Brown University’s one-year, on-campus master’s in urban education policy develops change agents who can lead the fight for equitable educational opportunities.
The master’s in urban education policy (UEP) program integrates research, theory and practice to explore critical areas such as urban school governance, race and democracy, program evaluation, data analysis, economic analysis, community needs assessment and strategic management.
This program offers the following degree:
- Master of arts (A.M.)
Through a focused academic curriculum and a nine-month internship, you’ll learn how urban education policy works, how decisions are made, how to measure policy consequences and how to make an impact.
During your internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience addressing the evolving needs of policy organizations. Previous UEP students have gained valuable experience working at prominent organizations including the Annenberg Institute at Brown, the Providence Mayor’s Office, the Rhode Island Department of Education, Boston Public Schools, Rhode Island Kids Count and more.
Additional Information
Part-time study option: A limited number of students can study on a part-time basis. Learn more here.
Brown undergraduates can apply to this program as a fifth-year master’s degree.
Application Information
If you have any questions regarding the application process for this program, please email masters_admissions@brown.edu.
Application Requirements
GRE Subject:
Not required
GRE General:
Not required for the 2023-24 application to the Urban Education Policy Program. Applicants may submit optional GRE scores to be considered. To do so, be sure to request official GRE scores to be sent to Brown University.
TOEFL/IELTS:
Brown University requires some international applicants to submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score. Please see the Graduate School's website for more information.
Official Transcripts:
Required. All applicants may upload unofficial transcripts for application submission. Official transcripts are ONLY required for enrolling students before class start. An international transcript evaluation (WES, ECE, or SpanTran) is required for degrees from non-U.S. institutions before enrollment.
Letters of Recommendations:
Three (3) recommendations required; two (2) recommendations for current Brown undergraduates (5th-year applicants).
Personal Statement:
1000-word personal statement that gives your reasons to pursue graduate work in the field of your study. The statement should include examples of your past work in your chosen field, your plans for study at Brown, issues and problems you'd like to address in your field, and your professional goals.
Resume/CV:
Required
Additional Requirements:
In no more than 200 words, please comment on your training, policy, research, and/or management experience in using any type of data, both qualitative and quantitative.
Dates/Deadlines
Application Deadline
5th Year Deadline
Tuition and Funding
- Graduate Tuition & Fees: Please visit the Student Financial Services Office for up-to-date tuition rates.
- Scholarships: Need-based and merit-based scholarships are available. More information can be found on the Graduate Tuition & Fees website. International students are eligible for scholarships.
Completion Requirements
The program may be completed in one year on a full-time basis or two years on a part-time basis. Students are required to complete nine courses: one elective course and eight core courses, which includes a nine-month internship that counts as one course. Brown University 5th-Year students will complete eight courses in one year, and Teach for America Rhode Island Corps Members will complete eight courses over two years.
The required courses are in the areas of urban education policy – system and governance; race and democracy; policy analysis and program evaluation; education inequality and community assets; quantitative research methods and data analysis; economic analysis of education policy; and strategic management of school organization. One of the required courses is the nine-month internship, which serves as a key feature of the program.
The elective component of the curriculum allows students to either gain a greater depth of training in a core area or broaden their graduate experience by seeking coursework in areas that are related to, but not directly covered by, the core courses in the program.
Alumni Outcomes
Both inside and outside the classroom, you’ll receive top-notch preparation for careers in policy, research, educational leadership or consulting.
Learn More