MASTER'S

Design and Technologies for Learning Across Culture and Contexts

Overview & Requirements
Applying
Careers & Internships

The Design and Technologies for Learning Across Culture and Contexts thread focuses on preparing professionals for working with or designing for learners across a wide variety of ages and instructional and cultural contexts. The program is centered on the processes of learning and how to design experiences to improve learning outcomes for all in a manner that also supports our commitments towards educational equity and justice more broadly.

From young children to adult learners, students in this program integrate ideas from contemporary research in learning sciences and other theoretical perspectives on learning. Students explore research that describes the cognitive processes and sociocultural, political and ethical practices at play as people construct, produce, use, understand, and critique information.

This thread is ideal for prospective students with a strong interest in the learning sciences, the sociocultural aspects of learning, or learning experience design and its intersections with equity and justice. Students explore and actively engage in the design, assessment, and application of educational practice in formal and informal settings.

Graduates of the program have the expertise to examine theory, research, and design with a critical eye towards improving outcomes for learners. Our graduates have found great success as: learning experience designers; doctoral fellows; and in many educational roles working in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Want to learn more about the program?
See our upcoming information sessions

Additional certificate and endorsement opportunities
Learning Experience Design Certificate

Requirements

Total Credit Hours Required
30

Core credits

10

Students complete the following courses:

  • EDUC 570 – Professional Development Seminar in Education
  • EDUC 591 – How We Learn
  • EDUC 649 – Foundational Perspectives on Educational Reform
  • EDUC 695 – Research and Educational Practice

Thread-specific courses

9

Students choose from the following courses:

  • EDUC 500 – Foundations of Literacy
  • EDUC 503 – Media Literacies
  • EDUC 524 – Inquiry on Educational Issues
  • EDUC 525 – Language and Learning in Home and School Settings
  • EDUC 526 – Language Analysis for Second Language Teaching and Learning
  • EDUC 547 – Workforce Education
  • EDUC 560 – Everyday Equitable Practice
  • EDUC 601 / SI 549 – Transformative Learning and Teaching with Technology
  • EDUC 603 – Design-Based Research for Assessing Learning Environments
  • EDUC 604 – Curriculum Evaluation and Development
  • EDUC 626 / SI 548 – Principles of Software and New Media Design for Learning
  • EDUC 644 – Comparative and International Education
  • EDUC 645 – Education and Cultural Studies

Elective credits

9

Students select 9 credits of additional coursework from available U-M offerings, both in and outside of the Marsal School.

Internship credits

2

Students must complete a two-credit internship seminar, along with a 100-hour internship.

Questions?

Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective students

Prospective Students

2018 Ed Studies masters cohort poses in front of School of Education building
EDUCATIONAL STUDIES

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Upcoming Information Sessions

Connect with ES

Contact

Phone: (734) 763-9497
Master's: soeadmissions@umich.edu
Doctoral: edstudiesphd.info@umich.edu  

Location

610 E. University Avenue
Room 4218
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259

Office Hours

Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Application Deadlines

Fall (Aug)
January 5
Applications are still being accepted

Application Process

Step 1: Prepare your application materials

To submit a successful application for admission, you need to provide the following:

  • Academic Statement of Purpose
    • Part-Time Admission: Applicants seeking admission to a master’s program may attend on a part-time basis. Please indicate this by answering the “part-time” question on page 9 of the application. 
    • The Academic Statement of Purpose serves to demonstrate a fit between your background/interests and the Educational Studies master’s program’s philosophy, structure, and offerings. The statement should take the form of a concise and coherent essay, approximately 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced. 
    • Please be sure to address the following elements in your statement with regard to the specific thread of the Master’s in Educational Studies degree to which you are applying: 
      • A clear statement about the opportunities, issues, and/or problems of education that motivate you to pursue your chosen thread of the Master’s in Educational Studies. 
      • A concise summary of relevant academic or professional experience. Please explain the connection between your academic or professional experience and the opportunities, issues and/or problems of education introduced in #1. 
      • An overview of your short-term and long-term career goals. Please introduce how you will go about addressing the opportunities, issues, and problems of education introduced in #1. 
      • A clear statement explaining how you expect that program thread will allow you to better understand the opportunities, issues, and problems of education that motivate your graduate studies and on which you will focus your career. Please make specific reference to details such as course offerings, experiential learning opportunities, campus resources, and the expertise of specific faculty members.
  • Personal Statement 
    • 500 word limit
    • How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan? For example, if you grew up in a community where educational, cultural, or other opportunities were either especially plentiful or especially lacking, you might discuss the impact this had on your development and interests. This should be a discussion of the journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. Please do not repeat your Academic Statement of Purpose. 
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation
    • We strongly encourage two of your letters come from individuals who are familiar with your academic performance. The third may be from a professional reference.
    • Register your recommenders' names and contact information on the online application so that they will be sent instructions for submitting their letters via the application system. Let your recommenders know that they need to upload a letter and that it is required by the program. 
    • As soon as you click "save" on the page of the application where your recommenders' contact information is entered, they will receive an email with instructions for completing the process. Proceed to this point in the application process as soon as possible to trigger that email.
  • Resume or CV
  • TOEFL, MELAB, ECPE, or IELTS scores (for non-native speakers of English only; valid 2 years from test date)
    • GRE Test Scores
      • GRE test scores are not required for admission, but scores (valid 5 years from test date) can be included with your application.
      • Provide ETS with the U-M Institutional Code of 1839 and your scores will be sent directly to the university.
    Step 2: Create an ApplyWeb account, managed by Rackham Graduate School

    Create an account with Rackham Graduate School.

