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Aug 25, 2026
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2026-2027 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook
M.A. Transformative Social Change
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Overview of Program
We live in a time of great change. The crises that we confront threaten the well-being of life on earth and, indeed, our survival. For those who are willing to lead, these crises can be addressed through a deep understanding of their interconnectedness with the rest of the world. Nonprofit, learning, and community organizations that focus on advocacy, the environment, social justice, and peace are increasingly looking for leaders that have a global and holistic understanding of these crises as well as how they are interconnected.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Prepare environments that reflect and support participatory, democratic, collaborative leadership skills.
- Produce interventions that are congruent with ethics and values.
- Demonstrate and analyze embedded social systems; master a specific social change content area; and able to design social system transformation strategies.
- Formulate and evaluate dialogues that are inclusive of global, multicultural, multi-generational social and environmental viewpoints.
- Apply models of compassion and connectedness with the larger community.
Specializations
- M.A. Transformative Social Change: Peace and Justice Studies
Career Opportunities
The M.A. Transformative Social Change program focuses on preparing practitioner scholars to become successful advocates and leaders in nonprofit organizations and educational environments-focusing on human rights, multicultural justice, community building, peace, the environment, and social justice.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants for the M.A. Transformative Social Change must submit the following documents:
- Application for Admissions
- An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a bachelor's degree, with a 3.0 GPA or better;
- Professional resume or CV;
- Personal statement; and
- One Letter of recommendation
University Learning Experience
Virtual Learning Experience (VLE) - Required, Community Learning Experience (CLE) - Required
All new students begin their studies with a Welcome Week. Welcome Week activities, including a degree program orientation, are held online during the week ahead of the start of the fall and spring semesters. Participation is strongly encouraged.
All Transformative Social Change students are required to attend the Virtual Learning Experience (VLE) during week one in the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. They are also required to attend the biannual, in person, Community Learning Experience in the fall of odd calendar years. The University Learning Experience components (VLEs and CLEs) are academic requirements, and their completion is important for your successful academic progress: they allow you to meet with faculty and co-learners in a synchronous, stimulating, and supportive virtual environment. The University Learning Experience (ULE) nurtures intellectual and relational creativity, enrich the educational environment, and foster faculty and peer interactions. During the ULE, there are courses being launched, workshops, independent learning activities, peer learning opportunities, community events, and other hands-on experiences intended to nurture professional development, skill building, relationships, and transformative change. You can find the specific hour and track requirements on the Academic Commons University Learning Experience Program Requirements Page linked here. https://tcsedsystem.libguides.com/VLE_Requirements
M.A. students are required to attend the VLE throughout their program along with the CLE in the fall of odd calendar years.
Some elective courses may require additional residential learning training. Refer to course descriptions for requirements.
Fieldwork
Students may choose to participate in an optional semester-long Practicum in Professional Practice (TSC 8151), where they participate in twenty hours each week in a nonprofit, educational, community or governmental setting, and write up a review of that experience at the end of the semester. Participation in fieldwork is subject to the student’s state of residence. Contact the Admissions Department for more information.
Program Specific Requirements
Residential Learning Experience Substitution Process
If students would like to substitute attendance at a professional conference for attendance at one of the VCs, they need to identify a faculty member who will sponsor them in this request. The conference must be at least five days, in accordance with Saybrook’s Virtual Conference. Students must complete the “Authorization Request to Substitute for Virtual Conference” form and submit it for approval no less than 30 days before the VC to be substituted.
Following the conference, students must complete the “Confirmation of Attendance at Substitute Conference” form and send to their faculty sponsor. After review and approval, the faculty sponsor will then forward it to the degree Department Chair, who will complete the recording process. Tangible documentation of attendance for the entire event is required, along with a copy of the completed Authorization Request signed by the supervising faculty member and any other required academic work or learning product required by the supervising faculty member.
Credits/Hours
Total credits: 33
A credit hour for an online course represents 15 hours of instructional activity (e.g., engagement with web-based instructional materials) toward achieving specified student learning outcomes. For online courses, the 15 hours of instructional activity may include but are not limited to synchronous or asynchronous lectures or webinars, interactive tutorials, and online discussions. A credit hour also assumes an additional 30 hours of homework, studying, and/or research. Partial credits are not granted.
Mode of Delivery
Hybrid Online Learning Model
The M.A. Transformative Social Change degree program combines online learning with periodic in-person residential learning experience.
For distance online or hybrid courses, the total hours of work typically required for any class of work reflects: 1) synchronous and asynchronous components that facilitate faculty-student and student-student interaction (virtual classrooms, discussion boards, and chats) and 2) independent learning components (readings, recorded lectures, written assignments, and quizzes).
Length of Program
The degree completion time for a full-time student enrolled in the M.A. Transformative Social Change program following the default course sequence will range from 2 -3 years. Any breaks in enrollment and/or reduced enrollment may impact completion time.
Elective Courses - 6 credits
Transformative Social Change Electives
Other Electives: 6 credit(s)*
Unless otherwise stipulated by program, any other graduate-level coursework will apply toward Other Elective credit requirements.
Total Degree Requirements - 33 Credits
*May include up to 6 transfer credits, completed during a graduate degree program in a related field from an accredited university; non-degree Saybrook Certificate credits; or other non-degree credits taken at Saybrook University within the last five years. No transfer credit will be accepted from courses already applied toward another graduate degree that was previously awarded. Transfer credits will be determined by the TSC Department Chair.
**Saybrook transcript must reflect a minimum of 32 completed post-baccalaureate credits of new learning for the M.A.
Total Degree Requirements with Specialization Option - 33 credits
Peace and Justice Studies Specialization -12 credits
Overview
The Specialization in Peace and Justice Studies prepares students with a deep understanding of the complex causes of societal conflicts and social injustice, in order to create more just and sustainable social systems. Its special contribution relates specific issues and actions regarding peace and justice to a larger transformative social change framework, which engages people to delve more deeply into the causes of social problems at all levels and the processes in hopes of contributing to a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.
Bringing a multidisciplinary and holistic perspective, the Specialization supports an understanding of the causes of violence and the potential of restorative justice, transformative justice and nonviolent efforts to leverage conflicts into constructive change.
The Specialization in Peace and Justice Studies provides students with critical skills that will prepare them to contribute to efforts aimed at overcoming societal injustice and conflict-from the interpersonal to the global-and the capacities that support increased peace and justice, including:
- Exploring contemporary challenges to peace with justice on community through global levels
- Learning cross-cultural conflict resolution and restorative justice practices
- Developing ways to address the multicultural dimensions of societal conflict and injustice.
Career Opportunities: A Peace and Justice Studies Specialization prepares students as scholar-practitioners to apply their knowledge to a successful career in numerous areas, including nonprofit organizations and educational environments-focusing on human rights, multicultural justice, community building, conflict transformation, the environment, and social justice.
Peace and Justice Studies Specialization Core - 9 Credits
TSC Electives - 3 credits
Total Degree Requirements with Specialization Option - 33 credits
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