Z Clone of International Education Policy Concentration - Higher Education, Student Affairs, & International Education Policy, M.A.
Program Overview
In today’s rapidly changing world, understanding education’s role in shaping global societies is more important than ever. Through critical reflection on current policies, practices and conditions, our International Education Policy (IEP) program empowers students to contribute to transformative educational and social change. Our program will equip you with the knowledge and interdisciplinary skills needed to address global challenges such as equity, social justice, sustainable development through education and international peace.
In our program, you’ll analyze educational policies and practices in diverse settings—from local communities to global organizations, and explore the role of education in economic, political and social development in both developing and developed countries. You’ll examine the complete education journey, from pre-school to higher education, as well as non-formal education, including adult and community-based learning.
As a student, you’ll have access to the extensive resources of the University of Maryland and neighboring universities, allowing you to customize your learning experience. Beyond the core courses, you can tailor the program to align with your interests and career goals. Choose a focus area or create your own specialization in fields such as:
- Education in Conflict and Emergencies
- Gender and Development
- Intercultural Education and International Student Exchange
- Peace and Environmental Education
- Political Economy of Education and Development
Key Features
- Flexibility: Tailor your program to match your background, interests and career goals. We offer five specializations or you have the option to create your own.
- D.C. Advantage: Located just a few miles from the nation's capital, our program offers unparalleled access to internships, employment opportunities, seminars, workshops, and renowned speakers. Cooperative arrangements with universities in the area, such as American University and George Washington University, give you access to courses and seminars offered by other strong programs in related disciplines.
Top 20
Best Education Policy Program by U.S. News & World Report
Community
One of our greatest strengths is our students. We are committed to building a community of students, faculty and development professionals who work together to promote cross-cultural and multicultural understanding and bridge the gap between research and real-world practice.
“Here at the IEP program at UMD, the education we get is top notch, critical, rich in diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and opinions from our IEP faculty members and fellow graduate students.”
How to Apply
How to Apply
Information on admissions and application to this program can be found on the University Graduate Admissions website.
Requirements
Program Requirements
The IEP program offers a flexible, personalized plan of study tailored to each student's needs. Program plans evolve as students progress, allowing them to specialize in one or more areas.
Specializations
Core Courses (6 credits)
Select two of the following courses and the Proseminar:
- EDHI 605—Comparative Education
- EDHI 606—Political Economy of Education in a Global Context
- EDHI 607—Culture and Education in a Global
- PROSEMINAR—Attendance required for first 2 years of program (0 credits)
Research Methods (6-9credits)
- EDHI 672—Modes of Inquiry
- An introductory course to quantitative methods or qualitative methods
- An additional methods course if a master’s thesis option is selected
International Education Specialization Course Electives (6-12 credits)
Select two to four of the following or equivalents:
- EDHI 680—Gender, Education, and Development
- EDHI 681—Education for Global Peace
- EDHI 682—Ecological Ethics and Education
- EDHI 683—World Religions and Implications for Education
- EDHI 684—Alternative Education, Alternative Development
- EDHI 750—International Higher Education
- EDHI 788—Contemplative Inquiry and Holistic Education
- EDHI 788—Education in Conflict and Emergencies
- EDHI 788—Global Climate Change and Education
- EDHI 788—International Education and Cultural Exchange
- EDHI 788—International Investigations in Cuban Education
- EDHI 805––Seminar in Comparative Education
- EDPS 624––Culture in Education Policy and Practice
- EDHI 798––Special Problems in Education
Professional and Disciplinary Course Electives (3-6 credits)
Courses may be selected in the areas of public policy, communications, anthropology, economics, sociology, gender studies, higher education, early childhood education, or elsewhere in the College of Education, the University, or the Washington Consortium.
Internship - Optional (0-3 credits)
- EDHI889 — Internship in Education
M.A. Thesis or M.A. Seminar Paper (3-6 credits)
Select one (registration required):
- EDHI679 — Master's Seminar
- EDHI799 — Master's Thesis Research
Specializations
All IEP students are expected to take both disciplinary courses and professional specialty courses. Disciplinary courses refer to those in the social sciences and humanities, such as anthropology, economics, or history. Professional specialty courses refer to those that develop expertise in areas relevant to working in education. For example, you may want to specialize in higher education, early childhood education, curriculum development, or distance education. Many colleges and departments across campus provide specializations in these areas.
The distinction between disciplinary and professional courses provides significant flexibility. Many areas of study, like gender studies, public policy, and Latin American studies, may not easily classify as one or the other. This distinction provides you with the opportunity to design a program that best suits your interests and goals.
