Program Overview
The International Education Policy concentration (IEP) is designed to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of today's educational policies and practices. Our focus is on the relationship between education and the economy, politics and social development in both developing and developed countries. We offer a comprehensive understanding of education across all levels, from preschool to higher education, as well as non-formal education, including adult and community-based learning.
In today鈥檚 rapidly changing world, the role of comparative and international education鈥檚 role in shaping global societies is more important than ever. Through critical reflection on current policies, practices and conditions, IEP will empower you to contribute to transformative educational and social change. More specifically, you will gain the knowledge and interdisciplinary skills needed to address global challenges such as equity, social justice, sustainable development through education and international peace.
Whether you鈥檙e aiming to work in national development, international organizations, or academic research, this concentration will prepare you to make a meaningful impact on education across all levels and sectors.
**Administratively, International Education Policy is a concentration in the Higher Education, Student Affairs and International Education Policy program. However, we are substantively independent. Our program focuses on international education issues across education levels (pre-K through higher education) and contexts (formal and informal).
Key Features
- Flexibility: Tailor your coursework to match your background, interests, and career goals. Specializations include conflict and emergencies, gender and development, peace and environmental education and political economy.
- D.C. Advantage: Just a few miles from the nation's capital, our location provides unparalleled access to internships, employment opportunities, seminars, workshops, and renowned speakers. Through cooperative agreements with nearby universities American University and George Washington University, you can also take advantage of courses offered by other highly regarded programs in related disciplines.
Faculty
Faculty
Our faculty are selected for their expertise andexperience. They provide guidance and support to foster your academic and professional success.
Our Students
Meet Our Students
One of our greatest strengths is our students. We are committed to building a community of students, faculty and development professionals who work together to promote cross-cultural and multicultural understanding and bridge the gap between research and real-world practice.
"The 沈芯语老师家访麻花视频 resources have been top notch, the faculty are wonderful advisors that truly value our perspectives while challenging us to think critically and reach our full potential."
How to Apply
How to Apply
We welcome applications from students with a strong interest in comparative and international education. We especially encourage individuals from underrepresented minority groups to apply.
Information on admissions and application to this program can be found on the University Graduate Admissions website.
Requirements
Program Requirements
IEP courses provide a strong foundation in educational theory and practice, the nature of comparative and international education, and the application of cultural, economic, political and sociological perspectives to ensure that you gain an understanding of education and its contribution to development.
Beyond the core courses, you will work with faculty to create personalized coursework that aligns with your background and career goals. You鈥檒l have access to the full range of resources at the 沈芯语老师家访麻花视频 and can choose courses across the social sciences, humanities, and professional specializations, such as early childhood education, international exchange, or higher education. You can also focus on regional areas like Africa, Asia, or Latin America, or cross-cutting topics like gender and race. We have made a specific and strong commitment to internationalization throughout its programs and policies.
If you've already completed a master鈥檚 degree in a related field, you may be able to transfer up to 24 credits toward the 90 required for our Ph.D. program. Be sure to consult with your advisor to determine which courses/credits may apply.
- EDHI 605鈥擟omparative Education
- EDHI 606鈥擯olitical Economy of Education in a Global Context
- EDHI 607鈥擟ulture and Education in a Global Context
- EDHI 750鈥擨nternational Higher Education
- PROSEMINAR鈥擜ttendance required for the first 2 years of your program (0 credits)
- EDHI 672 鈥 Modes of Inquiry
- One quantitative methodology course
- One qualitative methodology course
- Two additional courses in methodological approaches most relevant to your research focus
Select four of the following or equivalents:
- EDHI 680鈥擥ender, Education, and Development
- EDHI 681鈥擡ducation for Global Peace
- EDHI 682鈥擡cological Ethics and Education
- EDHI 683鈥擶orld Religions and Implications for Education
- EDHI 684鈥擜lternative Education, Alternative Development
- EDHI 788鈥擟ontemplative Inquiry and Holistic Education
- EDHI 788鈥撯揈ducation in Conflict and Emergencies
- EDHI 788鈥擥lobal Climate Change and Education
- EDHI 788鈥擨nternational Education and Cultural Exchange
- EDHI 788鈥擨nternational Investigations in Cuban Education
- EDHI 805鈥撯揝eminar in Comparative Education
- EDPS 624鈥撯揅ulture in Education Policy and Practice
- EDHI 798鈥撯揝pecial Problems in Education
Courses may be selected in the areas of public policy, communications, anthropology, economics, sociology, gender studies, higher education, early childhood education, or from other departments within the College of Education, the 沈芯语老师家访麻花视频, or the Washington Consortium.
