International Education Masters/PhD

[nsaracn]

I've just begun the process of looking at and applying to graduate programs for Fall 2013 and I have a few questions.

My interests lie in the development of literacy and language curricula in English and other languages in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East Africa. I'm also interested in the factors that have led to the increase in low-cost, non-formal schools in spite of the provision of universal free primary education and how (or if) those schools have impacted the quality of education for vulnerable children. I'd like to spend the rest of my career working on education issues in developing countries, so I'm thinking it would be a logical choice to pursue a degree in International or Comparative Education.

The problem has become finding a program that supports my research interests. I am looking at UMass-Amherst, GWU, TC and perhaps UPenn. Is there anywhere else you think I should look? Or might it be more beneficial to look at programs in other disciplines?

Here's a little about me:

-Graduated magna cum laude from a small (but academic powerhouse) liberal arts college 6 years ago. My undergrad degree is in Geography.

-GRE scores are OK. I took it awhile ago and would rather not take it again.

-Solo-authored and presented a paper at a major national conference during undergrad. That paper subsequently won a national award.

-5 years of experience as a social studies teacher in the US, 1 year of experience designing English curriculum in Kenya

-fluent in English, advanced proficiency in Kiswahili

- MAT in secondary social studies

[SeriousSillyPutty]

I'll put in a biased plug, because, hey, why not?

It might be interesting to go to cities with a large refugee population, and as I understand it, those tend to be medium-sized cities... Albany, NY, Columbus, OH, and my personal favorite, St. Louis, MO.

Here in StL, we have a lot of west African refugees, and our International Center is important for helping all refugees (and perhaps other immigrants?) get on their feet. WUSTL has a really small program, but they're really flexible with what you study, and I know there's one prof (whom I don't reall know) who does international comparative stuff, I believe comparing urban education issues.

I did my undergrad at Michigan State (not in education) and Lansing also has a decent immigrant population, and a respectable ed grad school. I really liked the environment up there, but I'm an easy mark for greenery and ice cream.

Good luck!

[kismetcapitan]

you would be well served at Vanderbilt. The IEPM program is rigorous and more than twice as long as other M.Ed programs, but it's worth it (so I keep telling myself!!). Your area of interest is definitely covered; I had to write a paper on low-cost private schools filling the gap that public schools are unable to fulfill; they're cropping up everywhere; Kenya, Uganda, Jamaica, you name it. There's a Ph.D candidate writing his dissertation on these schools.

two people in my cohort spent the summer practicum working in Kenya on literacy and other issues. Spin a globe and pick anywhere - someone's covering it here. But in regards to East Africa, my advisor spent a LOT of time there in his early research years.

[grad16-17]

On Friday, October 12, 2012 at 6:58 PM, nsaracn said:

I've just begun the process of looking at and applying to graduate programs for Fall 2013 and I have a few questions.

 

My interests lie in the development of literacy and language curricula in English and other languages in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East Africa. I'm also interested in the factors that have led to the increase in low-cost, non-formal schools in spite of the provision of universal free primary education and how (or if) those schools have impacted the quality of education for vulnerable children. I'd like to spend the rest of my career working on education issues in developing countries, so I'm thinking it would be a logical choice to pursue a degree in International or Comparative Education.

 

The problem has become finding a program that supports my research interests. I am looking at UMass-Amherst, GWU, TC and perhaps UPenn. Is there anywhere else you think I should look? Or might it be more beneficial to look at programs in other disciplines?

 

Here's a little about me:

-Graduated magna cum laude from a small (but academic powerhouse) liberal arts college 6 years ago. My undergrad degree is in Geography.

-GRE scores are OK. I took it awhile ago and would rather not take it again.

-Solo-authored and presented a paper at a major national conference during undergrad. That paper subsequently won a national award.

-5 years of experience as a social studies teacher in the US, 1 year of experience designing English curriculum in Kenya

-fluent in English, advanced proficiency in Kiswahili

- MAT in secondary social studies

4 years later, how did things play out?