The mission of the educational policy studies program is to develop critical policymakers and scholars who demonstrate excellence in leading educational institutions, implementing and analyzing policy, and enacting social justice.
The purpose of a degree in educational policy studies is to prepare scholars to understand educational systems and policies and use this knowledge to shape equitable opportunities for quality education. A planned set of courses will provide students with the knowledge, skills and tools to answer difficult policy questions facing our society. For instance: How do we address the rising costs of higher education? Equitable access for students throughout the educational system? Segregated schooling? Undocumented immigrant students? Families who speak languages other than English?
Our graduates are critical thinkers who effectively respond to such changing landscapes in education. They become leaders in educational organizations, faculty at colleges and universities, and policy analysts with strong grounding in research methods.
The learning objectives for the education policy certificate and degree include:
- Understanding policy processes and their consequences;
- Understanding issues of diversity, equity and social justice as they apply to their educational setting;
- Understanding of the political context in which educators work and how these relationships play out across local, state and federal levels;
- Becoming critical leaders, policymakers and scholars in the field;
- Applying theory to practice in educational policy;
- Developing skills to examine the relationship of society and education through a variety of theoretical perspectives and empirical studies.
Degrees & Certificates
Degrees are in educational leadership and policy analysis with an emphasis in educational policy studies. In developing their individual program of study, students may focus on the policy context for PK-12, higher education or the intersection of the two.