Mission
Our mission is to generate, study, and teach strategies, practices, and tools for addressing educational problems and to prepare practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers who can develop equitable and just educational opportunities.
Vision
The vision of the U-M School of Education is to be a premier School of Education devoted to developing civically engaged children, youth, and adults for a diverse and inclusive society.
Values
In pursuing our vision and mission, members of the University of Michigan School of Education community value:
- Promoting and embodying diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity;
- Working in local, national, and global contexts; and
- Engaging with and learning from communities and learners.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Welcome to the School of Education. Together, we are working to build the kind of society in which we want to live—a society where all children, youth, and adults have access to a robust education that empowers them in their lives, their careers, and their communities.
I am honored to be among a group of distinguished faculty, recognized as scholars and thought leaders across the globe in wide-ranging areas of educational expertise. In addition to our impactful program of research, we also engage in public scholarship directly with learners, educators, and leaders in varied and diverse contexts.
Our students share in these endeavors, and through a variety of academic pathways they learn critical skills and gain experiences that prepare them to shape minds, inspire students, create learning opportunities, conduct research, drive education reform, and lead educational change. They will go on to join almost 50,000 School of Education alumni who are improving education as teachers, scholars, policymakers, executives, and thought leaders in a wide range of both corporate and non-profit organizations.
Leading our top-ranked programs is our world-renowned faculty and our dedicated, expert staff. Our scholarship addresses some of the most challenging issues facing education today, from studying meaningful learning opportunities for more just and equitable education in key areas such as literacy, STEM, and social science education to documenting the effects of policies and practices necessary to systemic reform. We engage in powerful long-term research-practice partnerships that improve learning outcomes for students locally, nationally, and globally. We also learn from and with others as these endeavors sow the seeds of future research and new learning opportunities.
The School of Education community is always expanding to include others who are interested in advancing our mission to develop just and equitable education opportunities. Please join us in our ambitious pursuit of robust and meaningful educational opportunity for all. Explore the many opportunities we offer as you learn more about our educator preparation, master’s, and doctoral academic programs, professional development offerings, and opportunities to partner as scholars and as practitioners. We welcome you to reach out and Go Blue.
We are proud to be a leader in the campus-wide initiative promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. Adding "Justice" to these values underscores the role of educators in the creation of just societies.
#1
Rankings based on the number of research articles in top-tier journals
1:8
The School of Education is home to more than 550 undergraduate and graduate students; nearly 60 tenure-track, over 20 research-track, and 10 clinical-track faculty members; and 40+ lecturers
$11M+
In fiscal year 2022, the SOE had $11,462,380 in research expenditures
40K+
The SOE alumni community comprises nearly 40,200 members living in 81 countries across the world
6
#1 in Higher Education
#2 in Educational Psychology
#3 in Elementary Teacher Education
#3 in Secondary Teacher Education
#4 in Curriculum and Instruction
#7 in Education Policy
2023 U.S. News & World Report Rankings
6
SOE faculty include several renowned scholars and researchers awarded by prestigious institutions:
6 National Academy of Education members
1 National Academy of Sciences member
2 American Academy of Arts and Sciences members
1 National Medalist of Science
HISTORY OF THE SOE
In 1879, William Harold Payne was selected to lead U-M's new Science and the Art of Teaching program. Payne became the first American collegiate chairperson of a program focused solely on teacher preparation.
HISTORY OF THE SOE
The School of Education was established in 1921 as an outgrowth of that first program. The SOE offered 44 courses on educational psychology, testing, school administration, instructional methods, vocational guidance, and physical training.
HISTORY OF THE SOE
By 1940, the school offered 223 courses and employed 71 faculty and staff, including those from University High School and Elementary School, which were housed in our building from 1924 to 1968. “U High” department heads were SOE faculty who educated future teachers on theory and practice.
HISTORY OF THE SOE
In 1971, a record-setting 1,471 candidates were recommended for teaching certification. The next several decades established the SOE's emphasis on urban education and equity, starting with the expansion of teacher training programs to inner-city schools. By spring of 2005, SOE social justice initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion in research, service, teaching, and recruitment practices.
HISTORY OF THE SOE
In 2015, the SOE was the first unit to submit a finalized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement and Strategic Plan to the university. The plan affirmed our commitment to “developing the institutional mechanisms and social norms necessary to ensure that differences are respected, welcomed, and used to support individuals’ flourishing.”
HISTORY OF THE SOE
Today, SOE faculty and students remain at the forefront of educational change through their research contributions, instructional activities, collaborative involvement with the education profession, and service.
The magazine of The University of Michigan School of Education
Connect with Us
CONTACT
Admissions & Recruitment
soeadmissions@umich.edu
LOCATION & OFFICE HOURS
610 E. University Avenue
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.