The specialization offers courses for those in the various majors within the department, as well as those from other departments of Teachers College , Columbia University , Union Theological Seminary , and Jewish Theological Seminary who feel their future work will benefit from new perspectives on families and communities. Courses examine basic processes of education within families, for example, the social construction of family memories, the mediation of television and other forms of technology by families, as well as the changing configurations of education in community settings, for example, linkages among museums, families and schools. Frameworks for these courses are interdisciplinary, drawing upon concepts from the social sciences and the humanities. Those who specialize in Family and Community Education will design their programs of study from the courses in Family and Community Education listed below. In consultation with an advisor they may also select courses from other departments in Teachers College, as well as from elsewhere in Columbia University.
Opportunities are available for individually designed programs of study and research.
The Finance and Planning concentration is devoted to the preparation of researchers, policy analysts, as well as managers and leaders in the financing and planning of education. The courses are designed to examine issues and topics central to the financing and planning of education at various levels across countries today and in the new century. These issues and topics include the financing of quality basic education for all, equity and efficiency in financing, higher-education finance, privatization and educational choice, international aid and education, decision analysis and planning in education, as well as the international and transcultural contexts of educational financing and planning. This concentration is intended for students who will pursue a career dealing with financial and planning aspects in a variety of education settings, including schools and universities, government education departments and ministries, international development organizations, as well as non-profit and community organizations. In addition to courses listed below, students can select relevant courses from departments such as Organization and Leadership, Arts and Humanities, as well as from the larger university.