UMass Boston

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution of recognized standing or an international equivalent at the time of enrollment
• Official transcripts for all institutions where you have earned more than 6 credits
• A minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent) in all undergraduate work
• Statement of Purpose
• Writing sample
• Two (2) letters or recommendation
• If applicable, request official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo scores to be sent to the University of Massachusetts Boston
• Deadlines: March 1 (priority) and April 1 (final) for fall  

Deadlines:  Deadlines: March 1 (priority) and April 1 (final) for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website.

• Work with a racially and ethnically diverse, nationally recognized faculty with expertise in transdisciplinary research and teaching practices that draw from ethnic studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, history, psychology, public health, public policy, gender and sexuality studies, and literary and popular culture studies.
• Join a group of students with diverse life experiences, identities, professional goals, and academic backgrounds committed to promoting social transformation and collective empowerment.
• Individualize their programs in order to develop more-focused understandings and skills in analysis, research, program development, program evaluation, education, and other applications necessary for pursuing a wide array of careers.
• Foster skills and experience partnering with community-based organizations working with racially and economically marginalized communities to mobilize strengths promoting resilience, growth, and social justice.
• Benefit from close mentoring in developing a capstone project that integrates student learning from the curriculum in relation to a real issue or challenge of the student’s choice.
• Graduates work in a wide variety of fields: community organizing and development, refugee advocacy, education, law, public policy, public health, and research; the MS also prepares students for PhD programs.

Core Courses (16 Credits)

• CECS 600 - CECS Professional Seminar A 1 Credit(s)
• CECS 610 - Foundations of Critical Ethnic & Community Studies 3 Credit(s)
• CECS 611 - Migration & Diaspora 3 Credit(s)
• CECS 612 - Community Formation & Development 3 Credit(s)
• CECS 622 - Transdisciplinary Research in Practice B 3 Credit(s)
• CECS 623 - Transdisciplinary Research Methods 3 Credit(s)

Electives (15 Credits)

Complete five additional courses chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Electives for CECS include graduate courses from within CECS as well as courses from other graduate disciplines or programs, such as Global Inclusion and Social Development, Public Administration, Creative Writing, Conflict Resolution, American Studies, Environmental Sciences, Gerontology, Urban Planning and Community Development, or Applied Sociology.

Alternatively, CECS offers the unique opportunity of fulfilling the elective sequence through the completion of a graduate certificate (at least 15 credits) in one of various areas, including:

• Human Rights
• Conflict Resolution
• Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy
• Critical and Creative Thinking

Capstone Course (6 Credits)

• CECS 698 - CECS Master's Capstone 3 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

Complete a minimum of 37 credits from 13 courses including six core courses, five electives, and one capstone course.

Students may transfer in completed certificates in Gender, Leadership and Public Policy, Conflict Resolution or Critical and Creative Thinking to partially or wholly fulfill their elective credits requirements.

Capstone: Completion of a project, internship, or research paper as part of CECS 698. The capstone includes a public presentation of the student’s work.

Grading basis: No courses taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory or for no grade may be applied toward the program.
Residency: Before enrollment in the program, students should consult with the graduate program director regarding transfer credits or UMass Boston undergraduate credits if these are intended to satisfy degree requirements. The program does not accept transfer credit for any of its required core courses; transfer courses may be applied to the program’s electives.
Independent study: No more than one independent study course (three credits) may be applied toward the program.
Statute of limitations: Five years.

Graduate Program Director J. Cedric Woods
cedric.woods [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-5784

Administrative Assistant Amanda Achin
amanda.achin [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-5129