed. in Community and Social Change degree. The practicum can be completed part-time within one or two semesters (or part-time or full-time during the Summer or Winter break) after the first year of study. Practical training is defined as "alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school." The practical training must be approved in advance by the faculty director. International students in F-1 status are required to obtain authorization for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) from the Department of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) prior to engaging in off-campus employment.

Application Requirements

Admission to all graduate-degree concentrations in the School of Education and Human Development is based on the recommendation of the faculty. Admissions decisions are based on faculty review of the following general requirements that apply to all Graduate Programs in the School as well as specific documents listed under each concentration.

Applicants must:

• International applicants whose native language is not English or applicants whose degrees are from a non-U.S. University must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS).
• provide official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and an acceptable undergraduate grade point average. A minimum of 3.0 undergraduate GPA is required. Official transcripts from every institution attended by an applicant, whether or not the applicant completed a degree program at the institution, are required;
• provide three letters of recommendation that address the issues and meet the criteria established by the program being applied to;
• provide a personal statement that addresses the mission and purpose of the program being applied to;
• resume;
• take part in an admissions interview (required by some programs); and
• exhibit personal and professional experiences and characteristics that are relevant to the profession and/or field and/or degree program for which the application is being submitted.

Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)

In addition to the factors listed as general requirements for all applications to the SEHD’s graduate programs, consideration for admission to the M.S.Ed. program will include the following:

1.  The personal statement mentioned above should describe the following:

• Personal characteristics relevant to training in community-based work and social change;
• Previous experience, if any, with community-based work;
• Reasons for applying to the program;
• Goals upon graduation.

2.  A writing sample may be required in some cases

*Note:  We do not require GRE.

International Applications

All international applications must provide additional information and meet additional requirements as required by the UM Graduate School and the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. For an appropriate link to these requirements, please visit the Graduate School website.

Admission Decision

Once an applicant has been admitted to graduate study, that individual should meet with the faculty advisor who was appointed to serve in that capacity and whose name appears in the admissions letter. This advisor will help the student enroll in courses that are appropriate to the program; to develop and to refine a Course Sequence Plan that must be on file in the Office of Graduate Studies by the end of the first semester of enrollment.

Honor Code/Handbook of Policies and Procedures

The School of Education and Human Development follows the Graduate School’s Honor Code. All students are required to review the Graduate Student Honor Code and the School of Education and Human Development’s Handbook of Policies and Procedures for Graduate Students and submit the signed Acknowledgement of Receipt located on page 3 by the end of their first semester of enrollment.

Curriculum Requirements - Regular Track

¹

 See Academic Advisor for a full list of eligible electives.

²

Office of Graduate Studies
If electives are not specified (to be determined) when Course Sequence Plan (CSP) is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, then you should complete a Course Substitution form before you register for the approved elective(s).

 Curriculum Requirements - Thesis Track Option

¹

See Academic Advisor for a full list of eligible electives.

²

If electives are not specified (to be determined) when Course Sequence Plan (CSP) is submitted to the Senior Associate Dean’s Office, then you should complete a Course Substitution form before you register for the approved elective(s).

This is a sample Plan of Study. Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings. Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection.

Sample Plan of Study

Mission

The mission of the program in Community & Social Change (C&SC) is to prepare globally aware leaders, researchers, and agents of change who create, inspire, and engage community organizations to foster well-being in diverse community settings. 

Goals

Program objectives include:

• Train students to understand the constructs of well-being and how to apply them in community-based work settings.
• Train students who can design, plan, implement and lead change initiatives in organizational and community settings.
• Produce students with an awareness of their values and how these impact their work in communities, as well as students who can critically think about and evaluate community-based organizations, community and human services and programs; and
• Produce students with skills that translate across diverse settings and a basic understanding of emerging technology as it relates to community and social change efforts.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate an awareness of their values and assumptions and be able to think analytically, logically and critically about social problems and solutions.
• Students will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the theories and practices of community and social change by the time they graduate.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of multicultural settings and the components necessary to work with competence in diverse settings.
• Students will demonstrate an ability to organize and communicate information effectively and incorporate technology and digital media.