School of Education
The School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh is home to a stellar faculty, ground-breaking research and a deep commitment to the success of our students.
We are proud to rank among the top education programs in the country. Our goal is to develop education professionals at all stages of their careers, whether they are launching a career in academia, entering the classroom for the first time or returning to school to advance a career in progress. Our goal is to educate the people who will set the pace for research, teaching, and education reform.
The School of Education will hold a Virtual Open House for Online Programs at the following times:
Tuesday, November 17 at 6 p.m. EST
Thursday, December 10 at 6 p.m. ESTPlease complete the registration form to participate.
Overview
The online Master of Education in Instruction and Learning with a concentration in English and Communications is a professional degree for graduate students who wish to pursue a course of study in English Language Arts and Literacy Education that integrates academic work in research, theory, and practice. The degree is designed to help both beginning and experienced secondary teachers delve deeply into research, theory, and practice in key areas of teaching and learning in English and literacy education.
The online program requires a minimum of 36 credits. This includes the School of Education requirements for nine online credits in the Basic Areas of Education, five online three-credit courses in the major field, nine credits of either online or on-site electives, and the three-credit MEd Research Seminar. The purpose of the elective courses is to deepen students’ content knowledge related to the teaching of English and literacy with study in such areas as linguistics, literature, film, or sociology. Thus, elective courses should be taken in the College of Arts and Sciences or in professional schools but not in a School of Education. Electives may either be taken at the University of Pittsburgh or transferred from other universities.
Degree candidates for the online program are required to take an oral comprehensive examination to (1) determine the student’s eligibility to be awarded the master’s degree, (2) provide an indication of the student’s depth of knowledge in selected fields, and (3) provide evidence of the student’s ability to relate content fields to theoretical, research, and practical applications. Two faculty members from within the English Education program administer the comprehensive exam. Students submit a list of three areas of interest on which they will focus. For each area, students develop an annotated bibliography of 10 to-15 key theoretical and research readings that form the core of their studies in each area. The exam is based on these readings. Students take this exam during their last term of study.
Additional Offerings
The School of Education currently has two additional programs that offer online courses:
