What's the right program of study for me?

The Educational Organization and Leadership Department has three programs: Educational Administration and Leadership; Higher Education; and Educational Leadership and Policy.

The Educational Administration and Leadership Program (EAL) offers graduate programs that embrace a broad array of positions within the field of educational leadership, with organizational theory and policy serving as primary areas of emphasis. The program area serves two different but compatible audiences. The first audience is practitioners who are interested in attaining leadership positions in PK-12 educational settings and individuals who desire educational policy positions. Specialized study provides preparation for educational career positions such as: superintendent, assistant superintendent and other central office administrative positions, elementary/secondary school principal, assistant principal, department chair, and policy analyst for state and national governmental bodies. Applicants who intend to serve in school leadership roles (such as principals and superintendents) must possess a teaching or school service personnel license and have completed a minimum of one year of full-time PK-12 teaching or school service personnel experience. The second audience includes individuals who aspire to academic and research positions in higher education institutions, with specializations in educational leadership and policy.

The Higher Education Program (HE) serves two different but compatible audiences, with educational leadership and organizational theory and practice being the primary emphasis of this program as well. The first audience is persons with serious interests in higher education research and teaching. Particularly desirable are persons whose interests tend toward policy and theory. A second audience is practitioners who have needs and interests in higher education administration, whether for two-year or four-year institutions. Historically community college administrators who aspire to roles of Dean or President have been especially welcomed, and those interested in higher education institutional management, institutional finance, student affairs, and institutional research have been addressed. Two years or more of full-time professional experience is highly recommended for doctoral students. In the application process for doctoral study, there is strong preference by the program faculty for letters of reference or other documents that demonstrate a student’s ability to do research. For master’s degree applicants, letters of recommendation from faculty as well as practitioners are welcomed.

The Educational Leadership and Policy Program (ELP) (online) represents an opportunity to build upon the shared expertise of EOL faculty across our two program areas of Educational Administration and Leadership (EAL) and Higher Education (HE). This program strives to develop primary, secondary, and post secondary educational leaders, administrators, and policy analysts who seek to understand and address critical P-12 and higher education issues. Students will study different educational leadership and policy practices and theories with particular focus paid to educational access, equity, and excellence. Students in this program will have the opportunity to specialize in either P-12 leadership and policy or in higher education leadership and policy. This program targets a national and international audience interested in P-12 teacher and educational leadership, higher education, and P-20 educational policy. The program does not provide administrative licensure.