Masters of Education in Educational Policy Studies

Online Masters of Education Program
with an emphasis in Diversity and Equity Issues in Education...

...a collaborative effort of the six departments within the College of Education; Educational Organization & Leadership, Educational Policy Studies, Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Psychology, and Human Resource Education.

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Cohort 3 will begin January 2011

» Applications for Cohort 3 accepted until November 1, 2010 «

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We encourage our Military Veterans to apply. U.S. Veterans' Financial Aid is applicable for this program.

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Program Summary

This Master of Education program 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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Tuition/Financial Aid

Tuition – The current tuition and fee rate is $552/credit hour (USD) or $2208 for each 4-hour course and $1104 for 2-hour courses. Again, this does include both tuition and fees. Reading or other course materials are not included in this amount. The tuition and fee rate is the same for in-state, out-of-state, and international students. The cost for future courses is subject to moderate changes in accordance with the actions of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Illinois E-Billing – The University of Illinois is implementing an electronic billing (E-Bill) program for students. Each month, all UI students will receive an e-mail notification to their official University e-mail account, stating that their E-Bill is available. You may read more information about e-billing at http://www.usfsco.uillinois.edu/Billing.html or at http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/osac/students/index.html

Tuition and Fee Payments Questions – For information or questions about all types of accepted payment methods, please contact the Office of Student Accounts at 217.333.2180.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid is available in the form of:

• Veteran/Military Grants
• Student Aid Loans

Students who are on the standard two-year program are eligible for financial aid each semester. All students are eligible for financial aid in the Summer.

• Summer:  Must be enrolled in 3 credit hours of courses.
• Spring or Fall: Must be enrolled in 6 credit hours of courses.
  To qualify, a student must be accepted into a degree program.

For more information on obtaining Financial Aid please go the University of Illinois Financial Aid Web site or call them at 1-800-252-1360 ext. 30100. To start a Financial Aid application, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Veterans: For more information about Veteran's Grants, visit the Federal GI Bill Web site, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, or the University of Illinois Illinois Veterans Programs Web site (contact them at veterans@uiuc.edu or 1-800-252-1360 ext. 39283).

This is a self-supporting program and DOES NOT accept the following tuition and fee waivers (TFWs): Cooperating Teacher waivers, Non-Academic waivers (including University of Illinois employees and employees of other state institutions), Academic waivers from University of Illinois, U of I-Chicago and U of I-Springfield employees, Related Agency waivers, Field Supervisor waivers or Retiree waivers. 

This program DOES accept statutory waivers (veterans grants, etc) and waivers granted through fellowships/assistantships as governed by the Graduate College at University of Illinois.  The waiver policy above is subject to moderate changes in accordance with the actions of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

On-campus master's degree programs in the College of Education do accept tuition waivers.

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Schedule/Courses

›› View Course Calendar for detailed course sequences and dates the courses for Cohorts 1, 1.5, & 2:

Course Sequence (For students who begin in Cohort 2, Jan 2010, and later)

• EPS 576 : Introduction to Diversity and Equity Issues in Education
• EPS 405 : Historical and Social Barriers In Education
• SPED 514: Disability Equity Issues in Special Education
• EPSY 400: Psychology of Learning in Education
• EOL 590: Advanced Seminar: School Leadership in Diverse Environments
• SPED 591 (part a): Field Study and Thesis Seminar: Innovative Projects/Research Methods
• EPS 536: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Issues
• CI 590: Critical and Social Justice Perspectives on Pedagogy
• SPED 590 D/E: Advanced Seminar: Curriculum & Pedagogical Implications for Teaching Diverse Students
• SPED 591 (part b): Field Study and Thesis Seminar: Innovative Projects/Research Methods

»All courses will hold a weekly online synchronous session. We strive to hold synchronous sessions on a consistent night each week for the duration of each cohort's program. That night may need to vary on occasion and may vary from cohort to cohort. Attendance for all synchronous sessions is expected. When two courses are held during the same term, then an alternate time for the second synchronous sessions will be announced. Any changes or variations will be announced as early as possible «

»Course offerings and times may be subject to change at the discretion of the program coordinators.«

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