- EDHI889 鈥 Internship in Education
EDHI 898 鈥擯re-Candidacy Research (can be repeated)
- EDHI 899鈥擠issertation Research
Specializations
The IEP concentration offers five specializations, with the flexibility to design your own specialization based on your interests. Past students have developed specializations in professional areas such as early childhood education, special education, primary and secondary education, teacher education, education leadership, education policy, higher education and public health education. Others have explored specializations in social science disciplines and applied areas such as anthropology, economics, public policy, sociology and women鈥檚 studies.
As a student at the 沈芯语老师家访麻花视频, you'll have access to many specializations across campus and beyond. In addition to courses within the IEP concentration, we encourage you to take additional courses in other departments, colleges, and even .
This specialization examines educational issues in contexts of conflict and emergencies, including war, forced migration, epidemic and pandemic and climate disaster. You will gain familiarity with global humanitarian frameworks and interventions in education in emergencies, as well as national, local and school-based responses in different parts of the world. Through critical and reflective exploration of theoretical, conceptual and practical dimensions, you will work to advance your contributions to research, institutions and educational contexts.
Possible courses include:
- EDHI788J鈥擡ducation in Conflict and Emergencies
- EDHI 681鈥擡ducation for Global Peace
- EDHI788F鈥擥lobal Climate Change and Education: Policy and Practice
While class, gender, race and ethnicity are topics incorporated throughout in the IEP concentration, you can develop a specialization in gender and development. This specialization focuses on understanding how gender shapes societal structures and influences educational outcomes. You will develop skills to draw policy implications and design concrete practices to reduce gender-related barriers and increase both individual and collective transformative actions.
Possible courses include:
- EDHI680鈥擥ender, Development and Education
- WMST602鈥擜pproaches to Women鈥檚 Studies
- WMST698R鈥擥ender and Development
In a world of rapidly increasing cross-cultural interactions, intercultural education is more important than ever. This specialization explores the fundamental issues that connect culture, education and development. These topics are gaining importance as universities respond to globalization through internationalization initiatives, programming and policy. In this specialization, you will examine the higher education context where these initiatives are taking place.
Possible courses include:
- EDHI607鈥擡ducation and Culture in a Global Context
- EDHI750鈥擨nternational Higher Education
- EDHI788T鈥擨nternational Education and Cultural Exchange: Policies and Practices
- EDHI788X鈥擨nternational Investigations in Cuban Education
This specialization focuses on global and local conditions that lead to wars, conflicts, environmental destruction and climiate change. It also examines theories and practices in peace and sustainability education for peace building and preservation of nature, as well as political, economic, cultural, religious and educational contexts for peace and sustainability.
Peace is defined as a deep respect for each other as human beings and for nature with sustainable ecological ethics. It is achieved through both external efforts and internal endeavors to cultivate wisdom and equanimity. Through coursework, you'll study alternative and transformative paradigms and acquire practical knowledge for peace and sustainability education.
Possible courses include:
- EDHI681鈥擡ducation for Global Peace
- EDHI683鈥擶orld Religions and Implication for Education
- EDHI788F鈥擥lobal Climate Change and Education: Policy and Practice
- EDHI788鈥擟ontemplative Inquiry and Holistic Education
The term 鈥減olitical economy鈥 is often contested but generally refers to a broad and integrated understanding of the politics and economics of issues. This specialization will provide you with an understanding of the debates about the theory and practice of political economy, current educational policies and their relationship to development.
