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Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies (M.Ed.)

Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies (LDUS) is a non-licensure master's degree program designed for teachers and other professionals who aspire to understand the complex ways in which diversity influences learning in settings both inside and outside of schools. The 30-hour program will prepare you with the knowledge and the research skills to boost your success in education or related fields.

As a graduate of LDUS you can expect to strengthen your classroom teaching; pursue positions in other settings such as museums, nonprofit or for-profit organizations; become a leader in public schools as a diversity officer, professional development coordinator, curriculum coordinator, or learning coach; or build research skills in preparation to entering a doctoral program.

Students in LDUS engage in processes of learning design and inquiry built around three related content "Themes".

THE LEARNING THEME focuses on the design of learning environments which emphasizes research-based theories of how people learn and ways designers can capitalize on diversity to enhance learning. The approach addresses multiple levels of organization within learning environments--from individual students to classrooms and surrounding institutional structures and capacities.

THE DIVERSITY THEME will build your knowledge about the nature and definition of diversity and its role in groups, systems, and scholarly inquiry. Areas of investigation include language, race, class, gender, socio-economic status, equity, sexual orientation, equality, and discrimination. The program encourages students to consider how the many facets of diversity can be viewed as assets to improve education and educationally related organizations.

In THE URBAN STUDIES THEME, you will learn about the complex interactions between individuals, groups, and the various systems that characterize urban contexts. The program will focus on inner-city schools, metropolitan regions, neighborhoods, and education-related policies and practices that influence learning. You will develop historical and contemporary perspectives that can shed light on education in urban settings while learning about strategies and tools to solve problems.

The 30 semester hour program can be completed over three semesters (fall, spring, and summer). Students enter as a cohort and take their core courses together. The major consists of the following:

Common Core 18 semester hour

EDUC 3630 Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies Seminar I  (Fall)
EDUC 3640 Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies Seminars II  (Spring)
EDUC 3620 Principles of Curriculum Development  (Fall)
EDUC 3830 Action Research  (Spring)
Or
EDUC 3900  Introduction to Qualitative Methods  (Spring)

EDUC 3963 Internship in Urban Studies (3hours, 3 hours)  (Fall and Spring)

Specialization 9 semester hours
Classroom Teaching
Or
Out of School Learning

Electives 3 semester hours

As a culminating requirement, you may choose either to complete a capstone experience or to write a thesis. Additional Time is required for a thesis option.