While graduate degrees have traditionally encouraged high levels of specialization, the field of comparative and international education comprises of many researchers and practitioners who are generalists or have multiple areas of specialization. This is especially important in our field, as over a person’s career they will likely work across considerable substantive and geographical diversity. The flexibility built into the IEP program structure is designed specifically to prepare you for this kind of diversity.
There are five specializations in the IEP program. These are listed below, with example courses.
This specialization examines educational issues in contexts of conflict and emergencies, such as under conditions of war, forced migration, epidemic and pandemic, and climate disaster. Students gain familiarity with global humanitarian frameworks and interventions in Education in Emergencies, as well as national, local, and school-based responses in different parts of the world. Through critical and reflective exploration of theoretical, conceptual, and practical dimensions, students work to advance their contributions to related research, institutions, and educational contexts.
Possible courses include:
- Education in Conflict and Emergencies (EDHI788J)
- Education for Global Peace (EDHI 681)
- Global Climate Change and Education: Policy and Practice (EDHI788F)
Intercultural education is of paramount importance in today’s world where contact across cultures is increasing exponentially. This specialization offers an examination of the fundamental issues that combines culture, education, and development. These issues have recently been gaining importance to universities as they respond to globalization through internationalization initiatives, programming, and policy. This specialization offers an examination of the higher education context in which those initiatives take place.
Possible courses include:
- Education and Culture in a Global Context (EDHI607)
- International Higher Education (EDHI750)
- International Education and Cultural Exchange: Policies and Practices (EDHI788T)
- International Investigations in Cuban Education (EDHI788X)
Though attention to class, gender, race, and ethnicity permeates the courses in the IEP program, students can develop a specialization in gender and development which seeks to enhance their understanding of how gender operates in society and thus influences a variety of educational outcomes. Students are prepared to draw policy implications and design concrete practices to diminish the negative impact of gender and to increase individual and collective action toward its transformation.
Possible courses include
- Gender, Development and Education (EDHI680)
- Approaches to Women’s Studies (WMST602)
- Gender and Development (WMST698R)
This specialization provides students with an understanding of conditions, global and local, that lead to wars, conflicts, environmental destruction and climate change. It informs students of theories and practices in peace and sustainability education for peace building and preservation of nature. Also emphasized are understanding of political, economic, cultural, religious, and educational contexts for peace and sustainability. Peace is defined as a deep respect for each other as human beings, and for nature with sustainable ecological ethics. Further, peace is seen as being achieved through both external efforts and internal endeavors to cultivate wisdom and equanimity. Through coursework, students study alternative and transformative paradigms and acquire practical knowledge for peace and sustainability education.
Possible courses include:
- Education for Global Peace (EDHI681)
- World Religions and Implication for Education (EDHI683)
- Global Climate Change and Education: Policy and Practice (EDHI788F)
- Contemplative Inquiry and Holistic Education (EDHI788)
The term “political economy” is a contested one but generally has to do with a broad and integrated understanding of the politics and economics of issues. This specialization offers students an understanding of the debates about the theory and practice of political economy, current educational policies, and their relationship to development.
Possible courses include:
- Political Economy of Education and Development (EDHI606)
- Alternative Education, Alternative Development (EDHI684)
- International Investigations in Cuban Education (EDHI788X)
NOTE: In addition to the above specializations, you have the option to create other specializations. Past students have developed specializations in professional areas such as early childhood education, special education, primary and secondary education, teacher education, education leadership, education policy, higher education and public health education. Others have explored specializations in social science disciplines and applied areas such as anthropology, economics, public policy, sociology and women’s studies.
As a student at the University of Maryland, you'll have access to many specializations across campus and beyond. We encourage students to take additional courses not just within the IEP program, but also in other departments, colleges, and even partner schools in the region. (See the UMD DC Consortium webpage for details on schools where UMD students can enroll in classes).
Faculty
Faculty
Our faculty are selected for their expertise and experience. They provide guidance and support to help foster your academic and professional success.
Careers
This program is designed for those starting their careers, professionals looking to advance and those planning to pursue futher studies in the field.
Our graduates work for public and private international agencies, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and universities, both in the U.S. and abroad. Below is a sample of the positions held by IEP graduates.
- Vice President, World Learning
- Deputy Chief of Party, USAID, Senegal
- Doctoral Student, Stanford University
- Consultant, World Bank
- Senior Human Development Officer, African Development Bank
- Teacher, Montgomery Public School
- Director of Global Communities, UMD
- International Student and Scholar Advisor, UC Berkeley
- Senior Program Manager, Institute of International Education
- Founder, Amani Children’s Network
- Executive Director, Center for World Music
Contact Us
Contact Us
