Master of Education in Media, Culture and Society
This program uses methods of the social sciences, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative approaches to the study of communication and education. It asks in particular how education and other social systems change under the impact of new media. Faculty members and students pursue three broad areas of inquiry, enabling them to:
- Reflect on the historical effects of media and on the cultural uses of developments such as face-to-face speech, writing, printing, photography, film, radio, television, computers, and networked multimedia;
- Use anthropological and linguistic methods to study how the diverse forms of communication, literacy, information processing, and cognition condition educational practice; and
- Explore positive and negative effects of media on social relations and develop strategies for using information and communication technologies to improve conditions of education and life.
In the course of completing a degree, the student should expect to attend closely to both technical artifacts and human activity; that is, both to material systems of communication in which technologies are the primary interest and to interpersonal, direct communication dynamics in which unmediated exchanges, face-to-face, are the subject of inquiry. A major theme for continuous reflection should be the diverse ways in which the modes of communication condition the meanings actually, and potentially, communicated—particularly through the wide variety of digital means available to us.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 terms.
Master of Education
- Points/Credits: 60
- Entry Terms: Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Summer | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2026 | January 15, 2026 | 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 | |
| Video essay required for all non-native English speakers (included in online application) |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact MSTadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Additional Degree Information
Degree Requirements (starting Fall 2026)
* For AY 2025-26 Degree Requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog website.
The Media, Culture & Society degree programs explore the evolving relationship between communication, media, and education in a digital world. Shaped by emerging technologies, social platforms, and new forms of representation, the field of communication is in constant flux—and this program equips students to engage critically with its impact on education and culture.
Grounded in interdisciplinary theory and social science inquiry, the program examines how media and communication technologies shape cultural practices, educational institutions, and social systems. Areas of emphasis include literacy, social justice, youth development, and teacher education.
The program embraces a broad range of research methods—both qualitative and quantitative—to examine the intersections of communication and education across diverse contexts. It asks: How does education, including schooling and other social systems, transform under the influence of emerging media?
Students are encouraged to:
- Reflect on the historical, cultural, and social impact of a wide range of media;
- Leverage research methods and inquiry frameworks to understand how communication and media practices shape learning;
- Attend closely to both technological tools and human activity, considering how different modes of communication influence the meanings we construct and convey—especially through the diverse digital forms available today.
Graduates of the Ed.M. in Media, Culture & Society pursue a range of careers, including:
- Faculty and research positions in higher education
- Leadership roles in museums, schools, and nonprofits focused on media and learning
- Research and evaluation in educational media and technology
- Design and implementation of media-based learning and civic engagement initiatives
- Policy and advocacy work in government or NGOs
The Ed.M. degree requires 60 points, typically completed over two years of full-time study. It can serve as a step toward doctoral work or as a stand-alone credential for professionals who already hold a master’s degree. Students may transfer up to 30 points of graduate credit from other institutions.
Those with an M.A. in TML or a similar program should choose advanced courses to deepen their expertise. Students transferring credits from other fields should include TML core courses in their plan of study.
In addition to completing the minimum course requirements and developing a skill specialization, candidates for the Ed.M. degree culminate their work through a research or development project submitted to the faculty.
Core Requirement: (1 point)
- MSTU 4000 is a requirement for 1 credit in the first semester of study.
- MSTU 4900 IP Seminar is a requirement for 0 credits in the last semester of study.
Foundational Knowledge: At least three areas must be represented. (9 points)
- Cognitive Issues and Technology
- MSTU 4133 Cognition and Computers
- MSTU 4088 Introduction to Learning Sciences and Educational Technology
- Social Issues and Technology
- MSTU 4005 Equity, Ethical, and Social Issues in Educational Technology
- MSTU 4020 Social and Communicative Aspects of the Internet
- Cultural Issues and Technology
- MSTU 4028 Technology and Culture
- MSTU 5002 Culture, Media, and Education
- Educational Practice and Design
- MSTU 4001 Technology and School Change
- MSTU 4050 Online Schools and Online Schooling K-12
- MSTU 4083 Instructional Design of Educational Technology
Research Methods and Design: (3 points)
Students must complete one research method or research design course offered either in or outside the CMLTD program. Suggested courses include the following:
- HUDM 4122 Probability and Statistical Inference
- ITSF 5000 Methods of inquiry: Ethnography and Participant Observation
- MSTU 5025 Researching Technology in Educational Environments
- MSTU 5001 Assessing the Impact of Technology In Schools
Breadth Requirement: (6 points)
All students must complete 6 points at Teachers College outside of the Communication, Media and Learning Technologies Design Program (that is, courses with a prefix other than MSTU). Suggested: HUDM 4120 Basic concepts in statistics; ITSF 5000 Methods of inquiry-Ethnography and participant observation; and/or other basic research/inquiry courses without an MSTU prefix.
Additional Requirements: for Ed.M. students in Communication and Education (TECM)
- MSTU 4016 The History of Communication
- MSTU 5606 Theoretical Approaches to Communication and Culture
- 35 points of additional MSTU courses
- Other courses chosen in consultation with an advisor
Integrative Ed.M. Project
The Integrative Ed.M. Project is a research or development project that should result from independent effort equivalent to that of a 3-point course. Like the M.A. integrative project, it should provide tangible evidence of a student’s skills and strengths and should represent the student’s interests, as well as display the specialized skills developed for the degree.