    This program, like all of the Marsal Family School of Education's graduate programs, is administered through the University of Michigan's Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Rackham offers a host of resources and administrative support to help see you through from submitting your application to completion of your degree.

    Step 3: Complete pages 1-5 of application using ApplyWeb
    • After completing page 5 of the application, you will receive an e-mail with your U-M ID. A U-M ID number will be issued to you via email within 5 business days of completing pages 1-5 and advancing to page 6 of the ApplyWeb application. Having your U-M ID number to include on all your application materials ensures accurate and timely processing, so we encourage you to complete pages 1-5 early in the process.
    • If you need to submit your application before you receive your U-M ID number, you may still complete the application. Include your date of birth and the program’s name on your application materials.
    • Current and former U-M Ann Arbor students, alumni and employees: You do not need to obtain a new U-M ID number. Use your previously obtained U-M ID number.
    • If your personal information has changed (for example, legal name, gender), make sure the personal information you submit with your application matches your previous Ann Arbor campus record. If your previous Ann Arbor campus record does not display your current personal information, contact the Registrar’s Office or the Shared Services Center to change your personal information before you apply.
    Step 4: Upload academic statement of purpose, the personal statement, and a curriculum vitae (CV) or resume to the ApplyWeb application

    Include at the top of each document:

    • The type of document (Academic Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, or Curriculum Vitae or Resume)
    • Your name
    • The name of the graduate program
    • Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)

    Make sure margins are at least one-inch so nothing is cropped when you upload the documents to the application.

    Step 5: Submit test scores
    • TOEFL, MELAB, ECPE, or IELTS scores (for non-native speakers of English only; valid 2 years from test date)
    • GRE Test Scores
      • GRE test scores are not required for admission, but scores (valid 5 years from test date) can be included with your application.
      • Provide ETS with the U-M Institutional Code of 1839 and your scores will be sent directly to the university.
    Step 6: Submit transcripts
    • Upload an electronic version of your official transcript(s) for each Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional, or Doctoral degree earned or in progress through your ApplyWeb application account (part of the Rackham application system). Do not upload academic records printed from your school’s website or student portal.
    • You are not required to send official transcripts at the time of application. If you are recommended for admission, the Rackham Graduate School will require official transcripts. Admitted applicants will receive an email notification when the official transcripts are required.
    • Students who have studied in a country outside of the U.S. should review the required credentials from non-U.S. institutions. For all degrees obtained at non-U.S. institutions—Request that degree-granting institutions submit official transcripts/records to the Rackham Graduate School at the time of application.
    • Information for submitting official transcripts can be found on the Rackham Graduate School website.
    Step 7: Check that letters of recommendation have been submitted
    • We strongly encourage two of your letters come from individuals who are familiar with your academic performance. The third may be from a professional reference.
    • Register your recommenders' names and contact information on the online application so that they will be sent instructions for submitting their letters via the application system. Let your recommenders know that they need to upload a letter and that it is required by the program.
    • As soon as you click "save" on the page of the application where your recommenders' contact information is entered, they will receive an email with instructions for completing the process. Proceed to this point in the application process as soon as possible to trigger that email.
    Step 8: Create a U-M Friend Account

    Check on your application status. If you’ve been accepted, you will receive an email with information on how to send your official transcripts.

    Step 9: Respond to admission offer

    Quick Facts

    Application fee waiver

    Available

    The $75 application fee is waived for all U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

    GRE general exam scores

    Not required

    Undergraduate GPA guideline

    None

    Applications are evaluated using a holistic process, which means that reviewers carefully consider all materials provided and no single factor is used in either accepting or denying an applicant for admission.

    Financial aid

    Available

    Part-time status

    Applications accepted

    Online, evening, or weekend courses

    Not available

    Entry term

    Fall (August)

    Connect with ES

    Contact

    Phone: (734) 763-9497
    Master's: soeadmissions@umich.edu
    Doctoral: edstudiesphd.info@umich.edu  

    Location

    610 E. University Avenue
    Room 4218
    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259

    Office Hours

    Monday–Friday
    8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

    Careers

    76%

    of known graduates found full time employment in education or pursued an advanced degree

    83%

    of known graduates found employment within 6 months

    $51K

    average first year salary

    75%

    of known graduates are highly satisfied or satisfied with their current position
    Graduates typically go into these industries

    Students in the Design and Technologies for Learning program often seek positions in curriculum development and instructional services. Graduate work both within and beyond the traditional K-12 context.

     

    Graduates often work as
    • Curriculum developers
    • Learning experience designers
    • Program directors
    • Education services consultants

    Internships

    The Design and Technologies for Learning program requires an internship of at least a 100 hours be completed during the winter semester accompanied by a two credit seminar. Students in this thread often pursue many different options that range from research to instructional design working with faculty, campus offices, and local community organizations.

    Examples of recent placements

    • Learning Experience Associate, Center for Academic Innovation, University of Michigan
    • Teaching Assistant, Video Games, Learning, and School Design
    • Curriculum Developer, 826 Michigan