Master of Arts in Social Sciences, Self-Designed

The Education and Human Development specialization is specifically designed to address the changing social structures of contemporary society and their impact on the growth of individuals and families in various cultural contexts.  As traditional roles, lifestyles, and conceptions of identity have evolved, so too has public policy regarding the social concerns and issues experienced by infants, children, adolescents, adults, and elders. Educational institutions, public policies, and social service agencies struggle to keep up with transitional changes that impact the lived experiences of millions whose lives are mediated through educational community structures. Consequently, this specialization seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the processes that underlie the relationship between education and human development and the way these issues are created and addressed so that their attendant problems can be effectively remediated.

This specialization emphasizes deeper investigations into the varieties of factors that contribute to the emergence of conflicts at the structural, interpersonal, and intercultural levels.  Those factors include social, political, and economic challenges brought about by cultural, linguistic, religious, international, ecological, and political stresses.  In addition to studying the deeper structures through which conflict emerges, this specialization also introduces methodologies for addressing conflicts as opportunities for social, cultural, and individual change and growth.

This specialization has been designed with five comprehensive learning goals in mind.  These goals guide the structure, function, and implementation of the program, serve the students as guideposts of their learning, and may be used to clarify the kind of learning our students have engaged in. Students will be able to explain how systems work, identify sources of conflict or disruption within systems, and show how to intervene in a system.  Students will demonstrate the ability to approach problems from a holistic perspective and apply scientific, sociological, economic, and ethical considerations in evaluation and problem solving.  Students will also be able to show how energy flows through systems. Students will be able to apply multiple perspective thinking and draw conclusions using multiple disciplinary approaches. Multiple perspective thinking includes appreciation of diverse cultural, ideological, ideational, technical and biotic standpoints, as well as attempting to think through philosophical differences and how they arise.

The Masters portfolio is used as a reflection tool to not only gauge learning over the course of a student’s tenure at Antioch but also to serve as a useful collection that demonstrates what one has learned to outside agencies or graduate schools. Portfolios are required for graduation. There are three required components. Student must provide examples of work that demonstrate fulfillment of the following program outcomes:

• Demonstrate critical thinking, writing, and communication skills by developing a specific point of view and defending it clearly with arguments and evidence. Adopt an interdisciplinary, foundational approach to one’s program by synthesizing understanding, perspectives, and research skills from one’s field of study and applying them to one’s area of focus within one’s field.
• Design and Implement a research-oriented program of study that synthesizes information from one’s chosen field of study.
• Apply appropriate mastery of the relevant content in the disciplinary approaches brought to bear on one’s individualized area of study.
• Advance social, economic, or environmental justice through a culminating project that integrates theory and practice through written work, a work of art, or work in one’s community.