M.Ed. or Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Foundations
What you can earn
Duration
Credits earned
Format
Time commitment
Upcoming deadline
Explore the meaning and impact of education through the liberal arts and humanities
The Social and Cultural Foundations program helps students understand important educational values (and conflicts over values) in the United States. We explore concepts like equality, equity, justice, opportunity, diversity, pluralism, tolerance, freedom, and community, and how these ideas have been addressed in educational spaces.
Schools and universities often spark passionate debates among parents, teachers, students, administrators, and citizens in general. These debates address what to teach, how to teach it, school organization and funding, who should be involved in decision-making, and the principles guiding education. In our program, students dive into these discussions to grasp the significance of education in society.
Students in the master’s program will complete a minimum of 45 credits. Doctoral students work closely with their advisors to create a highly tailored program of study and will ground their work primarily in the disciplines of history or philosophy.
Curriculum
Overview
At the M.Ed. level, students follow a structured course of study that also allows for choice, reflecting each student's unique interests. (See the 'Courses' tab for a detailed look at the ME.d. course of study.) The first year of the M.Ed. degree offers a cohort-based experience through the EDFLP Master's Professional Seminar.
At the Ph.D. level, students develop a highly individualized course of study that is based on your skills, knowledge, and interests. Your customized doctoral program will include coursework in other departments across the University of Washington and in other areas of the College of Education. For example, students have developed areas of competency in women’s studies, ethnic studies, law and legal studies, policy studies, political philosophy, cultural studies, cognitive science, environmental studies, religious studies, and multicultural education.
Ph.D. students take a required two-quarter Inquiry Course with other 1st-year doctoral students at the College. They are also expected to move through other milestones of the doctoral program in a timely manner (e.g., the Research & Inquiry paper, advancement to candidacy, qualifying exams, dissertation proposal defense, etc.). In the Social & Cultural Foundations program, Ph.D. students ground their work in the disciplines of history or philosophy:
- History of Education
History of education investigates educational ideas, experiences, policies, or practices of education in a particular historical time and context. Successful Ph.D. applicants for this area will have a strong background in history (i.e., an undergraduate major or minor in history or related discipline and/or a Masters degree in history or related field). They also expect to complete at least one or two graduate courses in the Department of History and/or related fields at the University of Washington.
Examples of history dissertations:
- Learning Place: Education and Planning in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, 1934-1955
- Girls’ Vocational Education at Chemawa Indian School 1900-1930
- The Imagined Schoolhouse: A Mass Cultural History of Education in America
- The Critical Turn in Education: The Rise of An Academic Left From the 1960s to the 1980s
- Education for a New Race: American Schools, Child Labor, and Constructing the Mexican in Wyoming, 1917-1943
- Philosophy of Education
Philosophy describes not only the kinds of questions and topics one pursues, it is also a method for systematically developing and defending normative and conceptual arguments. Successful Ph.D. applicants for this area will have a strong background in philosophy (i.e., an undergraduate major or minor in philosophy or related discipline and/or a Masters degree in philosophy).
Examples philosophy dissertations:
- Conversations That Matter: De-colonizing the Inclusive Discourse of Indigenous Education
- A Philosophical Consideration of School Bullying
- A Philosophical Inquiry into the Promise to Close the Achievement Gap: Rhetoric or Resolution?
Courses
The master’s degree program requires a minimum of 45 credits that follows a general course of study:
- Core Coursework (15 credits minimum)
Core Coursework explores fundamental questions that have faced educational leaders in the past and most likely will continue to face them in the future. Foundational studies in the history, philosophy, sociology, and politics of education provide the basis for discussion and writing about these fundamental questions. At least two core courses focus on policy studies, school finance and funding, organizational theory, and educational leadership.
Students choose three core courses from the following list:
- EDLPS 520: Education as a Moral Endeavor
- EDLPS 521: Philosophy of Education
- EDLPS 530: History of Education
- EDLPS 540: Sociology of Education
- EDLPS 561: Education Policies and Leadership in Political Context
Students choose an additional two core course from the following list:
- EDLPS 510: School Finance
- EDLPS 550: Dynamics of Educational Organizations
- EDLPS 560: Educational Policy Studies & Practice
- EDLPS 565: Race, Equity, and Leading Educational Change
- EDLPS 575: Education Policy Implementation
- EDLPS 590: Student Populations and Experiences in Higher Education
- Supporting Coursework (12 credits minimum)
Supporting Coursework deepens the student's chosen area of interest and allows further study of specific disciplines, contexts, or issues. (This selection typically includes additional EDFLP courses from the Core Coursework options listed above. This selection may also include up to two courses from outside EDFLP and/or out of the College of Education that apply to the student's area of interest.)
Within EDFLP, courses that are regularly offered and that can fulfill the Supporting Coursework requirement include (but are not limited to):
- EDLPS 510: School Finance
- EDLPS 520: Education as a Moral Endeavor
- EDLPS 521: Philosophy of Education
- EDLPS 524: Seminar in Philosophy of Education
- EDLPS 530: History of Education
- EDLPS 535: Historical Inquiry in Education Research
- EDLPS 538: Education for Liberation
- EDLPS 540: Sociology of Education
- EDLPS 550: Dynamics of Educational Organizations
- EDLPS 551: Educational Theory and Organizational Change
- EDLPS 560: Educational Policy Studies & Practice
- EDLPS 561: Education Policies and Leadership in Political Context
- EDLPS 564: Seminar in Economics of Education
- EDLPS 565: Race, Equity, and Leading Educational Change
- EDLPS 575: Education Policy Implementation
- EDLPS 590: Student Populations and Experiences in Higher Education
- Methods & Data Literacy (6 credits minimum)
Methods & Data Literacy courses focus on research methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, and/or conceptual), the consumption of data, and/or the use of data and application of research findings to decision-making.
