Multicultural Education Program
100 Beekey Building
Kutztown, PA 19530
Multicultural Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Multicultural Education program prepares educators to proactively support the changing demographic of school-aged children. Through this thirty-three (33) credit program, students will learn concepts of legal, historical, and philosophical foundations of multicultural education through narratives and community-based experiences before they choose their concentration in Equity in Education, Special Education, Visual Impairment, or English as a Second Language (ESL).
With the addition of the Multicultural Education program, Kutztown University enhances the already robust and award-winning selection of graduate education programs and courses that are offered completely online, allowing for enrollment from anywhere.
What can I do with a master’s in multicultural education?
Graduates of this very versatile and unique program can pursue careers in:
- Teaching
- School Administration
- Curriculum Design
- Community or Government Agencies
- Two or four-year institutions of higher education
For certified teachers, program options will enable graduates to earn additional certification in Special Education, PreK-12 or Educational Specialist Certification in Teaching English as a Second Language.
The M.Ed. Program includes options for those seeking special education certification or ESL certification in Pennsylvania.
How to Apply
- Application
- Statement of Purpose. Please describe your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate program or a 3.25 in previous graduate work
- Teaching certificate – not necessary if pursuing Equity in Education track
We encourage applicants apply as early as possible to their track of interest as this allows time to process documents, gives the committee the ability to make thoughtful decisions, and affords admitted students to be granted access to our online learning platform. In that spirit, please refer to the following deadlines for guidance:
Summer term: May 1
Fall term: August 1
Winter term: November 1
- Equity in Education track – Summer or Fall term start only
- Special Education track – Fall start only
- Visual Impairment track – Summer and Winter term start only
- English as a Second Language – Summer or Fall start only
Student Learning Outcomes
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Multicultural Education (M.Ed.)
The M.Ed. in Multicultural Education at Kutztown University offers advanced study on methods that serve diverse learners in the classroom and beyond. It also allows educators and those in related fields to enhance their knowledge, skills and dispositions to work more effectively with individuals from various backgrounds.
The program will help teachers, administrators, school staff, and other practitioners to:
- Explain the major theories underlying multicultural education, how these theories are applied within educational spaces to policies and practices, and develop a stance of inquiry towards problems in the field that can be addressed through educational research.
- Identify ways in which human identities - including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality and gender, disability, linguistic background, and religion - evolve and intersect to create a multitude of personal experiences and discuss their own positionality relevant to their own personal identifications.
- Engage in the use of cross-cultural communication strategies to strengthen connections between educators and culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families.
- Demonstrate the ability to become immersed in a new culture, open to learning, and willing to consider multiple perspectives to develop an understanding of how students, families, and educators are situated within a broader sociopolitical context that may impact what happens in educational spaces.
- Serve as a resource within their schools on matters related to identity, culturally relevant practices, and building relationships across differently-positioned individuals and institutions.
- Plan and carry out an action-research project related to a current and salient concern in multicultural education that advances social justice goals and seeks to establish equity for all members of a society both within the field of education and more broadly across life activities.
Core Courses in the Program:
- Legal, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Multicultural Education
- Methods of Research
- Cross-Cultural Communication in Education
- Multicultural Narratives
- Community-Based Learning Experience
- Thesis or Practicum Capstone
You will find additional courses for each track below.
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Courses: Equity in Education Track
- Foundations of Urban Education
- Student Diversity and Critical Pedagogy
- Social Interpretations of Education
- Change in Education
- School Leadership in a Diverse Society
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Courses: Special Education Track
- Assessment and Instructional Design for Students with Disabilities
- Special Education Processes and IEP Development
- Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities
- Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
- Transition, Self-Determination, and Advocacy
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Courses: English as a Second Language Track
- Culture and Diversity of English Language Learners
- Instructional Methodology for English Learners
- Language Acquisition and English Linguistics
- Assessment of English Language Learners
- Protocols and Practices for PA ELL Programs
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Courses: Visual Impairment Track
- Reading, Writing, and Teaching Literary Braille
- Anatomy of the Eye and Visual Assessments
- Reading, Writing, and Teaching Advanced UEB, Nemeth, and Other Braille
- Early Intervention for Students with Visual Impairments
- Adapting Materials and Methods of Instruction Including Vision Assessments