Overview

The Education, Society, and Culture programme at the University of California, Riverside provides students with the analytical tools required to understand the complex social factors that shape modern learning. This Master of Arts degree focuses on the historical and cultural influences that impact educational equity and access.

Students engage with a curriculum designed to foster teacher-leadership and advanced research skills. The course is delivered in person at the Riverside campus, with classes typically scheduled once per week in the late afternoon. This structure allows for a flexible pace, accommodating different professional backgrounds and academic goals.

The programme serves as a direct pathway for those interested in doctoral studies. All completed coursework from this M.A. can be transferred toward a Ph.D.

Why Education, Society, and Culture at the University of California, Riverside?

The School of Education is home to faculty members who are recognised leaders in urban schooling, critical race theory, and youth community engagement. Students benefit from a research-intensive environment where they study alongside experts investigating educational inequality and gender in education.

The institution provides a supportive atmosphere through the Research and Writing Support Center and various community-engaged learning initiatives. Facilities such as Sproul Hall serve as hubs for academic collaboration, ensuring that students have access to the resources necessary for high-level sociological and educational analysis.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 12005 per semester
National fee: USD 12005 per semester
Local fee: USD 4490 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires a minimum of 36 units and offers two distinct pathways: a thesis-based track or a comprehensive examination track. Modules may include:

College readiness
Critical race theory
Educational equity/inequality
Gender and education
Historical methods and social studies
History of education
Language and literacy
Qualitative methods
Race in schooling
Teacher education
Youth of color

Careers with Education, Society, and Culture

Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles within the public and private education sectors. Many alumni pursue careers as K-12 teachers or take on high-level responsibilities as school district administrators. The programme also equips individuals to serve as resource service providers for various educational organisations.

For those interested in higher education, the degree provides the necessary credentials to work as part-time faculty at university campuses. Additionally, the strong emphasis on research methods prepares students for roles in educational policy, consultancy, and advanced academic research within doctoral programmes.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Sociology of Education

Differential Achievement and the School Learning Environment

Education and Gender

Language, Culture, and Education

Theories of Critical Pedagogy

Race and K-12 Educational Inequality

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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Credits

36 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Riverside, United States

Disciplines

Education Sociology Teaching View 376 other Masters in Sociology in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

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Other requirements

General requirements

Upload an unofficial transcript for every college and university attended in the application prior to submitting/paying the application fee.

Acquire three letters of recommendation from academic sources.

The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to discuss your intent for pursuing a degree in this particular graduate program and how it aligns with your career objectives. In addition to clearly stating your career objectives and intentions for pursuing a graduate degree in this particular program, please speak to how the coursework is connected to your career goals and objectives.

The Personal History Statement is about your background, culture, economic and social experiences, and how those elements have led you to pursue a graduate degree.

The writing sample should be a final class paper submitted for a previous course on any topic. Not to exceed 30 pages.

Request TOEFL or IELTS scores electronically from the testing center to be sent to UCR.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

24010 USD / year

≈ 24010 USD / year
Out-of-State

24010 USD / year

≈ 24010 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13942 USD / year

≈ 13942 USD / year

Living costs

Riverside

United States

1100 - 1600 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Education, Society, and Culture.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Riverside

Financing

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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