Ed.M. in Policy, Planning, and Administration
The Policy, Planning and Administration Program at Boston University will prepare you for a career as a policy specialist or leader in education. Some of our students are already licensed to teach and are seeking licensure as school administrators while others are working in higher education or community-based educational programs. Our graduate program will help you develop a broad understanding of education at all levels, administrative skills valuable in many capacities, and an understanding of the principles supporting responsible leadership.
The Policy, Planning and Administration program is designed for students who typically have worked for several years in some branch of the human services, such as teaching, higher education administration, social work, health care, job training, or community development. Some students in our program already have a master's degree in another discipline. Through this program, our students seek 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. Some of our students plan to work as educational leaders or policy analysts and planners. Students with a teaching license and three years experience may meet requirements for initial licensure as a school principal upon completing the appropriate sequence.
The program offers courses in policy and administration at all levels and permits you to select electives in your particular area of interest. If you wish to be licensed as a school administrator, including as a principal or school administrator, you will be able to complete all required coursework and practicum under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students tailor their coursework and field experiences, in consultation with their advisors, into one of the following areas: school leadership, higher education administration, policy studies, or community agency-based education. Our program offers specializations in Administrative Licensure, Community Education Leadership and Higher Education Administration.
Required Courses
Two courses, SED AP 662 and SED RS 600, are required for all master’s students in this program.
Students may also be awarded the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Policy, Planning and Administration upon completing 30 credits beyond the master's and passing a CAGS comprehensive examination, which consists of a supervised, work-related project and a series of reports relating it to educational and organizational theory.
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 524 |
|
Citizen Participation (2 credits) |
| SED AP 525 |
|
Community Education (2 credits) |
| SED AP 600 |
|
Diversity and Justice in Education |
| SED AP 662 |
|
Administrative Planning (Principal) 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 (2 credits) |
| SED AP 757 |
|
School Labor Relations (2 credits) |
| SED AP 758 |
|
School Management |
| SED AP 802 |
|
Practicum Pre-K-6 or |
| SED AP 803 |
|
Practicum 5-8 or |
| SED AP 804 |
|
Practicum 9-12 or |
| SED AP 805 |
|
Practicum Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent |
| SED CT 760 |
|
Contemporary Curriculum |
Course descriptions
Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership When you join the Educational Leadership doctoral program, you become part of a demanding program of coursework and research. Each year, Boston University admits exceptional students whose field of specialization is in:
- School Administration
- Educational Policy
- International School Leadership
- Higher Education Administration
- Community Education Leadership or
- International Educational Development
As a doctoral student, you will work individually with a member of the faculty on your research projects and take several advanced seminars focusing on policy analysis as well as a number of elective courses reflecting your personal interests. Through several courses in research methods and other courses designed especially for doctoral students, you will be helped to write a dissertation of high quality that represents a significant contribution to policy and practice in education or training.
The doctoral specialization in Educational Administration includes advanced coursework and a research-based dissertation in some aspect of educational policy, school or higher education administration and planning, or community-based education in the United States and other countries.
In the Educational Leadership program, you would generally take 48 credits of coursework and additional credits of dissertation advising while you complete your dissertation. Our students are required to pass a comprehensive examination consisting of an extended policy analysis before proceeding to the dissertation.
Required Courses
| SED AP 701 |
|
Doctoral Colloquium |
| SED AP 702 |
|
Research Colloquium in Administration, Training, and Policy |
| SED AP 761 |
|
Organizational Analysis |
| SED RS 650 |
|
Foundations of Educational Inquiry |
| SED AP 771 |
|
Advanced Policy Seminar |
| SED AP 998 |
|
Proposal Development Seminar |
| SED AP 999 |
|
Dissertation Advisement |
| Two Graduate Courses on the Intellectual History of Education |
| An advanced graduate course in research methods, selected in consultation with faculty advisor |
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