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Master of Art in Education 

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Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education (MA- DESJ)  

UTEP’s Master of Arts in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education program is a fully online, 30 credit-hour degree designed for individuals who wish to pursue graduate studies focused on educational equity. This program is intended for those seeking to address equity and take on leadership roles in a variety of fields, including education (both formal and informal) and in the non-profit sector (e.g., community-based organizations). It also prepares graduate students who plan to pursue a doctorate in education or the social sciences.  This program can be completed in as little as 16 months.

The Master of Arts in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education program focuses on diversity and equity in formal and informal educational settings, with a specific emphasis on anti-oppressive theories and pedagogies. The program trains teacher-leaders and researchers to re-examine, and examine in new ways, how social injustice cuts across various institutions, particularly schooling, and what transformational policies and actions can be implemented. Coursework centers on frameworks and strategies that advance equity, diversity, and inclusion to promote social justice education. With an emphasis on critical analysis, reflection, and action, this program prepares students to produce new knowledge that transforms educational practices, programs, and policies.

This degree program does not include a teaching credential.  However, the Master of Arts in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education may be combined with our on-campus Alternative Certification Program [ACP] for individuals seeking to obtain this M.A. degree and who also want to earn a Texas teaching license (45 credits total). Admission to the Alternative Certification Program requires a separate application process. For more information on the ACP program, including specific admissions information, please contact acp@utep.edu.

Admission Requirements:

To apply for the M.A. in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education program, individuals must complete the application process through UTEP’s Graduate School.  Prospective students submit:

1)  a resume;

2) a written statement of purpose describing personal and professional goals related to obtaining the degree; and

3) transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended; transcripts should indicate at least a minimum satisfactory undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

International students whose first language is not English must also submit an Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score; the score requirement can be found at .

The admission materials submitted will be reviewed holistically to assess the potential of the applicant for this advance course of study.  The successful applicant would typically have an undergraduate upper division GPA of 3.0 or higher that demonstrates focus on academics, a current resume that demonstrates basic knowledge or experience in education or education-related fields, and a written statement that demonstrates maturity and commitment to the field of Diversity, Equity & Social Justice.

Program Application Deadlines:  

• To begin in Fall Semester, applications must be received by August 9^th.
• To begin in Spring Semester, applications must be received by January 5^th.
• To begin in Summer Semester, applications must be received by May 3^rd.

To apply for the M.A. in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education program, go to , select this program when prompted and follow the directions provided to submit your application.

Degree Requirements and Courses:

To earn a M.A. in Diversity, Equity & Social Justice in Education, UTEP requires for graduation: 1) successful completion of 30 hours of required coursework with a grade of “C” or better; 2) completion and passing of a Culminating Experience (either a Capstone or Thesis Project); and 3) a final GPA of 3.0 or higher [Graduate School Requirement].

All students in this program complete 24 credits (8 courses) of content coursework.  The final 6 credits (2 courses) in the program depend on whether a student chooses to pursue the Capstone Pathway or Thesis Pathway as the Culminating Experience requirement for graduation. Students decide on their preferred pathway by their 1^st or 2^nd semester in the program in consultation with their faculty advisor.

Capstone Pathway:

For their Culminating Experience, students may choose to produce a capstone project, the topic of which is focused on diversity, equity and social justice in education. Grounded in student interest, knowledge of the program content and a detailed synthesis of the related research literature, the successful capstone project focuses on identification of a real-world problem of interest and devising an innovative solution to address the issue. Students in this pathway take two courses (TED 5388: Capstone 1 and TED 5389: Capstone 2) to provide content knowledge and support for designing and composing the capstone project.

Thesis Pathway:

For their Culminating Experience, students may choose to produce and orally defend a substantial research paper (i.e., a thesis), the topic of which is related to diversity, equity and social justice in education. The successful completion of the thesis paper may be found in its critical and creative synthesis, articulation of a fresh perspective on the work of others or trends in the field, or the identification of new, research-based questions/data that shed light on existing problems or issues within the field of diversity, equity and social justice in education. Students in this pathway take two courses (TED 5398: Thesis 1 and TED 5399: Thesis 2) to provide content knowledge and support for designing and composing the thesis project.

During the final semester of coursework, students will meet virtually with the Teacher Education Department Graduate Studies Coordinator for an audit and verification of coursework and final GPA, verification of completion of the Thesis/Capstone project and application for graduation with UTEP’s Graduate School office. 

 Degree Plan:

Still have questions about the M.A. in Diversity, Equity and Social Justice in Education? Teacher Education Department staff are ready to answer your questions.  Please contact us at tedgrad@utep.edu.

Ready to apply to the M.A. in Diversity, Equity and Social Justice in Education program? Go to Graduate School Application

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