Master's Degree

Master's Degree Program

The master's degree, conferred on students who have completed a well-balanced, unified, and complete program of study, includes the preparation and acceptance of a high-quality master's thesis or master's paper, depending on the student's graduate major program. The master's degree in CI ED is a dual-title degree and is given only to students who are admitted to master's programs at Penn State.

Students who choose the master's dual-title degree in CI ED should:

• Complete a minimum of 12 CI ED credits with study in the following curriculum categories:
  • 3 credits, CI ED Proseminar 
  • 6 credits, advanced comparative and international education content courses 
  • 3 credits, advanced or focused comparative and international education content courses.

Some courses may satisfy both the graduate major program requirements and those of the CIED program. Final course selection is determined by the students in consultation with their CI ED advisors and their major program advisors. Students and advisors should maintain the CI ED Master's Degree Plan of Study (Appendix C of the CI ED Handbook), which must be submitted to the CI ED program office two months before the student files the “Intent to Graduate” via eLion.

• Write a master's thesis or paper on a topic related to comparative and international education. The thesis advisor must be a member of the Graduate Faculty of the major program and preferably a Core or Affiliate CI ED faculty member. Consultation with the CI ED program chair is recommended when selecting committee members and completing the CI ED Master's Degree Committee form (Appendix D of the CI ED Handbook).