University of the People

The Curriculum 
The UoPeople M.Ed. is entirely online and is structured around four curricular components:  Core 
Courses, Specialization Courses, Electives, and the Capstone Project. Students will choose to specialize 
in either elementary and middle school education, or secondary education. Their required 
specialization core courses and electives will be dependent on which track they choose.  
All M.Ed. students must choose their specialization track, and complete the 9 core courses, 2 
specialization core courses, 1 specialization elective course, and the Capstone Project. Students may 
choose to complete both specializations, in which case they will be required to complete the minimum 
courses for both of the specializations. 
 The four components of each requirement are described below.  
Core Courses for all M.Ed. Students 
The core consists of nine courses focusing on the foundational skills of knowledge and comprehension, 
with a focus on learning theory. In collaboration with the IB, courses are taught from a global 
perspective and invites students to explore the historical, social and philosophical aspects of education 
from a comparative perspective. 
•  EDUC 5210 Learning Theory and Implications for Instruction   
•  EDUC 5220 Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making   
•  EDUC 5240 Creating Positive Classroom Environments   
•  EDUC 5710 Understanding Barriers to Learning   
•  EDUC 5440 Assessment and Evaluation  
•  EDUC 5711 Teaching for Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms   
•  EDUC 5810 Living and Learning Globally   
•  EDUC 5010 Education in Context:  History, Philosophy and Sociology  

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•  EDUC 5470 Research in Education   
Capstone Project for all M.Ed. Students 
The Capstone Project, EDUC 5910 Applied Professional Inquiry, is completed by all M.Ed. students as 
the final course in a student’s program of study after all courses have successfully been completed. It 
offers students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and research skills attained in the program. No 
other courses can be taken concurrently.  
  
 
Special Internship Option 
 
Successful students in UoPeople’s M.Ed. program residing in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, or 
China may wish to consider applying for an elective internship in an International Baccalaureate (IB) 
school located in one of those regions.  Students who reside elsewhere who can demonstrate a serious 
commitment to a teaching career at the K-12 level in one of those regions are also eligible to apply. 
 
The IB internship is not a degree requirement.  It occurs only after all other course requirements for 
the degree have been met, including completion of the capstone project (EDUC 5910 Applied 
Professional Inquiry).  Students who are approved to participate in this special elective internship 
option register for EDUC 5995 IB Internship and receive a grade in the course.  The degree is awarded 
following successful completion of the internship experience. 
 
The internship involves a full-time placement in an IB school.  There are no scholarship monies 
available to support this option; the internship must be entirely self-funded by the student.  The IB 
internship experience is a full-time, semester-long placement, and the UoPeople student is expected to 
be in residence at the IB school for the entire length of that school’s term.  Decisions about whether a 
placement will be in the fall semester or in the winter/spring term are at the sole discretion of the IB 
school hosting the intern.  Internships are not available during the summer months. 
 
 
Specializations 
 

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UoPeople Catalog  |  September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021 
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Students must choose to specialize in either Elementary and Middle School Level teaching, or 
Secondary level teaching. Students in either specialization will be required to complete two (2) core 
specialization courses, and one (1) elective course as part of the 13 required courses.  
 
Students may choose to specialize in both Elementary and Middle School Level Teaching and 
Secondary Level Teaching, and in this case will be required to take all required courses from each 
specialization track (two (2) specialization core courses and one (1) elective from each track), leading to 
a minimum of 16 required courses.