Diversity & Equity Online Masters Program

Program Summary

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The Application Deadline for Fall 2012 has been extended to April 15, 2012!

The application deadline for the Diversity & Equity Program is April 15th. For details on how to apply please visit the Prospective Students page.

Program Summary

This groundbreaking Master of Education (Ed.M.) is a collaborative effort of the four departments within the College of Education; Educational Policy, Organization & Leadership, Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, and Educational Psychology. It is designed to provide educators a holistic approach to issues related to diversity and equity in P-16 learning environments and to develop teachers and administrators who are knowledgeable in learning theories, leadership in a diverse environment, disability, race, gender and sexual orientation issues, and issues of social class and poverty.

A wide range of theoretical perspectives and real-world experience are provided by a cross-section of College of Education faculty, all with expertise in a variety of areas in the field. As a result, the P16 educators will be able to address the need to create a learning environment in which all learners feel safe, have opportunities to freely engage in the pursuit of knowledge, and are motivated to learn.  When fully implemented, this degree will provide our audience with a foundation of learning theories, best practice models, and innovative learning techniques for addressing the diverse learner. We envision this to provide a cost-effective professional development opportunity that is accessible to all qualified applicants, irrespective of field of specialization or location.

The following are specific program objectives that will be achieved through this program:

1. Expand program audience’s knowledge base on learning theories and their instructional implications regarding diversity and equity in education.
2. Enhance program audience’s ability to craft inclusive learning environments.  .
3. Create an environment in which theories are explored within authentic, timely contexts through the integration of primary source materials.
4. Enable program audience to develop, implement, and evaluate instructional settings that address issues of diversity and equity.
5. Prepare program audience to address issues of diversity and equity not in isolation, but across disciplines and learning environments.
6. Prepare program audience to use primary source materials as a means to identify and enhance their understanding of how diversity and equity issues holistically impact students and learning environments.
7. Enable program audience to convert proven learning theories into practical solutions to develop inclusive learning environments. 
8. Promote issues of diversity and equity as holistic, crossing a broad spectrum of understanding and implementation.

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