MA in Educational Policy Studies

The Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Policy Studies program prepares students for a variety of research-focused careers in settings that include state education agencies, school districts, research firms, think tanks, foundations, and education-focused nonprofit organizations. This program balances training in research methods with deliberations on the foundations, design, and implementation of education and child policies. Students will gain understanding of policy research and research methods through both coursework and direct research experience. Full-time students are expected to complete the degree in one year (fall and spring terms). A part-time option allows students to complete the program over two academic years.

Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare you to conduct applied policy-relevant research related to early childhood, K–12, and higher education. At the end of this program, you will be able to demonstrate professional competence in:

• Understanding how policies are formed, implemented, and evaluated.
• Analyzing and discussing the effects of existing educational policies (federal, state, local) on important outcomes of interest (e.g., student achievement, graduation rates, teacher retention, program/school quality).
• Preparing and analyzing data for analysis.
• Conducting research on education and/or child policy topics.
• Disseminating research results to multiple audiences, including academics, policymakers, and the public.

Required Core Coursework (20 units)

Note: Each course can only count toward one category requirement.

General Policy (8 units)

• WED AP 635 Public Policy for Research (4 units)
• Choose from:
  • WED AP 631 Child Policy (4 units)
  • WED AP 660 Economics of Education Policy (4 units)
  • WED AP 753 Educational Policy (4 units)

Research Methods (8 units)

• WED RS 653 Quantitative Research Methods (4 units)
• Choose from:
  • WED RS 600 Introduction to Research (4 units)
  • WED RS 615 Data as Evidence (4 units)
  • WED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)
  • WED RS 753 Causal Design in Education Research (4 units)

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (4 units)

Choose from:

• WED AP 590 Culture, Capital, and Classrooms (4 units)
• WED AP 600 Diversity and Justice in Education (4 units)
• WED AP 609 Role of Education Policy in Social Inequality (4 units)
• WED AP 654 Segregation (4 units)
• WED ED 540 Using Big Data to Address Educational, Social, and Economic Inequality (4 units)
• WED ED 640 Origins of Inequity (4 units)

Guided Elective Coursework (12 units)

Students complete 12 units of graduate-level courses (typically three courses) on topics related to research methods, education, human development, and/or policymaking. Courses are selected in consultation with an academic advisor.

Students are encouraged but not required to complete elective coursework within the following designated areas of specialization.

K–12 Education Policy

• WED AP 609 Role of Education Policy in Social Inequality (4 units)
• WED AP 660 Economics of Education Policy (4 units)
• WED AP 675 Teacher and School Leader Policy in the K–12 Sector (4 units)
• WED AP 680 International Education Policy (4 units)
• WED AP 753 Education Policy (4 units)
• WED AP 799 Educational Policy Studies Capstone (4 units)

Child & Family Policy

• WED AP 523 Family & Community Engagement (2 units)
• WED AP 631 Child Policy (4 units)
• WED AP 632 Child and Youth Advocacy (2 units)
• WED AP 799 Educational Policy Studies Capstone (4 units)
• WED EC 630 Child Development & Families in Societal and Cultural Contexts (4 units)

Higher Education Policy

• WED AP 601 History and Foundations of Higher Education (4 units)
• WED AP 660 Economics of Education Policy (4 units)
• WED AP 699 Current Issues in Higher Education: Policy and Practice (4 units)
• WED AP 755 Legal Issues in Higher Education (4 units)
• WED AP 799 Educational Policy Studies Capstone (4 units)

Advanced Research Electives

• WED RS 621 Data Management for Education Research (4 units)
• WED RS 652 Qualitative Research Methods (4 units)
• WED RS 752 Seminar in Qualitative Research (4 units)
• WED RS 753 Causal Design in Education Research (4 units)
• WED AP 799 Educational Policy Studies Capstone (4 units)

Workshop on Fundamental Statistics

Students are encouraged to attend a free three-day statistics workshop the week before the degree program starts in the fall. The goal of this workshop is to refresh and prepare students for WED RS 653 Quantitative Research Methods.