Unleash the Transformative Power of Education
West Chester University is proud to provide a Master of Science degree in Transformative Education and Social Change (TESC) that seeks to support educators in the examination of the transformative potential of teaching and learning.
Our goal is to offer a meaningful, personal, and rewarding experience for educators who seek to have a positive impact on their students and the world.
WCU’s graduate program in transformative education and social change prepares and inspires empowered educators - transformative intellectuals - who create and share knowledge and strategies to improve lives of their students, schools, and communities.
The TESC program centers around an action research project that encourages candidates to create meaningful educational programs to address issues they see within their own teaching environments.
Candidates in the program will be given the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences, analyze the issues confronting contemporary education and society, and explore justice-oriented frameworks in order to build a better educational vision for the future.
Tracks in the M.S. in Transformative Education & Social Change
Education for Sustainability
Education For Sustainability (EFS) is a rapidly emerging field that is guided by a vision of a sustainable society and rooted in a simple truth: we learn what we live. EFS practitioners are trained professionals who understand the challenge of sustainability and who have been prepared to teach others, to catalyze institutional and cultural change, and to model sustainable ways of living. The EFS curriculum develops the necessary knowledge, skills, and perspectives in a way that integrates classroom work with outdoor, experiential, and project-based learning. This track results in a Certificate in Sustainability.
Educational Technology
Effective teaching in the 21st century requires innovation, problem solving, creativity, continuous improvement, research, diagnostic use of data, and flexible and personalized approaches to meeting students' diverse needs and strengths. The goal of Educational Technology track is to support professional educators with technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise and learning experiences that empower and inspire them to provide more effective learning for all learners. This track results in a Certificate in Educational Technology.
Certificate in LatinX and Latin American Education Studies Certificate
WCU’s fully online Graduate Certificate in LatinX and Latin American Education Studies (this will link to the new LatinX page) provides an exploration of educational philosophies and practices from Latin America and Latinx populations, with specific emphasis on community, cultural relevance, and social justice. Students learn a variety of teaching practices and educational theories that enable them to cultivate positive learning experiences for diverse student populations.
Benefits of Earning Your Master’s Degree at West Chester University
Cohort Model
The Master of Science in Transformative Education and Social Change is a cohort-based program ideal for K-12 teachers, community-based educators, and community organizers who are committed to diversity, access, inclusion, and justice in a variety of contexts (suburban, urban, and rural).
The cohort model allows for networking and relationship building throughout the course. Thanks to the trust built throughout the program, our students gain an honest sounding board for their action research project and a network for implementation.
Accomplished Faculty and Small Classes
TESC courses are taught by internationally recognized professors who are committed scholars and activists in their respective fields. They bring their unique experiences into every class.
At WCU, our small graduate classes mean you’ll receive personalized attention and an individualized program experience with faculty who are deeply committed to providing mentorship, and support to each student.
Affordable Tuition and Graduate Assistantships
Affordability is part of WCU’s mission; it’s why our tuition is among the lowest in the region and has been frozen for the last 4 years. To help put your graduate degree within reach, WCU also offers graduate assistantships with stipends awarded annually.
Personalized Career Advisement
As a graduate student at WCU, you’ll have full access to the Twardowski Career Development Center (CDC). The experts at the CDC will help you explore career options, write your résumé, perfect your interviewing skills, and create a job search strategy. The CDC also hosts employment fairs on campus throughout the year.
Options for Specialization
Coursework for the TESC program meets level II teacher certification requirements, and offers the option to specialize through a variety of tracks and certificates including:
- Educational Technology
- Education for Sustainability
- Higher Education Policy & Student Affairs
- Latinx and Latin American Education Studies
As a graduate student, you have a lot to balance—your home, work, and academic life all need your attention. WCU’s M.S. in Transformative Education & Social Change offers flexible courses and scheduling, including evening classes and some online options.
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Transformative Education & Social Change?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of $64,390 for K-12 teachers. U.S. salaries vary depending on factors such as location, industry, and experience. Teachers with a master’s degree report a 10-20% earnings increase over their bachelor’s degree-holding peers.
Many of our graduates continue to work for change within their own school districts and classrooms while others have gone on to pursue doctoral study. You can find our graduates are employed in the following fields:
- Teaching in public and private schools
- Educational programs within nonprofit organizations
- Educational research and grant writing organizations
- Community education, organizing and activist groups
What Will You Study as a Master’s Degree Student in Transformative Education & Social Change?
M.S. in Transformative Education and Social Change
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Programmatic Core: Pre-Candidacy | ||
| ERM 591 | Introduction to Critical Action Research | 3 |
| EDF 511 | Foundations of Transformative Education | 3 |
| EDP 570 | Cognition and Transformation | 3 |
| EDT 511 | Social and Cultural Implications of Educational Technology | 3 |
| Programmatic Core: Candidacy | ||
| These courses will be taken upon completion of all pre-candidacy coursework. | ||
| EDF 588 | Critical Pedagogy and the Politics of Education | 3 |
| EDF 580 | History Of American Education | 3 |
| or EDU 580 | Critical History of Education in Philadelphia | |
| Focused Inquiry Electives | 12 | |
| A faculty advisor possessing expertise in the student's thematic concern must approve the selection of the four focused inquiry electives. The courses chosen for the focused inquiry should assist the student in understanding and addressing the thematic concern, which was chosen and investigated within the Pre-Candidacy Phase, so that the courses help the student in fleshing out the problem and identifying potential solutions. The focused inquiry sequence does not need to be selected from a single content area, but may straddle many different areas; possibly from across the university. | ||
| Curriculum and Thesis Development | ||
| ERM 595 | Critical Action Research Thesis Project | 3 |
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 33 | |
Get Started on YourMaster's in Transformative Education & Social Change
If you're interested in creating positive change for your students, your school, and your community, the M.S. in Transformative Education & Social Change is for you!
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