Global Master of Arts: International Education (Full-Time)

Learn how to meet the challenges facing international educators through this immersive, full-time program.

At a Glance

For programs beginning in 2022

Credits

Format

Full-Time

Final Deadline

May 1

Duration

1.5 Years

Instructional Sites

Chile, Vietnam

Critical Global Issue of Study

Education & Social Change

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Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, like COVID-19, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.

WHY A MASTER'S IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION?

SIT developed the first master’s degree in international education 20 years ago. Building on that well-respected curriculum, this program offers an in-depth exploration of the historical, political, economic, and social contexts of education, crossing cultural divides and language barriers. The program utilizes a culturally immersive format so that you will learn about the field of international education administration while living it.

In this global master’s program format, you will examine two richly diverse educational systems — Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Santiago, Chile — to attain professional expertise in global studies; program and curricula development; research skills; and intercultural learning. You also will learn and practice conversational Vietnamese and Spanish, for which you will receive instruction tailored to your skill level.

Begin your program with orientation in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Meet your cohort, attend an intensive seminar with the program chair, and undertake lessons with local faculty. During your first semester in Ho Chi Minh City, a high-octane metropolis known for its extraordinary growth and socioeconomic change, you will study educational practice and policy; research methods; and observe a variety of educational models. You will also travel to Hanoi, Vietnam’s seat of government, to learn about the inner workings of national education policy.

In your second semester, you will live and study in Santiago, Chile, where you will conduct comparative studies of Chile’s urban and rural areas, learn about program development, and take a four-day excursion to Temuco, a city nestled between the Pacific and the Andes, to learn about indigenous, bilingual, autonomous, and decolonialized education.

In your third and fourth semesters, you will undertake an independent practicum to gain on-the-job skills in a role and location of your choice and complete a capstone paper to present during a capstone seminar on our historic Vermont campus or virtually.

Designed for aspiring professionals, this unique master’s degree — one of SIT’s cornerstone offerings — will show you how to meet the immense challenges of the international educator, positioning you for rapid advancement in the field.

Career Paths

Students who have graduated with this degree work in careers such as the following, among others.

Study Abroad/International Study Adviser
US embassy education specialist
Immigration Specialist
Exchange program manager
Director of Global Programs
Program designer or implementation associate
Country development officer
Educational consultant

Visit the SIT blog to read more about SIT Graduate Institute alumni careers.

Program Sites

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

In this world-class, cosmopolitan city known for its vibrant culture and rich history, gain a deeper understanding of international education in a country still grappling with its postwar identity, but also fast becoming one of Asia’s strongest economies, ushering in fast-paced and sweeping change. Study educational practice and policy; intercultural service and leadership; intercultural communications; and conversational Vietnamese.

Santiago, Chile

With its large indigenous and immigrant population, as well as strong contrasts between urban and rural areas, Chile offers the opportunity to conduct a wide range of advanced comparative studies and observe how education is used as a tool for social change. Study educational theory and practice; the historical, social, political (post-conflict), and economic (neoliberal) contexts of Chilean education; program design; and conversational Spanish.

Practicum in location of choice

Students can complete their two-semester practicum in any location around the world in which they can obtain legal authorization.

Brattleboro, Vermont

Travel to SIT’s historic campus in Brattleboro, Vermont, to present your capstone while networking with others in your cohort, or present your capstone online in a virtual environment. SIT’s beautiful southern Vermont campus offers woodland trails, hiking, running, and cycling, as well as a private library, study rooms with mountain views, and an entertainment space where students often gather at the end of the day to socialize. You will also be a few miles from downtown Brattleboro and its array of shops, restaurants, and eateries. Vermont is at the forefront of sustainability, education, and regeneration.

Capstone presentation on Vermont campus or online

Please note that in order to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, program excursions may occasionally vary.

Academics

Coursework

International education professionals are most effective when they understand the context, issues, skills, and possible paths forward in their field. SIT’s Global Master’s in International Education helps you learn the importance of intercultural partnerships and understanding necessary to facilitate quality international education programs through personal experience when you move to a new location, interact with partners and study their culture, history, and systems; and live with and learn from them.

In this program, you will learn:

The historical context and social, political, economic, and cultural forces that shape education around the world
How to articulate a critical understanding of education systems around the world with emphases on social justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity
How to demonstrate knowledge of influential theories in international education
The perspectives, relationships, roles, and influences of the stakeholders in the international education field
How power, privilege, and oppression mediate educational practices around the world
How international education policy is developed and implemented at the institutional, local, state, regional, national, and international levels
Fundamental research skills, including conceptualizing, designing, conducting, and presenting original research in the field of international education
How to design, deliver, and evaluate international education programs (including proposal preparation, needs assessment, curriculum design, budgeting, human resource management, health and safety, crisis management, marketing, recruitment, and evaluation)
How to create and implement content through writing, facilitation, and public speaking
Approaches to promoting equity, inclusion, diversity, and social justice in education
How to uphold high ethical standards and critical reflexivity in all aspects of one’s professional work
To value reciprocity in knowledge and skills-sharing

This program requires completion of the Language and Culture Proficiency Requirement for graduation. Details can be found in the Catalog.

Please expand the sections below to see detailed course information.

This is SIT

We value active togetherness, reciprocity, and respect as the essential ingredients for building a sustainable community.
With open minds, empathy, and courage, we facilitate intercultural understanding and respect for the commonalities and differences between people.
We champion social inclusion & justice in all that we are and all that we do, from ensuring our community and our programs amplify the voices, agency, and dignity of all people to deliberately instilling the principles and practices of inclusion in all ofour work.
We are committed to human and environmental well-being through sustainability and contributing to a better world for all living and future generations.

Semester One, Fall: Santiago, Chile
(13 credits + language study)

Foundations in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management (3 credits): This course introduces students to intercultural communication, effective multicultural team management, and organizational leadership and change. The course begins with a one-week, face-to-face intensive seminar just after orientation and will continue on-line for an additional eight weeks.
Theory and Practice in International Education (3 credits): This course introduces students to educational theories including neo-Marxist and conflict theories, communist theory, structural functionalism, human capital theory, post-colonialism, and feminist theory; why they are important; and how they are used to frame learning and work in the field. The course also explores advocacy and citizen/public diplomacy within the Chilean, Vietnamese, and U.S. contexts.
Practitioner Inquiry (3 credits): This course introduces principles of qualitative research methods for ethical research and inquiry.
Educational Practice and Policy in Chile (3 credits): This course explores the historical, social, political (post-conflict), and economic (neoliberal) contexts of Chilean education. It includes field trips within Santiago to visit educational programs and associations and a four-day excursion to Temuco for students to learn about models of and issues related to indigenous education, bilingual education, autonomous education, decolonization of education, and Mapuche values and educational practices.
Reflective Practice 1 (1 credit): This course provides the academic frame for ongoing orientation, student learning plans, and reflections about their intercultural experiences/learning. In the summer term, the curriculum is focused on helping students identify and secure a practicum.
Spanish: Students will take a placement test at the start of the program to determine the appropriate placement level for a conversational Spanish course. Note: Undergraduate credit does not count toward the master’s degree.

Semester Two, Spring: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
(9 credits + language study, allows time for practicum research)

Educational Practice and Policy in Vietnam (3 credits): This course explores the historical, social, political (post-war), and economic (communist) contexts of Vietnamese education. It includes field trips within Ho Chi Minh City to visit educational programs and associations.
IE Program Planning & Design (5 credits): This course walks students through the program development and implementation process. Topics include proposal writing, needs assessment and evaluation, curriculum development, student learning/development theory, internationalization, marketing and recruitment, logistics and staffing, budget preparation, risk assessment, health and safety, and crisis management.
Reflective Practice 2 (1 credit): This course provides the academic frame for ongoing orientation, student learning plans, and reflections about their intercultural experiences/learning. In the summer term, the curriculum is focused on helping students identify and secure a practicum.
Vietnamese: Students will take a placement test at the start of the program to determine the appropriate placement level for a conversational Vietnamese course. Note: Undergraduate credit does not count toward the master’s degree.

Semester Three, Fall: Practicum and Capstone Research in Location of Student’s Choice
(8 Credits)

Reflective Practice includes:

12-week practicum (minimum of 25 hours/week = 300 contact hours)
2 Reflective Practice Question essays (15 hours)
Capstone proposal (25 hours)
Human Subjects Review (HSR) application (20 hours)

Semester Four, Fall: Practicum and Capstone Research in Location of Student’s Choice; Capstone Seminar
(8 Credits)

Reflective Practice includes:

10-week practicum (minimum of 25 hours/week = 250 contact hours)
2 Reflective Practice Question essays (15 hours)
Capstone paper (60 hours)
Capstone seminar (tentatively planned to take place virtually; 35 hours)

Professional Practicum

Pivotal to SIT Global Master’s in International Education is the practicum. This will allow you to apply learning from the classroom directly to real-world settings while getting hands-on, professional experience you can put to immediate use after you graduate.

In the third and fourth semesters of the program, your advisor will support you in finding an approved, independent practicum while you complete your capstone paper.

You may elect to remain in Vietnam, return to Chile, or complete your practicum in another location of your choice. A practicum may consist of up to 40 hours a week of work; however, the number of credits earned will not fluctuate.

During the practicum phase, you’ll remain engaged with faculty and other students and receive course credit for documenting the integration of your knowledge and skills while working in a professional context. The practicum experience also will give you the opportunity to expand your professional network.

Faculty & Staff

International Education (Full-Time)

Sora Friedman, PhD

Professor, International Education • Chair, MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management • Chair, MA in International Education

Melissa Whatley, PhD

Assistant Professor of International and Global Education, Doctorate in Global Education (EdD)

Alla Korzh, EdD

Program Chair, Doctorate in Global Education (EdD) • Associate Professor, Global Masters in International Education

Duong Van Thanh, EdD

Co-Chair, Global Master of Arts in International Education

Roberto Villaseca, PhD Candidate