Strong leaders and sound policies foster effective school systems and higher education institutions. Individuals advance their careers in education and become stronger leaders through MU’s Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis (ELPA). Leaders in education say MU’s programs are high quality yet convenient. Programs incorporate students’ working knowledge while generating new understandings in collaborative learning environments. The programs are highly accessible. Tailored to the lives of busy professionals, courses are offered in online, Web-assisted, weekend, evening and off-site formats.

Guidance counselors, licensed counselors, school psychologists, health educators and educational researchers are commonplace in today’s school systems and society in general. Faced with an increasing demand to fill these positions, schools turn to MU’s Department of Educational, School & Counseling Psychology (ESCP) for graduates. Accredited by the American Psychological Association and the Council on Rehabilitation, ESCP enjoys state and regional reputations: U.S. News & World Report ranked the counseling psychology program sixth in the nation.

Human Development & Family Science is the science of being human. We learn and develop throughout the lifespan, and we do so through interactions with family members, teachers, schools, peers, social media, and romantic partners. The recognition of this lifetime of growth embedded in social interactions is what defines Human Development & Family Science as a field, and what drives our faculty and students to better understand human development and family functioning.

Professionals interested in advancing their careers in education at the early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school or higher education level can specialize in a variety of disciplines in MU’s Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum (LTC). Students find challenging yet rewarding opportunities through MU’s dynamic research centers, and projects and are supported by faculty who are subject matter experts.

Organized resources and useful technologies are essential to all effective learning environments and information agencies. Throughout the School of Information Science & Learning Technologies, students have access to Missouri’s only ALA accredited Master’s Degree in Library Science. Students in the Learning Technologies Master’s Degree and Educational Specialist Degree explore, create, and evaluate technologies for educational environments. Students in the PhD Program in Information Science & Learning Technologies pursue research in technical, cognitive, epistemological, cultural, political, and economic aspects of informing and learning.

Special education creates opportunities for children, youth and young adults with disabilities to be academically, socially and vocationally successful lifelong learners. Students study to work with learners affected by a variety of developmental challenges and conditions, including learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, autism, mental retardation, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. Other areas of study include early childhood education, innovative assessments and interventions to support children at risk for school failure, and gifted education. An outstanding teaching and research faculty leads small classes within a supportive, professional department. Extensive field experiences and clinical settings are available.