Education - Interdisciplinary or planetary futures education

This program is designed to empower you to address critical sustainability challenges, advocate for ecological literacy and justice, and imagine a future where all people, communities and nature can thrive. Through transdisciplinary coursework, you'll gain the skills and knowledge needed to lead change through education in the face of ecological and social complexity. You'll learn how to enact critical and ecologically attuned pedagogies, influence educational policy and practice and change how people think about the future of education. This program provides a platform for you to harness your passion and drive, equipping you with the tools to become a changemaker in your community, school or education organization.

Connect and collaborate with peers at other universities and networks

Throughout this program, you'll have the unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with peers at other universities and networks, both nationally and internationally. This cross-institutional networking feature enriches your academic and professional journey, providing a platform for dynamic exchanges of ideas, cultures and perspectives. Engaging with a diverse international community not only expands your professional network but also deepens your understanding of global climate and sustainability education issues. By fostering collaboration and innovation, this aspect of the program prepares you for a global career, equipping you with the insights needed to address complex challenges from a multicultural perspective.

How does this program compare to a master’s in environmental education?

When comparing this program to a master's in environmental education, you'll find a distinct difference in perspective and focus. While environmental education delves deeply into understanding environmental systems, biodiversity and human impacts on nature, this planetary futures program takes a more holistic and forward-thinking approach. It not only addresses environmental concerns but also integrates technological, sociocultural and ethical dimensions of coexisting harmoniously with all beings—human and non-human—and the planet itself. This program aims to equip you with the ability to navigate and shape the future by understanding the role of education in sustaining intricate global systems.

This program prepares teachers and professionals working in education to advance their careers. You’ll choose courses based on two focal areas to meet your personal and professional goals. You have two options when selecting your focal areas:

• You can choose two Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation focal areas which include but aren’t limited to:
  • Applied behavior analysis.
  • Autism spectrum disorders.
  • Early childhood education.
  • Educating multilingual learners.
  • Education for planetary futures.
  • Environmental education.
  • Gifted education.
  • Global education.
  • Learning design and technologies.
  • Literacy education.
  • Physical activity/physical education.
  • Special education endorsement.
  • Teaching pedagogy.

*Students who are interested in the special education endorsement should speak to an advisor before selecting this focal area as it has additional requirements.

• Or, you can choose one of the above MLFC focal areas and one of the below focal areas from our partner colleges:
  • Data and society (New College of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts).
  • Digital audience strategies (Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication).
  • Social justice and human rights (New College of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts).
  • Technical writing and communication (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts).

The program culminates with an applied project in which you’ll design and develop an inquiry study that addresses one or more problems related to your focal areas. You should anticipate needing access to a learner to complete coursework.

Why earn an online master’s in education?

You’ll gain a broad perspective of current educational practices and challenges. You’ll also have a deeper understanding of your focal areas and develop essential skills for education professionals. These skills include effective communication, collaboration, leadership, advocacy and innovation.

Your newfound skills and expertise will help you meet your professional goals, whether you’re working with children, youth or adults in nonprofit settings, community institutions, civic organizations or businesses. Through this program, you’ll also develop a unique identity as an educator who's capable of meeting the needs of diverse learners.

Will this master’s certify me to teach?

The online master’s in education doesn’t qualify students to become a certified K-12 teacher. The program is designed for certified teachers and professionals who already have some level of professional experience in the field of education. Yet, individuals who want to start a new career in education can benefit from this degree as well. The program will give them professional knowledge to start a new job in a variety of non-certified education positions.