- EDPSY 490: Basic Educational Statistics
- EDLPS 524: Seminar in Philosophy of Education
- EDLPS 535: Historical Inquiry in Education Research
- EDLPS 558: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in Education
- EDLPS 574: Mixed Methods in Educational Research
- EDLPS 593: Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
- EDLPS 596: Secondary Data Analysis
- Master's Professional Seminar (4 credits maximum)
The EDFLP MEd Professional Seminar (EDLPS 579) is a 1st year cohort experience that offers a mix of general professional development, scholarly skills training, and student community-building.
- Fall quarter of the 1st year (2 credits)
- Winter quarter of the 1st year (1 credit)
- Spring quarter of the 1st year (1 credit)
- Capstone Project (8-9 credits)
Every EDFLP MEd student must complete a Capstone Project prior to graduation. Options include:
- An academic thesis (9 credits minimum)
- An independent study project (8-9 credits)
- An internship project (8-9 credits)
Admission requirements and process
Materials
- Degree from an accredited institution
- A bachelor's degree is required for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program
- A master's degree is required for the doctorate program
- Your degree can be in-process at the time of your application but must be completed before the program starts.
- Unofficial transcript(s) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Include one from each institution from which you've earned a degree and one from every institution you have attended in the previous 5 years.
- Your transcripts must include your name, coursework and degree (if completed)
- If you are offered admission, the UW Graduate School will request an official transcript from your most recent degree earned
The UW Graduate School requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 3.0 for your most recent 90 graded quarter credits (60 semester credits). However, we review your application holistically. If your GPA is below 3.0, contact us at edinfo@uw.edu for advice on how to strengthen your overall application by connecting with a Graduate Admissions Advisor.
- Three letters of recommendation for Doctoral, two letters for Masters
During the online application process, you will be given instructions for adding your recommenders and getting their letters submitted electronically.
- Resume/Vita
A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. In addition to educational degrees and professional experience, you should include a listing of all relevant awards, publications, presentations or other achievements that will help us evaluate your application.
- Statement of Purpose
- 1-2 pages for M.Ed.
- 3-5 pages for Ph.D.
Admissions committees use your statement of purpose, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals are well-matched with our programs. Your statement should address goals, relevant experience, future plans and how the desired specific program meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school, topics like:
- Scholarly interests
- Career goals
- Your match for the program
- Faculty interests
- Personal History Statement (Optional)
While optional, you can add to your application by submitting a personal history statement with each application. This statement should address your intellectual growth and development, inclusive of and beyond your academic goals. Speak to topics like:
- Educational, cultural and economic opportunities and disadvantages you've experienced
- Ways these experiences affected the development of your special interests, career plans and future goals.
Statements should be no longer than two pages long. And while there are no standard formatting requirements, we encourage double-spaced text with a legible font.
- Writing sample (Doctoral only)
Doctoral candidates must submit one sample of scholarly writing (e.g., course papers, articles, essays). The sample should demonstrate how well you can analyze or synthesize and critically reflect on information. The writing sample must have been written by you alone.
If you have no appropriate examples of scholarly writing, we urge you to consider preparing a medium-length (10-12 page) critical essay review of a book that you feel is central to your interests in education. The writing sample will be uploaded in your online application. Faculty will only review one writing sample.
Submitting
- Gather all required documents
- Visit the Graduate School website
- Log into your account or create a new profile if you are a first-time applicant
- Complete all steps in application process and upload your documents
- Pay the nonrefundable $85 application fee
- You may request a fee waiver during the application process
- Submit your application
Next Steps
International
We value and welcoming applications from international students! If you are applying from outside the United States, there are additional requirements and application materials.
- Prior degree requirements
- At minimum, you must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree (a four-year degree from an institution of recognized standing)
- Evaluation of your degree will be based on:
- The national system of education in the foreign country
- The type of institution
- The field of study and level of studies completed
- Transcripts
- International transcripts must be submitted in the original language.
- Your transcript should include date of graduation and title of the awarded academic degree
- If your transcript is not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation
- You do not need to have your transcript evaluated for the degree by an agency
- English language proficiency
Per UW Graduate School policy, you must submit a demonstration of English language proficiency if your native language is not English and you did not earn a degree in one of the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Canada
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Trinidad and Tobago
The following tests are accepted if the test was taken fewer than two years ago:
- TOEFL
- Minimum score: 80
- Recommended score: 92+
- The UW's 4-digit code is 4854
- IELTS
- You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
- University of Washington All Campuses, Organisation ID 365, Undergrad & Graduate Admis, Box 355850, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States of America
- Minimum score: 6.5
- Recommended score: 7.0+
- School information for submission:
University of Washington, All Campuses
Undergraduate & Graduate Admission
Box 355850
Seattle, WA 98195
- You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
- Duolingo
- Minimum score: 105
- Recommended score: 120+
- Follow the instructions on the Duolingo website to submit your scores
- Financial ability
If apply and are offered admission to UW, you will need to submit a statement of financial ability.
Costs and funding
Estimated Costs
We are a tuition-based program. Estimated tuition rates are based on your residency:
- Washington state residents: $19,584 per year
- Out-of-state students: $35,352 per year
Estimates are subject to change and may differ due to course load and summer quarter enrollment. Estimates include building fees, technology fees, U-Pass, etc. Additional program-specific fees are not included in this estimate.
View the UW tuition dashboard →
Visit the Office of Planning & Budgeting →
Funding & Scholarships
Federal financial aid is available for students. Visit the UW Financial Aid website for information and resources. The College of Education also provides scholarship and other funding opportunities.
