BA in Ethnic Studies and MEd in Educational Foundations

Typical Length 5 years

Delivery Campus-Based

The combination of a BA in Ethnic Studies at UHM with a MEd appeals to high performing and highly motivated students. The career-oriented pathways for Ethnic Studies majors will offer a concrete answer to the question, “What can I do with my Ethnic Studies degree?” The academic plan is intended to actualize Ethnic Studies students’ desire to make a positive impact on education policy, practice, and research.

Who should consider this program

Undergraduate students at UH who are interested in making a difference in positions related to education in a range of organizational settings, including schools, community service organizations, higher education institutions, and programs focused on youth leadership, non-formal education, and adult education.

Common Careers

It is anticipated that this joint degree program will lead to careers in entry- and mid-level administrative positions within and outside higher education (e.g., multicultural student services), in addition to preparing students for careers in research and training them to enter PhD programs. 

As with the traditional MEd program in Educational Foundation, graduates of the combined BA-M.Ed. can use their degree for professional enhancement and advancement in different ways. While many teachers pursue this master’s degree to inform their practice at the school and classroom levels, others are interested in this degree because it can help them make a career transition to a position of leadership within school systems or in other education-related organizations. Given the broadly applicable nature of the courses in this master’s program, there are many possibilities.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) student in the UH Mānoa Psychology Undergraduate program.

Applicants must also have met with and received advising from the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office.

An Undergraduate Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

A transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.

A written statement of objectives as part of your application.

Your resumé or CV.

You may also include a sample of scholarly writing for consideration with your application to this program.

Two (2) letters of recommendation

Applicants who are not native English speakers may need to take the TOEFL or IELTS (Academic) tests. For more information view the Graduate Division website.

International students that have been admitted are required to submit a copy of their Identification documents (i.e. Passport or Identification Card)

International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses


How to Apply
Application Deadlines

Students submit a graduate application in the Spring semester of year 3 (Junior year) for admission to the MEd in Educational Foundations.


How to Apply
Tuition & Funding

Tuition for the Graduate General & Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified program for the Fall 2019 semester:

  • $1,101/credit – Resident ($650 tuition + $451 fees)
  • $1,853/credit – Non-resident ($1,402 tuition + $451 fees)

There are many resources available to help graduate students pay for college, including College of Education scholarships. There are also several scholarships listed generally through the STAR website (please note that this is only accessible to students with a valid UH ID number – must be admitted as a student prior to looking for scholarships on this site) and the Financial Support section of the Graduate Division website. For more information on financial aid and additional resources, please visit the UH Manoa Financial Aid Office (finaid@hawaii.edu).

It should also be noted that many full-time students are able to find graduate assistant positions across the university. These positions come with tuition remission, a stipend, and health insurance.

Delivery Format

The courses in EDEF that are part of this dual degree program are offered in the fall and spring semesters. Most courses are offered in the evenings, usually from 5 to 730pm.

Coursework

20 credits are necessary for the BA in Ethnic Studies while 30 credits are required for the MEd. Nine of the credits taken in the 4th year of the BA are double-counted toward the MEd. The student takes 21 graduate credits after graduating with the BA.

In year four of undergraduate, students take the following courses: 

Fall

  • EDEF630: Cultural Diversity of Education

Spring

  • EDEF610: Foundations of Educational Theory
  • ES420: American Ethnic and Race Relations

After graduating with the BA in Ethnic Studies, the student takes the following: 

Fall

  • EDEF651: History of Education in America
  • EDEF669: Introduction to Comparative/International Education
  • EDEF678 (or other approved research course): Approaches to Educational Inquiry

Spring

  • EDEF660: Philosophy of Education
  • EDEF683: Social and Cultural Contexts of Education
  • EDEF649: Field Studies in Educational Foundations