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Why Economics & Education?
Economic concepts and analytic methods are increasingly influential in education policy and administration, and graduates who can combine quantitative skills with substantive expertise are in high demand. Our program prepares students to apply the economic approach, as well as its methodological tools, to contemporary education policy issues both domestically and globally.
Why Teachers College, Columbia University?
If you want examples of how economic concepts and methods can be applied to real-world education research and policy, check out some of the work highlighted in our faculty profiles. Our faculty includes renowned scholars studying higher education, K-12 educational institutions, educational markets and privatization, and international education and economic development, among other areas. Our scholars play prominent roles in their respective areas of specialization and their work is featured regularly not only in academic publications but also in policy conversations around the world.
Our program is situated in a dynamic intellectual environment: a world-class institution in a world-class city. Students in the Economics & Education program benefit from the rich, multidisciplinary environment within TC's Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis (EPSA), which also includes academic programs in Education Policy, Politics and Education, and Sociology and Education. Students and faculty across the four Programs interact around shared research and policy interests, and students in the Economics and Education Program are encouraged to take advantage of the broader resources in EPSA. These broader resources include not just relevant course offerings, but also policy events, seminars, student-led "pop-up" conversations on current topics, job networking events, and social gatherings. And of course, the infinite social, cultural, and intellectual opportunities of New York City are all right outside your doorstep.
What will I do in the program?
Students in our M.AEd.M. and Ph.D. degree programs take courses in core areas including applied microeconomics, the economics of education, education and economic development, econometrics, statistical analysis, and benefit-cost analysis. Beyond required coursework, students in each degree program can choose from a range of elective courses to individualize their experience and satisfy their unique interests and career objectives. With the help of an academic advisor, students select courses from those offered within the program of economics and education and supplement these with courses outside the department, including courses offered in other schools of Columbia University.
What do graduates do with their degrees?
Our M.A. and Ed.M. graduates have gone on to work in policy, administration, and data analysis roles within government agencies, schools, education research and advocacy organizations, foundations, and educational technology companies, as well as to pursue further study in related fields.
Our Ph.D, graduates have gone on to research, leadership, and academic teaching positions in a range of settings. Recent Ph.D. graduates are currently employed as tenure-track faculty members at both domestic and international postsecondary institutions, as research associates at leading policy research organizations, and as institutional researchers for large urban school districts and colleges and universities.
Please note that our Program is a preferred partner Program for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program. The Program has several eligibility requirements, however. You can find more information about this scholarship program on the TC Financial Aid website, under Merit-Based Aid/External Scholarships, and on the Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship program website.
Points/Credits: 33
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
The objective of the 33-point M.A. Program in Economics and Education is to equip education professionals and policy-makers with the skills required to interpret and synthesize education-related research, to design and implement effective educational policy, and to assess the consequences of education policy, both domestically and in international settings.
The degree program begins in the Fall term and can be completed within one calendar year with enrollment during the summer and careful course planning, although many students choose to take longer (for example, by taking the summer to work in a related area and returning to complete coursework in the subsequent fall term). Some students are able to work full-time while pursuing their degree, although this requires a flexible schedule since many courses are only held in the afternoon.
The curriculum of the program aims to build students’ technical competence in the basic tools of educational management and policy making; provide the academic and professional environment for students to apply these skills; and educate students about the global educational landscape, including current thinking on educational reform and the financing of education. Please click on the course planning worksheet link below for specific course offerings and requirements. https://www.tc.columbia.edu/education-policy-and-social-analysis/economics-and-education/degrees--requirements/economics-and-education-ma/
In addition to completing required coursework, all M.A. students must complete an Integrative Project (I.P.) on a topic of their choice, under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The I.P. may take the form of original research and data analysis on a topic of interest or may entail a review and synthesis of the theory and evidence around a specific education-policy question. The goal of the I.P. is for the student to apply concepts and methodologies from the Economics and Education curriculum to a real-world issue in education.
All applications to enter the program are evaluated on an individual and holistic basis. However, the curriculum of the program assumes that students have some previous coursework (at least at the undergraduate level) in economics and basic statistics, possess intellectual maturity, and demonstrate an interest in education policy and practice. Compelling applications for admission demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for success and also clearly explain how the Economics and Education curriculum fits with the applicant’s past experiences and future goals.
Points/Credits: 60
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
This 60-point degree program is intended for individuals who already have a graduate degree in a related field, and who would like to build upon that foundation with additional training in Economics and Education. Required coursework mirrors the requirements for the M.A. degree but gives students room to take more advanced courses in the economics and education concentration and related degree Programs (including the other Programs in EPSA as well as relevant courses in other Departments/Programs). https://www.tc.columbia.edu/education-policy- and-social-analysis/economics-and-education/degrees/master-of- education-in-economics-and-education-econ/
All applications to enter the degree program are evaluated on an individual and holistic basis. However, the curriculum of the program assumes that students have some previous coursework (at least at the undergraduate level) in economics and basic statistics, possess intellectual maturity, and demonstrate an interest in education policy and practice. Compelling applications for admission demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for success and also clearly explain how the Economics and Education curriculum fits with the applicant’s past experiences and future goals.
Points/Credits: 75
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
This 75-point degree program is intended for individuals who want to acquire advanced training in the theory, methods, and practices in the economics of education. It is a highly selective program to prepare individuals for leadership roles in teaching, research, or administrative settings.
The coursework for this program consists of three parts: core courses, courses in research methods, and courses in a specialized area of study, such as higher education, early childhood education, field experimentation, or a regional focus. Students work on their dissertation under the guidance of faculty advisors within the program; additional members of the dissertation committee may be drawn from other TC Departments, and at least one committee member must be from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. All degrees are conferred by Columbia University. https://www.tc.columbia.edu/education-policy-and- social-analysis/economics-and-education/degrees/doctor-of-philosophy- in-economics-and-education-econ/
Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly selective. All applications to enter the program are evaluated on an individual and holistic basis. However, the curriculum of the degree program assumes that students have some previous coursework in economics and statistics, possess intellectual maturity, and demonstrate an interest in education policy and practice. Compelling applications for admission demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for success and also clearly explain how the Economics and Education curriculum fits with the applicant’s past experiences and future goals.