Possible courses include:
- EDHI606鈥擯olitical Economy of Education and Development
- EDHI684鈥擜lternative Education, Alternative Development
- EDHI788X鈥擨nternational Investigations in Cuban Education
Dissertation Topics
Dissertation Topics
Below is a sample of dissertation topics written by our students.
- 鈥淐ase Study of a Gender and Reproductive Health Training Program for Adolescent Males in Rural Villages in the State of Gujarat, India鈥
- 鈥淚mpact of Globalization on the US-Mexico Border: Case Study of Grassroots Activism for the Migrant and Refugee Community鈥
- 鈥淢igrating Knowledge: Schooling, Statelessness and Safety at the Thailand-Burma Border鈥
- 鈥淭he Challenges and Prospects of Civil Society Development: An Examination of Two Types of Civil Society Organization in China鈥
- 鈥淪uccess for All: A Comprehensive Educational Reform Experiment on Improving Low Performance Students in China"
- 鈥淩acing, Classing, and Gendering School-Related Violence in Three Johannesburg Secondary Schools鈥
- 鈥淩e-making the Namibian Teacher: A Study of Teacher Reflection in an Era of Social Transition and Policy Reform鈥
- 鈥淭he Impact of Globalization on Education in Uganda鈥
- 鈥淪ocial Stratification and Higher Education Opportunities in the Transitioning Chinese Society鈥
- 鈥淟iving Feminism in the Academy: South African Women Tell Their Stories鈥
- "Teachers and Teaching: Conceptualizing Quality Education in Rural Nicaragua"
- 鈥淪chool Choice and Student Aspirations for Higher Education in Kenya: Social Capital and Cultural Capital Perspectives"
- 鈥淚nternationalization of Higher Education in Two Jesuit Universities鈥
- 鈥淓ducation Amidst Democratic Transition: The Case of Romania鈥
- 鈥淵outh Exchange and Peacebuilding Post 9/11鈥
- 鈥淭he Development of Global Education Policy: A Case Study of the Origins and Evolution of El Salvador鈥檚 EDUCO鈥
Additional examples of dissertation topics can be found in the International Education Policy Handbook.
Careers
Career Options
Our graduates work for public and private international agencies, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and universities, both in the U.S. and abroad.
- Acting Team Lead & Training Specialist, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance in Global Capacity Development, U.S. Agency for International Development
- Assistant Division Chief, U.S. Census Bureau
- Assistant Principal, Howard County Public School
- Assistant Professor, Universidad Catolica de Chile
- Assistant Professor, University of Newcastle, Australia
- Associate Director of International Programs, George Mason University
- Associate Director of Major Gifts, Harvard University
- Associate Professor, Universidad de los Andes
- Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
- Chairwoman, Society for International Development, Creative Associates
- Chief Executive Officer, Community Partners International
- Chief Financial Officer, Dream Corps International, China
- Chief of Staff, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education
- Country Development Cooperation Strategy Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development, Madagascar
- Director, Creative Associates International
- Director of Education and Literacy, Nascent Solutions, Inc.
- Director of Global Education, Earthday.org
- Director of Institutional Research, Simon College
- Director of International Education, College Board
- Executive Director, Board of Trustees, Sogang University
- Executive Director, Global Teacher Education/Educator, Smithsonian
- Executive Officer for Diversity & Equity, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- General Secretary of Education International
- Head of Programs & Partnerships, U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Academy
- Humanitarian Relief Program Manager, United Way National Capital Area
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
- President, Theirworld
- Professor, University of Hawaii
- Professor, Western University, Canada
- Professor and Chair, Kenya Methodist University Education Department
- Program Manager, Regional Development Mission for Asia, U.S. Agency for International Development
- Program Officer, Critical Language Scholarship & Boren Fellowship Program, U.S. State Department
- Program Officer, Kenya Program Coordinator, Action for Healthy Communities, Canada
- Senior Education Advisor, Africa Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development
- Senior Program Officer, Global Education Partnership
- Senior Program Officer, Open Society Foundation
- Senior Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace
- Senior Research Education, Analyst, Research Triangle Institute
- U.S. Cultural Ambassador to India, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine
- Vice President, World Learning
Contact Us
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