Education Improvement and Transformation

This program is intended for adult learners with an interest in advancing their career in the field of education who want to self-design a program that is tailored to what they want and need to know. Appropriate for those students pursuing traditional education pathways–becoming a PK-12 teacher or moving into school administration, for example–it is also a good choice for those wanting to have an impact on our education system and students, whether PK-12 or post-secondary, through different kinds of professional paths. The MS in Education Improvement and Transformation is a customizable degree. Students select from 15 areas of study to pursue some combination of three-course Professional Development Concentrations (PDCs) and Post-Baccalaureate Certificates (PBCs), then 9.0 credits of elective courses available in the School of Education and other schools and colleges in Drexel, and then complete a three-course, research-based capstone project relevant to their own career pursuits. Both the PDCs and the PBCs are comprised of focused coursework in a specific area.

Currently available PDCs include:

• Collaborative Special Education Law and Process: Prepare to meet the unique learning needs of students with disabilities through legally mandated school, home, and community collaboration.
• Creativity and Innovation: Learn how to think like a creative professional, apply creativity to your chosen career, tap into your innate creativity, and investigate strategies to implement your ideas in an educational setting.
• E-learning Leadership: As the demand for academic programs, lifelong, and just-in-time learning designed and delivered via e-learning and mobile learning continues to grow, the corresponding need for leadership in this important area increases.

• Educational Policy: Gain insight into the policy-making aspect of education, with an emphasis on American policy and the ethics behind creating educational policies.
• Entrepreneurship: Learn tools used by successful entrepreneurs and apply your knowledge through social experiential learning experiences.
• Evaluation and Assessment: Even the most successful education institutions need to evaluate their performance. This concentration focuses on the evaluation process and how to effectively assess institutions on multiple levels.
• Higher Education: Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to begin or advance your career in higher education administration and leadership. Coursework prepares students for roles in diverse institutions and organizations within the broad field of higher education.
• Instructional Design: Prepare to effectively and efficiently design learning environments and experiences in diverse organizational settings using a variety of media.
• Leadership in Educational Settings: Gain the knowledge and skills needed to be a leader in an educational setting, and examine how educational leaders operate by exploring topics such as decision-making and policy.
• Learning in Game-Based Environments: Prepare to effectively use educational games in and out of the classroom and training center. You'll gain an overview of game development processes, learn to build basic games, and most importantly, examine how to assess and evaluate the learning experience as it relates to educational games.
• Learning Analytics: Learn to understand and improve instructional processes, the role of data in organizational change, and leadership in educational systems based on multiple data and information sources. Be prepared to make data-driven decisions about education improvement using a broad range of data collection, analytical, and visualization methods.
• Learning Technologies: Learning technologies are changing education through online tools and methods. As a result, designers and instructors who understand how and why people use technology are in high demand. This program encourages you to explore various aspects of learning technologies, including designing and implementing learning experiences.
• Mind, Brain & Learning: Study mind, brain, and education science in real-world contexts and apply this knowledge through innovative teaching, assessment, and instructional design in alignment with the human learning process.
• Organization and Talent Development: Gain the strategic human resource development capabilities and competencies to lead talent development, coaching and mentoring, and organization development and change initiatives in any organizational setting.
• Urban Education: Urban education is one of the most prominent subjects in education today. Learn about the differences and similarities between urban and rural education settings, and how to resolve conflict in urban school settings, among other relevant topics.

After students complete a minimum of 27.0 credits through some combination of PDCs and PBCs, they will finish the program by enrolling in three elective courses (9.0 additional credits) and then a 9.0 credit sequence that includes a research course and completion of a capstone project that allows them to synthesize the previous learning in their program and to produce work that that bears on their career goals and may have transformative impacts on our education system. The combination of the PDCs/PBCs, the electives, and the three capstone courses provides the student with the 45.0 credits required for the MS degree.

Pathways to Completion

As the graphic below indicates, students have two defined pathways to earning the MS in Education Improvement and Transformation:

• Option A: A student may choose to pursue as many as three of the PBCs listed below, and "stack" the credits earned in conjunction with these (up to 27.0) towards the degree requirements (45.0 credits). To do this, a student will need to apply to enter the MS program no later than the time of completion of their second PBC.

• Option B: A student may choose to enroll in the MS program from the outset and pursue the 45.0 credits needed to earn the degree. They can do this by completing up to three PDCs listed above OR by earning up to three PBCs from the list below OR completing a combination of PDCs and PBCs adding up to three.

In the case of either Option A or Option B, after earning 27.0 credits, the student will be required to select elective courses totaling 9.0 credits, and then complete a 9.0 credit research-based capstone project sequence.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates available:

• Organizational and Talent Development
• U.S. Education Policy
• Creativity Tools and Techniques for the Classroom and Workplace
• Online Teaching and Learning
• Instructional Design for e-Learning
• Learning Analytics

For more information, visit the Drexel University MS in Education Improvement and Transformation webpage.

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.

Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.

If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.

Precise, word-for-word English translations of all non-English language documents are required along with official documents in the original language. All translations must be completed by the issuing institution or an ATA-certified translator. Visit the American Translators Association website to search for an ATA-certified translator.

International students: If you have already graduated from your previous institution at the time of your application, please email your graduation certificate(s) attached as PDF or Microsoft Word documents to [email protected]. Note: Any international applicant, regardless of program, may be required to provide a transcript evaluation should the Admissions Committee determine it is needed for the application to be reviewed. If your transcripts are selected for a course-by-course evaluation by an external agency, you will be responsible for supplying all necessary documentation and paying all necessary fees to have your transcripts evaluated.

If you have questions regarding what documents you must submit to fulfill the transcript requirements, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Standardized Test Scores

GRE test scores are not required.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum scores: 80/550/213), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE minimum score: 53) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.

Essay

Please write an essay describing your career goals, including specific research and scholarly interests. Please be sure to indicate how your interests coincide with those of particular School of Education Faculty members.

Submit your essay with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.

Résumé

Upload your résumé as part of your admission application or through the Discover Drexel Portal after you submit your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Recommenders should be able to speak to your academic performance.

Interview

Virtual, in-person, or telephone interview required for qualified applicants.

Academic Experience

Admission to this program requires a minimum 3.25 GPA (a 3.5 is preferred).

Writing Sample

Please submit a sample of scholarly writing, including but not limited to published articles, theses, or term papers, by mail or email as an attachment to [email protected].

Mailing Addresses