BS in Education & Human Development-to-MA in Educational Policy Studies

Bachelor’s-to-master’s programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. This BS-to-MA degree program is designed for academically motivated Wheelock undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers in child and education policy in less time than it would take to pursue both degrees independently. After obtaining a broad foundation in education and human development at the undergraduate level, master’s students will learn how to conduct rigorous research, analyze data, and make informed decisions about policies that affect children and families from preschool through young adulthood. Students will be trained in research methods and will engage in a research apprenticeship under the direction of a faculty member. Upon completion of the BS-to-MA degree program, students will also be prepared to enter PhD programs in education and in the social sciences.

The BS-to-MA program requires a minimum of 152 units. There are 128 units required of the baccalaureate degree and an additional 32 units required to fulfill the master’s degree, but BS-to-MA degree candidates may count 8 units taken as an undergraduate toward the MA.

Students in this bachelor’s-to-master’s program must complete all bachelor’s degree requirements before enrolling as master’s students, although they may take graduate courses while enrolled as undergraduates. Students must register for and earn a minimum of 24 units while enrolled as master’s students. Students may apply up to 8 units (500 level or above) from the undergraduate degree to the master’s degree. Students work with their advisors to determine which courses (up to 8 units) to take during their senior year to count toward the MA. Students should consult with the Financial Assistance office to learn how entrance into this bachelor’s-to-master’s program might impact their financial aid.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Develop disciplinary knowledge of historical and contemporary theories, research, and practices in education and applied developmental psychology.
• Apply an ecological model of development to children and families by considering their psychological, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and cultural needs.
• Develop policy recommendations for complicated, real-world problems facing youth and families in Boston, in neighboring communities, and beyond.
• Design and implement a community-based research project within the city of Boston that has a positive impact on a school, health organization, neighborhood, museum, or community-based organization.
• Build knowledge and develop anti-oppressive practices to disrupt unequal systems of power, privilege, and access for children and families through coursework focused on self (positionality, intersectionality).
• Use design-based thinking and learning principles to help create effective solutions to social problems that affect children and families.
• Represent BU Wheelock’s equity and access mission when working with or on behalf of children and families in field-based learning experiences and research-related internships.
• Study the history, language, education, and culture of the Deaf community in the United States.
• Understand how policies are formed, implemented, and evaluated.
• Analyze and discuss the effects of existing educational policies (federal, state, local) on important outcomes of interest (e.g., student achievement, graduation rates, teacher retention, program/school quality).
• Prepare and analyze data for analyses.
• Conduct research independently on education and/or child policy topics.
• Disseminate research results to multiple audiences, including policymakers, academics, and the public.

Required Coursework

Students are required to complete all the requirements for the BS in Education & Human Development and all the requirements for the MA in Educational Policy Studies. In consultation with their advisors, students may count 8 units from the undergraduate degree toward the MA.

Admissions Information

Students who have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or better by the end of their sophomore year or their fourth term of study will be invited to apply to the BS-to-MA degree program.