Policy, Planning & Administration

The Policy, Planning & Administration Program is a graduate-level program that includes three areas of specialization: educational administration, higher education administration, and community education administration. The specializations in higher education and community education leadership are offered at the EdM level only. Student programs may include, but are not limited to, preparation for licensure as educational leaders in public school systems. Other programs cover educational work in universities, government agencies, or community organizations. These would seldom require licensure, but often have much in common with educational leadership in schools. Thus, this graduate program provides students with several options in their professional training and fuses the interests of primary, secondary, and postsecondary educational leaders.

Courses Open to Upper-Level Undergraduates with Consent of Instructor

• SED AP 599 Addressing the Achievement Gap: Leading and Learning with New Technologies
• SED AP 600 Diversity and Justice in Education
• SED AP 620 History of Education

The Policy, Planning & Administration Program is for students who plan to work as leaders or policy specialists in education; some are already certified to teach and are seeking licensure as school administrators. This program seeks to develop a broad understanding of education at all levels, administrative skills valuable in many capacities, and an understanding of the principles supporting responsible leadership.

Two courses, SED AP 662 and SED RS 600, are required for all master’s students in this program.

Students may select courses from the department as well as University-wide graduate course offerings for the additional 24 credits.

Community Education Leadership

The Community Education Leadership Specialization is for students who plan to work as leaders in organizations outside of school settings, such as social service or community agencies, hospitals, museums, municipal services, and faith-based organizations who serve and manage a wide range of programs, including after-school and out-of-school time (OST) programs and community outreach. The program seeks to train leaders who will make institutions responsive to those they serve as well as to the needs of the wider society, with an understanding of how both communities and organizations function and change

The program pays particular attention to the leadership challenges of collaboration to improve family/school/community relationships and citizen participation. Studens examine case studies of disadvantaged urban and indigenous communities in North America, developing countries, and countries emerging from crisis and conflict.  The program aims to prepare leaders with the skills to foster collaboration between community organizations, civil society groups, public institutions and the private sector to promote capacity building for all citizens and advance the social and economic development of communities.

The Community Education Leadership specialization includes:

• SED AP 502 Community Education: Program Implementation
• SED AP 526 Citizen Participation and Community Development
• SED AP 662 Administrative Planning
• SED AP 763 Community Analysis
• SED IE 600 Perspectives on Education for Development
• SED RS 600 Perspectives on Inquiry and

Two electives, 500-level or above, from anywhere in the University

Higher Education Administration

The Higher Education Administration Specialization is for students seeking to enter or advance their careers in higher education administration.  The program prepares graduates to work in a wide variety of professional roles in higher education including, but not limited to  student life, financial aid, admissions, career advisement, academic administration, pre-college advisement, development and alumni relations. The emphasis is on giving students a broad foundation in higher education including insight into the background, prospects, and social and personnel functions of higher education as well as governance and policy issues.

The master’s program requires the following courses:

• SED AP 550 Perspectives on Higher Education
• SED AP 551 Issues in Higher Education  Administration
• SED AP 662 Administrative Planning
• SED AP 755 Legal Issues in Higher Education
• SED RS 600 Perspectives on Inquiry and

Three electives, 500-level or above, from anywhere in the University with the advice and consent of the student’s advisor.  The elective courses allow students to focus on particular areas of higher education that relate directly to their particular interest are in higher education administration.

Educational Administration

Administrative Licensure

The School of Education provides a sequence of courses approved for initial state licensure as superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, or assistant principal, including arrangements to carry out the required internship or practicum. Students take the following courses or approved substitutes:

• SED AP 526 Citizen Participation and Community Development
• SED AP 600 Diversity and Justice in Education
• SED AP 662 Administrative Planning or
• SED AP 761 Organizational Analysis (Superintendent)
• SED AP 720 Performance-Based Educational Leadership
• SED AP 750 Performance Appraisal and Supervision
• SED AP 754 Educational Equity and the Law
• SED AP 757 School Labor Relations and Personnel Management
• SED AP 758 School Management
• SED AP 802 Practicum Pre-K–6 or
• SED AP 803 Practicum 5–8 or
• SED AP 804 Practicum 6–12 or
• SED AP 805 Practicum/Apprenticeship/Internship: Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent