Catalog of Courses for Education Leadership, Foundations and Policy
In this course, we will explore whether innovations intended to improve outcomes for children and youth "work." How can we judge whether a particular approach is more effective, efficient, sustainable or just than present solutions? This class is a chance to better understand how to use evidence in the process of developing effective social innovations.
Inequalities persist at every level of education. Throughout this course we will study innovations designed to address these disparities. We will investigate the process by innovations are designed and will critically assess the efficacy of a wide range of innovations. The course will feature numerous guest speakers involved in innovation design and implementation, including leaders in the private, educational, and government sectors.
Effective altruism (EA), a school of thought in applied ethics, explores how we can do the most good using evidence-based methodologies. In doing so, we will cover issues such as charitable giving, global poverty, career choices, privilege, power, and your own beliefs. Groups will select a topic, such as sexual harm prevention, economic inequality, or climate change, to explore how we can pursue positive change.
This introductory statistics course covers descriptive and inferential statistics for application in the health and social sciences. It provides a systematic development of the concepts, principles, and tools of statistics with an emphasis on representation, analysis, and drawing conclusions from authentic data grounded in the health and social sciences.
Introduces key concepts and methods in social science research. Students learn to find, interpret, and critically evaluate research; explore strategies and tools for future projects (e.g., YSI Capstone); and develop a conceptual model for youth-focused inquiry. Topics include types of research, ethical considerations, and challenges in designing and conducting quantitative, qualitative, and community-based studies.
This seminar delves into the history of K-12 education in the United States from 1945 to the present. We will conduct a multifaceted analysis of American education and schooling, exploring its development within the broader political and social contexts of postwar politics, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and contemporary educational policies.
Social entrepreneurship is an approach to creating system-level change through the application of entrepreneurial thinking to social ventures, non-profit organizations, government institutions, and NGOs to create economic, environmental, and social value for multiple stakeholders. In this course you will be introduced to a range of entrepreneurial approaches aimed at solving social problems from the non-profit to the for-profit.
Children experience extraordinary growth and change in their first years. This course provides an overview of how development unfolds from birth to eight years, with an emphasis on the importance on developmental contexts, such as family, school, culture, and policy. We will examine how children's individual attributes and diverse experiences interact to influence development and consider how our knowledge can inform work with children.
Most college students have spent 16,000+ hours in educational settings. That's a lot of time devoted to learning new information. This course addresses questions such as: Why does learning take so long? What really happens inside the brain? What keeps people motivated to learn? Are some environments better than others for learning? What societal conditions impact learning? Are people similar or different in the way they learn?
Psychological and social development during adolescence are affected by multiple factors, such as biological, social and cultural changes, and larger macrosystem influences. We will examine how these influences shape development generally during the 2nd and 3rd decades of life. We will explore questions of identity, relationships, health and culture by considering key questions that adolescents explore such as "Who am I," and "Where am I going?"
In this course, we explore the question, "How do we grow and change throughout our lives?" Using a topical approach, students will learn how biological, psychological, and social processes evolve from birth through late adulthood. We will examine how individual and environmental factors influence development and critically examine our beliefs about what it means to "grow up."
In this course, we will explore whether innovations intended to improve outcomes for children and youth "work." How can we judge whether a particular approach is more effective, efficient, sustainable or just than present solutions? This class is a chance to better understand how to use evidence in the process of developing effective social innovations.
What is the purpose of your education? Why have you devoted so much of your life to it? This class explores opposing ideas about the aims of education. Should schooling prioritize skill-building, creativity, or reflection? Does education only reproduce social norms, or does it have the power to change society? We examine such questions in regard to our own education, philosophical texts, and efforts to promote schooling worldwide.
This course examines how education is shaped by cultural traditions, histories, and community life in local communities and across the United States. Students explore how educational practices develop in different settings. The course emphasizes analysis, application, and hands-on projects to build research and collaboration skills while deepening understanding of American education and society.
This course examines ideas about citizenship, engagement, student activism, and social justice within the context of the University. It will examine, through lecture, discussion, readings, and an applied action research project, the various definitions of political engagement, activism, and social change as they are relate to current issues at the University.
This course addresses the history, organization, finance, governance, leadership and symbolism of athletics as a key part of the political economy of the contemporary university. With student athletes as a primary unit of analysis we will review the history of intercollegiate athletic competition, the symbolic role of athletics in society and the future of athletics on post-secondary campuses.
This course will focus on the social and psychological factors related to participation in sport and physical activity over the life span. Personal factors that influence sport & exercise behavior (e.g., personality, self-perceptions, age, gender, race), situational factors (e.g., observational learning, motivational climate, socioeconomic level), and psychological methods for enhancing sport and exercise behavior will be reviewed.
This course is designed to examine how race/ethnicity, diversity, & identity matter in the lives of youth with a focus on educational settings. We will use theory and research to question stereotypes about youth achievement and will explore how individual, interpersonal, and structural factors help to explain associations between group membership & educational outcomes. Students should have previously taken an intro level social science course.
This course explores the history of hip-hop as an educational and social movement in the United States. The course explores the intellectual linkages between hip-hop and education; hip-hop as a tool for knowledge dissemination on a multiplicity of social issues; hip-hop as literacy, and hip-hop as a pedagogy of critical consciousness.
In this course, students will use course texts and classroom discussions to explore the how schools have been integral to teaching what the role and responsibilities of citizens in a US-style democracy, as well as how schools also reveal the boundaries of this form of citizenship. The course will start from the formation of the common schools in the US and span the twentieth century, and will feature readings that employ a transnational lens.
Provides a historical overview of major social problems in the U.S. and the contexts, policies, and programs developed in response. Topics include social welfare, education, housing, health care, employment, child welfare, immigration, and criminal justice, with attention to how institutions respond to complex human needs and social change, especially for marginalized and socially disadvantaged groups.
Will civil discourse save democracy or deepen oppression? Why does speech matter so much to political struggles? What does it mean for political dialogue to be successful? This course integrates theory with practice as students engage in political dialogue, then draw on their experiences, primary source research, the popular press and political theory to analyze the relationship between political dialogue and democracy.
Questions of immigration have been at the fore of the national political conversation in the United States over the last decade. This course provides a developmental perspective on immigrant youth and families, with particular attention to educational contexts from early childhood through early adulthood.
Parenting has a huge impact on the development of children and youth. New knowledge in this field is full of surprising discoveries. Students will gain a deep understanding of diverse parenting contexts through the lens of psychological and developmental theories, while examining relevant research and policy. The course also emphasizes practical skills, preparing students to support parents to optimize the development of their children.
Data skills are essential in a world driven by evidence-based decisions. In this course, we'll explore how to transform data into meaningful insights for research and decision-making. Through hands-on practice with R programming, you'll develop skills in data wrangling, visualization, and analysis. Together, we'll examine how to critically evaluate data products, create compelling visualizations, and use evidence to address real-world challenges.
We explore the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and education and ask one of the most pressing questions of our time: Will AI make us better learners and stronger citizens, or will it erode our ability to engage in deep learning? Hear directly from guest innovators, educators, and researchers in these areas. Explore how AI works, its promises and risks, and develop your own ideas for how it should shape the future of education.
Front Lines of Social Change I explores gender equity and social justice theory. FLSC I provides the Women's Center internship cohort a structured classroom environment to actively reflect upon their experience; engage in professional development; and learn about the field, including gender equity issues addressed by the internship. FLSC I (fall) and FLSC II (spring) are required components of the Women's Center internship for all new interns.
Front Lines of Social Change II explores gender equity and social justice theory. FLSC II provides the Women's Center internship cohort a structured classroom environment to actively reflect upon their experience; engage in professional development; and learn about the field, including gender equity issues addressed by the internship. FLSC I (fall) and FLSC II (spring) are required components of the Women's Center internship for all new interns.
With a team, you will design and implement an innovation to address a community issue facing youth. You will become an expert in the issue, and develop the skills needed to 1) assess a social issue, 2) evaluate and integrate multiple perspectives on social issues, 3) collaborate with a diverse team of stakeholders to design and implement an innovation to address a social issue, and 4) assess and revise an innovation to improve its effectiveness. Prerequisite: YSI major
This course will focus on key interpersonal and psychological knowledge, skills and applications to guide successful practice with clients in health-related contexts. Effective communication and cultural competence serve as foundational skills, and strategies (motivational interviewing, managing stress, goal setting) will be reviewed and practiced. Topics will align with American College of Sports Medicine and other similar certifications.
Education policy has taken center stage in a variety of national, state and local debates such as teacher evaluation, universal pre-K, school accountability, and charter schools. These are issues around which there is often contentious debate, much of which is polarized and simplistic. This class will explore a few current education policy debates through the lenses of conceptual models and empirical evidence.
Understanding "what works" in education is useless unless we know how to pass, implement, and sustain political support for effective education policy. To that end, this course explores the politics of U.S. K-12 education policy 1954-present. We examine policy formulation and implementation, key institutions, actors, and theories of policy-making, and the role of racial and economic inequality in influencing education policy.
This course builds on the skills students develop through the Civic Cornerstone Fellowship and applies them to local civic issues. Students will develop their ability to understand myriad perspectives on political dilemmas and enhance their capacity to work across ideological differences to construct solutions to these challenges. The semester will culminate in student-led collaboration on a proposed policy, program, or creative project.
Data and analytics are often used to answer questions in education because they are seen as objective. Yet, these approaches can involve classifying people, such as deeming some students in education as "below basic." While these labels are given for altruistic purposes, there is evidence they can be stigmatizing. In this course, we will consider the ethics of data use in education, including when it does and doesn¿t serve the public good.
This course will focus on biological, psychological and social development from birth through older adulthood. Topics will be presented via discussion of underlying theory, research, and application, with attention to how gender, race, SES, and cohort impact development. Concepts of consistency and change will be stressed. Throughout, students will be encouraged to examine and even question their own beliefs about what it means to "grow up".
Study abroad courses in the School of Education and Human Development Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy.
This course will examine the relationship between culture and education and the ways in which the study and understanding of education can be enhanced by attention to culture. Using cases drawn from studies of learning and schooling in cultures around the world as well as among minority cultures and societies in the United States , students will be challenged to begin to see education through cultural comparative frames of reference.
Is it inevitable that classrooms and schools look similar across the world? Why have modern education systems been adopted by societies with a diversity of local histories, cultures, and resources? This course examines the effort to increase access to modern Western schooling, explores countervailing conceptions of education, and considers what is gained and lost in modern schooling.
This course is a "bottom-up" history of education seminar on African Americans' struggle for equal education during the civil rights movement. As "bottom up" history, the course explores and seeks out overlooked and untold stories of youth and teacher activism. The course will include learning how to do oral history and engagement with the local community.
How do educators and activists spread messages about human rights? What might make them more likely to succeed? What are the ethical and political implications of using education as a tool for moral persuasion? Students will engage with these questions, as well as engage critically with debates over whether the human rights system offers an appropriate way to achieve justice in diverse contexts.
Independent Study
Directed Research under supervision of faculty member.
Prepares students to deal with the increasingly multicultural educational milieu. Emphasizes the process of understanding one's own bias and prejudices and how they effect the school and classroom learning environment. Included are readings, class discussions, field projects, journal writing, and other methods of directed self explorations.
The purpose of this class is to develop leadership skills in a multicultural context. Students will have the opportunity to lead small group discussions, make large group presentations, & are required to do 12 hrs. of community service. In addition to leadership skills the course will provide students with a theoretical & practical approach to dealing with diversity. Particular emphasis is placed on both personal responsibility & social justice
This course examines children's learning and development in the elementary school grades. The course, designed for students who plan to become teachers, focuses on cognitive development (e.g., the role of the brain in learning, misconceptions, transfer) and social development (e.g., relationships, moral development). Three themes emerge: individual variability and diversity, development, and translation from research to practice.
This course examines adolescent learning and development and is designed for students who plan to teach in secondary schools. Adolescent cognitive, physical, and social development is considered from a multi-level (e.g., school, family, community) perspective. In identifying links between these domains and learning, three themes emerge: individual variability and diversity, developmental trends, and translating educational research to practice.
Introduction to how research in developmental science intersects with applied work with children and youth. Students will learn foundational principles of development, examine how they apply to contemporary issues (e.g., disparities in educational opportunities), and highlight challenges present in the field. Students will also learn about programs and services designed to address these issues for children, youth, and families.
District policy makers make high-impact decisions on a fast track. They seek to make choices that promote equity, but timelines are short and these problems are messy. In this class, we partner with real-world decision makers facing a specific policy problem of educational equity. We will lay out policy alternatives, weigh evidence, and provide clear, feasible recommendations that have a chance to inform those policy decisions in a very real way.
This course will examine the foundations of educational policy from critical theoretical perspectives rooted in the social sciences and humanities in a graduate level seminar intended for both disciplinary students and students pursuing specialized work in educational studies. The goal of the course is to examine from a variety of critical perspectives, the core issues that underlie contemporary debates over public and educational policy.
In this course we will cover theories, methods, and research at the intersection of education and neuroscience and the implications of this work for educational practice. Major topics include research on student development in reading and math, as well as the development of foundational skills that support student learning, including executive functions, emotion regulation, and motivation.
This course focuses on the social, cultural, and philosophical analyses of the moral dimensions of education, professions in the field of education, educational research, policies, and practices. It introduces students to moral theories and principles and provides frameworks for ethical thinking, inquiry, and decision making. And it investigates how educational research, policies, and practices reflect social and cultural norms and values.
This course introduces students to basic concepts and methods of empirical research common to the fields of education and human development. It focuses on the relationship between research problem, questions and design and introduces students to techniques for collecting, analyzing, and evaluating research data.
This course will focus on biological, psychological and social development from birth through older adulthood. Topics will be presented via discussion of underlying theory, research, and application, with attention to how gender, race, SES, and cohort impact development. Concepts of consistency and change will be stressed. Throughout, students will be encouraged to examine and even question their own beliefs about what it means to "grow up".
This course will include both cognitive psychology and education perspectives, focusing on what cognitive psychology can tell us about how people learn and how to apply that knowledge in education. We will focus on the ways that cognitive psychology research can be designed and evaluated to be most informative in addressing practical questions of education and learning, including research questions, populations, methods, etc.
This course will focus on key issues in adult psychological and physical development. We will explore development from a biopsychosocial perspective, examining topics such as health, cognitive function, personality, interpersonal relationships, and work. This will be a theory-to-practice class, with an emphasis on current theories of optimal or successful aging. In particular, we will focus on how adults respond and adapt to changes in their health, their environment, and their sense of self. Contexts for development will include education, health care, the family, and the community, with attention to individual differences (gender, race, ethnicity).
Students are introduced to the principles of academic writing through practice using specific strategies for writing clear and audience-appropriate academic documents. Students learn to identify elements of clarity & style that constitute successful academic writing and will practice writing clear and audience appropriate texts for academic audiences. In addition, students analyze writing and research discourse practices.
Students analyze the principles of excellent academic writing including research papers, conference proposals, & Capstones focusing on the development of a clear, interesting, & rigorous research paper. Students also receive detailed feedback on their writing. During editing & redrafting activities, attention is given to the structure & logic of the author's argument, the use of details & visuals, the placement of transitions, word choice, & flow.
This course introduces strategies for effectively working with large-scale quantitative data for social science research. Topics covered include: data cleaning, recoding and checking; merging data from multiple sources; reshaping data; documenting processes; writing programs and macros to reduce errors; and presenting descriptive data through tables and graphs. Students will utilize Stata, a statistical software package.
The course covers descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to identify the type of data, select appropriate statistic and graphical methods, analyze data, and interpret the results. Specific methods include the t-test, chi-square test, correlation, simple linear regression, one-way ANOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA. Calculations are done by hand and with statistical software.
This course is designed to provide students with a broad overview of strategic management within the corporate, academic and intercollegiate contexts. Basic concepts and learnings in the area of strategy will be explored paying particular attention to higher education and athletics strategy and will cover fundamental strategy formulation i.e. planning, competitive analysis, market positioning; and the application of learnings to implementation.
This course addresses the history, organization, finance, governance, leadership and symbolism of athletics as a key part of the political economy of the contemporary university. With student athletes as a primary unit of analysis we will review the history of intercollegiate athletic competition, the symbolic role of athletics in society and the future of athletics on post-secondary campuses.
Examination of the governance structure of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its conferences. Focus is on the historical evolution of NCAA governance; understand the legal, financial, educational, and diversity issues which underlie decisions in intercollegiate athletics. Students will examine compliance and enforcement issues in that stem from rules and regulations emanating outside of the college/university setting
How has the life of former Heisman trophy winner Ricky Williams been affected by social anxiety? What kind of resilience did Katie Hnida need to become the first female kicker in college football? In this graduate level course, we will learn and practice effective counseling skills for use with student athletes in individual and group settings.
This course will focus on understanding motivation theory and research, and then applying these understandings to our lives in two main ways. First, we'll develop a deeper awareness of our own motivations, including personal strengths, obstacles, and opportunities for growth. Second, we'll apply our insights to help build more motivationally-supportive environments (e.g., school, sport, work, family, community).
Students will learn psychological skills, methods, and self-regulatory strategies, and how helping professionals (e.g., coaches, therapists, teachers, fitness specialists) can use these skills and methods to positively affect physical activity participation, performance, motivation, and enjoyment. Theories, research, and application will be stressed, with attention to how individual differences (age, gender, race, ethnicity) impact performance.
Pilot courses to meet new program requirements and changing needs in the field. Used also to offer experimental courses, and courses under development, these courses are announced and offered on a semester-to-semester basis. May be graded or S/U, depending on the instructor, and may be repeated.
This course is designed to examine race and ethnicity as social constructs and to explore how they matter in the lives of youth through a critical examination of youth development research, policy and practices. We will identify dominant group narratives and analyze how research and policy contribute to these narratives, and how individual, interpersonal, and structural factors mediate the associations between group membership and youth outcomes
Seminar in the conceptual and methodological issues involved in the use of ethnographic methods in research in education. The course examines the roots of ethnographic inquiry in anthropology and considers notions of culture and cultural understanding and the politics/ethics of writing and representation in the education context.
Cultural contexts are powerful influences on child development and learning and have long been recognized as shaping the very notion of what a child is across time and place. This course considers contemporary sociological and anthropological efforts to rethink notions of child development, learning, parenting, risk, etc. to recognize both the impact of cultural differences and to recognize the cultural agency of children. Globalization has become a major influence on children and childhood as well and the course will also examine this phenomenon in the light of issues concerning culture and children's welfare. The course is designed to stimulate students' critical thinking about culture and its role in raising and educating children.
This course seeks to uncover and address questions of educational inequality through a historical perspective. In the course, students will consider questions such as: What have been the forms of inequality and the processes that support it throughout US history? How has societal inequality historically shaped American education? How have schools served to disrupt and perpetuate societal inequalities in the US?
This course introduces students to the range of topics, theoretical frameworks, and research strategies appropriate to the study of higher education.
This course introduces college and university management functions, organizational arrangement, administrative style and behavior, functional areas of administrative operations, decision-making, and long-range planning.
This course examines trends and changes in the characteristics of college students and institutions they attend, as well as the larger social context in which they operate. It will explore emerging theories and methodologies that address student experience and research related to how college affects students.
Practicum
Students apply academic experiences in professional and/or research settings; reflect and critically and constructively analyze experiences from multiple perspectives; and view the work as connecting course content authentic contexts. Students work as professionals with site supervisors and instructors to complete related assignments and relevant background research on the professional and academic resources available.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
This course examines contemporary policies and practices in the financing of American higher education. The interpretation and uses of financial data, sources and methods of securing funds, budget processes, and policies and issues regarding the financing of higher education are some of the topics covered.
Explores equity, access, and identity in U.S. higher education through critical analysis of systems, practices, and lived experiences. Emphasizes theory-to practice connections and prepares students to advance inclusion and justice through informed dialogue, reflection, and action.
Prepares students for applied work in student affairs through exploration of campus programs, organizational models, and professional practice. Focuses on real-world issues, student development strategies, and the evolving role of student affairs in fostering inclusion, engagement, and student success. Connects theory to practice through case studies and critical reflection.
