School of Education

Master of Arts in Public Policy and Leadership Courses

Electives

Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.

Core Courses (18 credits)

Leadership and Organizational Theory (EDLD 801 – 3 Credits)

Examine how educational organizations develop and change.
Discover how leaders and followers interact within organizations from several theoretical and conceptual perspectives.
Observe the workings of educational institutions and programs.
Interview educational leaders.
Analyze your own understanding and practice of leadership.

Foundations of Leadership: An Intellectual and Ethical Practice (EDLD 807 – 3 Credits)

Understand the responsibility of educators to be attentive to the ethical aspects of relationships and decisions.
Review case studies to examine ethical issues.

Policy Development (EDLD 822 – 3 Credits)

Examine the legislature, the executive branch, administrative agencies, local branches, litigation and other sources of policy.
Explore issues affecting policy development.
Review case studies of regional policies and their development.
Investigate why some policies are good, some flounder and others never get implemented.

Organizations and Administrative Law (EDLD 823 – 3 Credits)

Study formal and informal procedures, processes and functions of state and federal governmental agencies.
Consider the nature of administrative agencies, their authority, agency decision-making process, and citizens’ right to hearings.

Field Work and Policy Making (EDLD 843 – 3 Credits)

Experience fieldwork and data collection culminating in the development of a policy proposal and implementation strategy.

Internship in Policy Making (EDLD 844 – 3 Credits)

Gain experience and expertise in analyzing contemporary policy dilemmas within a specific organizational context.
Explore a previously identified problem.
Generate a specific set of strategies for addressing the situation.
Prerequisite: EDLD 843.

Research Courses (9 Credits)

Research Design, Analysis and Critique 1 (EDLD 621 – 3 Credits)

Review historical and ethnographic approaches to collecting and analyzing information.
Conduct research using historical and qualitative methods.

Research Design, Analysis and Critique 2 (EDLD 622 – 3 Credits)

Review quantitative data collection within the organizing principle of survey research.

Research Design, Analysis and Critique 3 (EDLD 623 – 3 Credits)

Learn to synthesize and critique survey and other types of data.
Consider the political dimensions of data, analysis and interpretation.

Capstone Course (3 Credits)

Advanced Leadership Seminar (EDLD 898 – 3 Credits)

Broaden your understanding of leadership in contemporary society.
Explore commonly held definitions of leadership.
Examine constructive-developmental, phenomenological and social meaning-making interpretations.
Develop commentaries and individual projects around leadership issues.

Electives (6 Credits)

Work with a faculty adviser to design a program of elective study that enhances personal and professional growth.