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30 credit hours |  In-state tuition: $490/credit hour | Out-of-state tuition: $575/credit hour

• Available in an easily accessible 100% online format from UTEP’s College of Education
• Designed for individuals who wish to pursue graduate studies focused on educational equity and prepares them to be change agents in educational policy and practice
• Focuses on diversity and equity in formal and informal educational settings, with a specific emphasis on anti-oppressive theories and pedagogies.
• Can be completed in as little as 16 months with no GRE required
• Does not lead to teaching certification, but opens the door to job opportunities in a wide variety of fields.
• Available on the Academic Common Market (ACM)*

To obtain a Texas teaching license, you may combine this degree with UTEP’s in-person Alternative Certification Program (48 credits total). Admission to the Alternative Certification Program requires a separate application process.

*If you are a resident in one of the states that participate in the ACM, you MAY qualify for in-state tuition for this program while residing outside of Texas. For more information, you must contact the ACM Coordinator of the state in which you are residing. For contact info by state, please visit 

NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE TO APPLY.

PROGRAM ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Help Implement Transformational Policies in a Growing Field

While societal inequities and oppression of people of color has been a focus in some academic areas for a long time, recent events have renewed questioning about inequality in our society.

This social awakening has produced a growing need for highly trained teacher-leaders and researchers to re-examine, and examine in new ways, how social injustice cuts across various institutions, particularly schooling, and what transformational policies and actions can be implemented to foster a more just and fair nation for all.

The M.A. in Diversity, Equity and Social Justice in Education is ideal for those seeking to address equity and take on leadership roles in a variety of fields, including education (both formal and informal) and in the nonprofit sector (e.g., community-based organizations). It also prepares graduate students who plan to pursue a doctorate in education or the social sciences. 

Graduates of this program may decide to work in community-based organizations, research, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public and/or private schools. The job outlook for many careers in related areas is strong per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for 2019-2029.

Types of positions available to you after graduation include:

• Educational program officer
• Worker in a nonprofit organization or an NGO (non-governmental organization)
• Social and community service manager (2019-2029 projected growth of 17%)
• Educational researcher
• Curriculum developer
• Grant writer
• Educational diversity coordinator
• Instructional coordinator (2019-2029 projected growth of 6%)
• Post-secondary administrator (2019-2029 projected growth of 4%)
• Training and development specialist (2019-2029 projected growth of 9%)
• Education-related public relations and fundraising manager (2019-2029 projected growth of 9%)
• International government organization professional
• Educational policy analyst
• Educational activist
• Educational advocacy coordinator
• Lobbyist
• Academic

Experienced Faculty

"As part of a graduate-level course on diversity and educational settings, which I taught, students in the course were afforded the opportunity to engage in a community-based project with parents from an underserved immigrant community at the U.S.-Mexico border. As a consequence of this experience, students in this course formed new understandings and competencies around partnering with parents to advance educational equity for historically marginalized students and communities." - Christina Convertino, Ph.D., Associate Professor

"[This is from a student]. I wanted to thank you for everything that I learned in these courses. I have been a teacher now for close to 14 years, but in recent years my passion for teaching had waned, and I experienced what I guess you could call teacher burnout. Your courses helped me in many ways. The readings and class discussions introduced me to scholars that not only echoed my beliefs about access to quality education for all students, but also allowed me to articulate these beliefs in an academic setting. Your courses motivated a re-commitment to becoming an advocate for my students and their academic goals.  Students who complete the construction management program at UTEP understand the unique challenges and opportunities in our industry...UTEP students consistently demonstrate a strong work ethic, enthusiastic desire to learn, and an eagerness to do what it takes to get the job done." - Tim Cashman, Ph.D., Professor

"I have worked closely with a student (as her professor and dissertation chair) who wasn’t   familiar with social justice education when she began the program. Now, she is an assistant professor going up for tenure in an education department that is organized around principles of social justice. She has become a leader in research on using multicultural literature with pre-service teachers, and she is conducting research on LGBTQ+ youth and social media."" - Char Ullman, Ph.D., Associate Professor

 

Course Overview

Coursework centers on frameworks and strategies that advance equity, diversity, and inclusion to promote social justice education. Through graduate coursework designed to promote critical analysis, reflection, and action, this program prepares students to produce new knowledge that transforms educational practices, programs, and policies.

To earn an MA in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education you must: 1) successfully complete of 30 hours of required coursework with a grade of “C” or better; 2) complete a thesis project and obtain a grade of “pass” in the Thesis II course; and 3) possess a final GPA of 3.0 or higher 

Thesis Requirement: The intent of the thesis study is to provide students the opportunity to synthesize and apply core content knowledge gained in the program and to demonstrate their academic and professional understanding through the production of a piece of original scholarship.  To graduate from this program, all students must conduct and defend a thesis study and register and pass the Thesis II Course. During the final semester of coursework, students will meet virtually with the Teacher Education Department Graduate Studies Coordinator for an audit and verification of coursework and final GPA, and for verification of completion of the application for graduation with UTEP’s Graduate School office.  

MA in DESJE CORE COURSES (9 hours)

• TED 5388 Capstone I OR TED 53987 Thesis I
• TED 5389 Capstone II OR TED 5399 Thesis II