This course is designed for graduate students interested in enhancing their understanding of intercollegiate athletics administration. We will explore principles, techniques, regulation, and process related to the management of college athletics. It is important in today's dynamic environment of collegiate athletics that student's value effective leadership and management principles.
This course applies political and social theories to the study of education policy, with a focus on higher education. Students will examine concepts such as public and private goods, the role of the State, pluralism, interest groups, and social movements, and learn to apply political theory and policy frameworks to analyze and research key issues in education.
An introductory course in which principles of assessing educational policies are applied to the evidence currently available across a range of policies. Areas of education policy may include early childhood education, charter schools, accountability, teacher recruitment, retention and assessment, and bridging from K-12 to high education. Discussions focus on linking policies to outcomes for students.
This course is designed to help teachers and administrators develop a beginning understanding of principles and strategies for differentiating curricula and classrooms. Course participants will explore the components of effective differentiation to improve classroom practices and instruction.
This course is designed to help teachers develop a more sophisticated understanding of principles and strategies relating to differentiated instruction, particularly in the context of reading, writing, and other literacy applications. Course participants will explore the interesection of best practices related to effective differentiation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment within the literacy content areas.
This course is designed to help teachers synthesize their understanding of principles and strategies for differentiating content, process, and products of mixed ability classrooms in order to address the varied readiness, interest, and learning profile needs of a variety of learners. Teachers will explore the intersection of effective instruction and differentiated instruction.
This course is designed to help teachers synthesize their understanding of principles and strategies for differentiating content, process, and products of mixed ability classrooms in order to address the varied readiness, interest, and learning profile needs of a variety of learners. Teachers will explore the intersection of effective instruction and differentiated instruction.
This course will examine the foundations of educational policy from critical theoretical perspectives rooted in the social sciences and humanities in a graduate level seminar intended for both disciplinary students and students pursuing specialized work in educational studies. The goal of the course is to examine from a variety of critical perspectives, the core issues that underlie contemporary debates over public and educational policy.
This class will examine actual and proposed public policy initiatives that are designed to move our educational system toward true equity and access for all children.
Prepares students for the transition from graduate study to professional practice. Emphasizes career planning, job search strategies, and development of a personal e-portfolio. Students reflect on their learning, articulate core competencies, and build tools for lifelong growth as practitioner-scholars in higher education.
This course is the culminating experience for the M.Ed. in Higher Education and prepares students for leadership roles in their professions by providing a high quality cumulative experience that integrates prior theory and content into practice.
This course promotes an understanding of contemporary, traditional-aged college students from sociological, psychological, and historical perspectives. Topics include the social and cultural context of entering college students, student development theory, student outcomes assessment, student attrition, and the dynamics of student change.
This course prepares student affairs professionals to advise and support today's college students through practical skills and strategies. Emphasizing helping skills, advising approaches, and career development theory, it highlights how professionals can build inclusive relationships, respond to diverse student needs, and foster growth across academic, career, and personal domains.
This course examines the broad legal framework of higher education, including constitutional and contractual rights to due process, equal protection, and free speech; legal and policy issues regarding tenure, promotion, intellectual property, and the constitutive role of the state in higher education; and tort liability and the impact of federal statutes such as the ADA, Title IX, and FERPA on the administration of colleges and universities.
We will explore research literature to better understand the learning process, factors that influence learning, and practices that promote learning. You will take a 'deep dive' into a literature area of interest. Through engaging in evidence-based discussions, evaluating and synthesizing the literature, and developing written/oral arguments, you will gain skills and knowledge that will help you become a successful scholar in your field.
The commitment to effective professional learning increases educator effectiveness, providing a vehicle through which leaders can navigate change and seek improvement in their schools. Leaders who foster an environment of adult learning and build capacity to lead learning enhances the quality of instruction and student outcomes. Providing the tools and resources, leaders can create accessible means to develop new knowledge, skills, and practices.
Overview of the contributions of psychology to the teaching-learning process. Topics include learning theory, individual differences, motivation, human development and personality, teaching methodology, and measurement and evaluation.
