Master of Arts (35 Points)
This program is designed exclusively for participants in the Peace Corps Fellows Program at Teachers College. Through the 35 points of coursework, students will learn critical pedagogical and theoretical stances in English Education. In addition to your English Education coursework, you will participate in Peace Corps Fellows specific professional development. For more information about becoming a Peace Corps Fellow, please visit their website at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/pcfellows/
Experiences and Exposures:
- Courses are taught by members of Teachers College faculty in English Education in collaboration with the Peace Corps Fellows program.
- You’ll join a collaborative group of students from around the world who bring with them unique perspectives and life experiences.
- Paid full time teaching work during the day mentored by Teachers College faculty and supervisors supports students to apply what they learn in their coursework to their own classrooms.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 35
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Transitional B: English Language Arts 7-12
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | November 15, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | N/A |
| Summer | January 15, 2025 | January 15, 2025 | N/A |
| Fall | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Supplemental application required (included in online application) | |
| Interview (phone, video, or in-person) required |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact AHadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
Master of Arts (M.A., 35 credits through the TC Peace Corps Fellows Program PCFP)
Required courses include:
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A&HE 4057 English Methods (3)
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A&HE 4058 Teaching of Reading (3)
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A&HE 4151 Teaching of Writing (3)*
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A&HE 5518 Teaching English in Diverse Social and Cultural Contexts (2-3)**
*Taken as a 6 credit block with A&HE 4156, Writing: Nonfiction (3)
**A&HE 5518 meets both the College-wide and the New York State diversity requirements.
In addition, students must choose at least one topic-specific methods course, such as:
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A&HE 4050 Literature and Teaching (3)
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A&HE 4152 Literacies and Technologies in the Secondary English Classroom (3)
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A&HE 4550 Teaching of Poetry (3)
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A&HE 4551 Teaching of Shakespeare (3)
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A&HE 4100 Teaching of Drama and Theater (3)
As a part of the M.A. program, students also must fulfill a Content requirement. Content coursework consists of one course in writing and one course in literature. Courses may include the following:
Writing:
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A&HE 4156 Writing: Nonfiction (3)
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A&HE 4561 Teaching Narrative and Story (3)
Literature:
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A&HE 4050 Literature and Teaching (3)
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A&HE 4053 Cultural Perspectives and Literature (3)
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A&HE 4052 Adolescents and Literature (3)
Foundations/Breadth Requirement
Foundations courses are intended to broaden students’ knowledge of the history of education, philosophies of education, and educational issues and practices beyond their particular area of concentration. All students must take at least 6 points of such courses (courses in Teachers College not designated “A&HE”) in close consultation with their advisors and with the TC Office of Teacher Education. For those seeking Initial Teacher Certification (35-credit PCFP Transitional B program), foundations credits must be used to meet the New York State requirements for classes in History/Philosophy of Education, Disabilities/Special Education, and Human Development/Psychology if these have not been taken in previous college-level coursework. These courses may be taken as pass/fail.
Electives
Electives provide students the opportunity to explore particular interests as they design their own programs in consultation with an academic faculty advisor.
Students whose program permits room for electives may take any graduate-level courses at Teachers College or Columbia University.
Master’s Seminar
All M.A. students are required to enroll in the A&HE 5590, Master’s Seminar: Reflective Practice. Students in the 38-credit program enroll in A&HE 5590 the same semester they enroll in Phase 2 of A&HE 4750, Supervised teaching of English. Students in the 34-credit program enroll in A&HE 5590 during their final semester. Within the context of this course, all students work with an instructor to design and complete their master’s projects.