The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers Master of Education (MEd) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in International Education. These programs explore the role of education within a social justice framework, particularly in the context of developing countries. Students can pursue individualized study plans that combine theoretical, practical, and contextual learning. Theoretical work may delve into the relationship between education and socioeconomic or political change, or address gender issues in education. Practical components focus on developing skills such as research design, policy analysis, curriculum development, training, and management. Contextual study allows students to specialize in sectors like literacy, health, or agriculture, and to focus on specific sociocultural settings, often strengthening their knowledge of particular countries or regions. Additionally, a fully online graduate certificate in Early Grade Reading is available for practitioners and policymakers working on reform projects in developing countries, offering professional development and a potential pathway to the master's program.
Graduates of the International Education program are prepared for a variety of roles in international development, education policy, and non-governmental organizations. The program equips students with the skills to design, implement, and evaluate educational initiatives globally.
English proficiency scores must be less than two years old. Official score reports must be submitted directly from the testing agency. An exemption may be considered for applicants who have completed two non-ESL English composition courses and several humanities/social science courses with grades of B or better at a U.S. college or university, but this is not automatic.
Tuition and fee information is subject to change and specific details should be verified on the official UMass Amherst website.
University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
UMass Amherst offers Master of Education (MEd) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in International Education. An online graduate certificate in Early Grade Reading is also available.
For TOEFL (iBT), a minimum score of 80 is required with no sub-score lower than 20. For IELTS, a minimum overall score of 6.5 is needed with no sub-score below 6.0. The Duolingo English Test (DET) requires a minimum score of 115.
Tuition and fee information is subject to change and specific details should be verified on the official UMass Amherst website. Estimated living costs are also available on the university's Tuition and Fees or Financial Aid pages.
Graduates are prepared for roles such as International Education Program Manager, Policy Analyst, Curriculum Developer, Education Consultant, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in international development, education policy, and non-governmental organizations.
The program offers assistantships, typically for PhD students, providing a stipend and tuition waiver, and fellowships awarded to outstanding graduate students based on merit. Amounts vary and are determined by the department or Graduate School.
Prospective students should review program requirements, prepare application materials including transcripts and recommendations, take English proficiency tests, and submit the online application through the Graduate School portal. Specific deadlines should be checked on the Graduate School admissions calendar.