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Program Description
The MA Program in Education and Social Policy aims to prepare students to use theories and concepts from the fields of economics and sociology in conjunction with quantitative statistical skills to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of education programs and policies. Students obtain specific knowledge of education issues, guided by advisement, including pre-K/childhood education, K–12 education, or higher/comparative education.
The degree is distinguished from other master’s degrees in education policy by its strong emphasis on using quantitative methods to ascertain causal effects of programs and policies. Building on a first course in statistics, students progress through more rigorous analytical courses, including regression and econometrics, to a final directed team research project in which they produce a professional study of an educational intervention or policy. Students gain experience in working with large, longitudinal education databases; with using economic and sociological principles to analyze K–16 education; and with principles of policymaking in the public and nonprofit sectors, which draw on the expertise of faculty in NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. The program places strong emphasis on understanding the context, purpose, unintended effects, and, finally, the actual impact of alternative education policies and programs. Students, through close advisement, use elective choices to gain knowledge of policy issues.
Research Opportunities and Fellowships
Research Fellows:
All incoming students receive consideration for the Education and Social Policy Fellows program, which offers five promising students a $5,000 stipend to participate in faculty-led research teams at the Institute for Education and Social Policy.
Second Year Interdisciplinary Fellowship:
An alternate Capstone-Practicum experience is offered in conjunction with the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL), which brings together upper-level graduate students in education, policy, business, and law from NYU, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Michigan, Stanford, and other universities. Education and social policy students may apply for this interdisciplinary fellowship in their second year. James Liebman, Columbia law professor and former senior official at the New York City Department of Education, leads the course and conducts its intensive academic seminar in the institutional and programmatic design. Experienced education researchers, former K–12 educators and leaders, or consultants help guide the projects.
Admissions
Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:
- Résumé/CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Proficiency in English
See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.
See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Sample Plan of Study - 3 semesters
The Education and Social Policy Program can be completed in 3 semesters. This sequence means student will complete the degree credit requirements and the capstone project by the end of their 3rd semester.
Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/Term |
EDPLY-GE 2030 |
Education and Social Policy |
3 |
SOED-GE 2002 |
Sociology of Education |
3 |
APSTA-GE 2085 |
Basic Statistics |
3 |
CORE-GP 1018 |
Microeconomics |
3 |
| Credits | 12 |
2nd Semester/Term |
PADM-GP 2902 |
Multiple Regression and Introduction to Econometrics |
3 |
APSTA-GE 2110 |
Large Databases in Applied Research |
4 |
RESCH-GE 2140
|
Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry
or Survey Research Methods |
3 |
|
3 |
| Credits | 13 |
3rd Semester/Term |
EDPLY-GE 2050 |
Capstone:Applied Rsch in Education Policy |
4 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Credits | 13 |
| Total Credits | 38 |
Sample Plan of Study - 4 semesters
The Education and Social Policy Program can also be completed in 4 semesters. This sequence provides students with an additional semester to continue in course work and/or additional capstone related research.
Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/Term |
EDPLY-GE 2030 |
Education and Social Policy |
3 |
SOED-GE 2002 |
Sociology of Education |
3 |
APSTA-GE 2085 |
Basic Statistics |
3 |
CORE-GP 1018 |
Microeconomics |
3 |
| Credits | 12 |
2nd Semester/Term |
PADM-GP 2902 |
Multiple Regression and Introduction to Econometrics |
3 |
APSTA-GE 2110 |
Large Databases in Applied Research |
4 |
RESCH-GE 2140
|
Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry
or Survey Research Methods |
3 |
|
3 |
| Credits | 13 |
3rd Semester/Term |
EDPLY-GE 2050 |
Capstone:Applied Rsch in Education Policy |
4 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Credits | 10 |
4th Semester/Term |
|
3 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Total Credits | 38 |
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Use principles of economics and sociology to analyze K-12 and higher education policies.
- Interpret and identify causal effects of programs and policies and apply conclusions to make policy recommendations.
- Apply principles of management, planning, and policymaking in the public and nonprofit sectors.
- Evaluate existing policies and provide evidence on the possible effects of new policies.
- Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using large longitudinal education databases.
Policies
Program Policies
Successful completion of our department’s graduate programs require a strong foundation in theories and methods. Therefore, in addition to Steinhardt academic standards, students in the program must also:
- Maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA
- Complete all the required courses in the curriculum with a grade of B- or better
- May not take any core (required) courses pass/fail
- May only take up to 4 elective credits or one course (whichever is fewer) pass/fail
Waivers
Students must supply the following documents to petition for waivers of requirements. Please note, waivers of courses do not constitute waivers of credits. Students must still meet the minimum degree requirement of 38 credits, even if they receive waivers for these requirements, and will need to take other courses to meet the minimum degree credits. These materials must be submitted to the program adviser for approval:
- A copy of the transcript which lists the courses being considered for transfer credit
- A detailed course description or syllabus for the course
The courses must:
- Be courses from an accredited college or university (undergraduate or graduate level)
- Have been taken within the last three years from start of program
- Received a grade of B+ or higher (courses taken pass/fail will not be considered)
- Student may also be required to show that he/she was in a related major or degree program
Transfer Credit
To petition for transferring of credits towards the degree, students must submit the following materials to their academic adviser for review and possible approval by the Program Director:
- A copy of the transcript which lists the courses being considered for transfer credit
- A syllabus for the course
- Graduate Transfer Credit Request form
The courses must:
- Be graduate-level course work from an accredited college or university
- Not have been used for another degree (undergraduate or graduate)
- Be within the last 5 years from the date of admission to the MA program
- Be a grade of B or higher (courses taken pass/fail will not be accepted)
Students may only transfer up to six credits towards the degree. If approved, students must also submit official transcripts to NYU with the course listed. Courses taken outside of NYU during the program also count toward this six credit limit. These credits may only be applied toward electives.
STEM OPT Benefits for International Students
If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in this program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years. For more information on who can apply for this extension visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT.
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Steinhardt Academic Policies
Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.