This course will focus on biological, psychological and social development from birth through older adulthood. Topics will be presented via discussion of underlying theory, research, and application, with attention to how gender, race, SES, and cohort impact development. Concepts of consistency and change will be stressed. Throughout, students will be encouraged to examine and even question their own beliefs about what it means to "grow up".
Proposed: This introductory course concentrates on the evaluation and interpretation of assessment tools. Topics include reliability and validity; social and ethical considerations of testing; summarizing and interpreting measurements; and the use of standardized tests, rating scales, and observational scales. .
An introductory graduate course in which prominent theories of child and adolescent development are introduced, supporting research considered, and applications for teaching, counseling, and parenting explored. Major topics include: child development as a field of study, research strategies and ethics in the study of children, the human genome, biologically influenced development, constructing knowledge, cognitive development, socio-cultural influences, development of moral autonomy, and the life cycle.
Intermediate-level course designed to explore classical and contemporary concepts of adolescence. Attention will be paid to all aspects of development physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. Emphasis will be placed on the interrelationships among these domains and the treatment of adolescent problems.
Explores theories of creativity through study of creative people, the creative process, creative products, and creative "press" or those environmental conditions that support and facilitate creative production. Focuses on assessment of creativity, research related to creativity and its applications to education, environments conducive to the development of creativity, and heuristics designed to encourage creativity.
This seminar for students in the Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science MEd program explores issues in the field of educational psychology and promotes students' development as scholars and professionals. Students will develop and strengthen valuable skills to support their academic and career goals.
An orientation to designs and procedures utilized in educational research, emphasizing basic principles for conducting, interpreting, and criticizing published articles representative of educational problems and issues.
The course covers descriptive and inferential statistics. Students learn to identify the type of data, select appropriate statistic and graphical methods, analyze data, and interpret the results. Specific methods include the t-test, chi-square test, correlation, simple linear regression, one-way ANOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA. Calculations are done by hand and with statistical software.
Detailed examination of the design and interpretation of single-subject research. Foci for the course include rationale for single-subject research; methods for planning, implementing, and evaluating studies; and issues in the use of these methods.
Examines principles and practices necessary for addressing the learning needs of diverse student populations (including culturally and linguistically diverse students, gifted learners, English learners, students with disabilities) at all levels of schooling. Includes role of curriculum, on-going assessment, learning environment, and instructional strategies for addressing student readiness, interest, and learning profile.
An overview of current program evaluation approaches, this class is designed to provide an overview of the theories behind and approaches to evaluation as well as to begin to train students in evaluation design and methods. Theoretical, methodological, and empirical readings emphasize the terminology of educational evaluation and the variety of theoretical and design approaches to evaluation. Consideration is also given to the application of evaluation approaches and designs to non-educational settings.
This course provides students with practical experience in survey research. Topics focus on survey design, administration, analysis, and reporting. Specific topics include item writing guidelines, cognitive interviews and pilot testing, survey implementation and planning, sampling methods, data analysis, and presentation of survey results. Particular attention is given to strategies for ensuring reliable survey responses and valid inferences.
This class serves as an introduction to the central concepts of qualitative methods in research and evaluation. Primary emphasis is on the development of skills required to conduct qualitative research, with a focus on research design, specific methods of inquiry, and approaches to analysis. The philosophy and epistemology of qualitative approaches are also discussed. Empirical readings provide examples of qualitative research within education and related fields.
This course provides an introduction to mixed methods in social science/educational research. We will consider the types of questions that mixed methods can answer and discuss the benefits/challenges of mixed methods research. We will cover research design, sampling, and analysis, including reading exemplars of mixed methods research. Students will apply the theoretical/methodological tenets learned by designing their own mixed methods study.
This course provides a theoretical and applied understanding of the general linear model in the context of continuous outcomes. Focus is on multiple regression with continuous predictors, dichotomous and multi-category predictors (i.e., ANOVA in a regression framework), and models that include combinations of these predictor types. Emphasis will also be placed on moderation and mediation, and model assumptions.
This advanced seminar in education science takes a multidisciplinary approach to theory and identification of important research questions. The seminar focuses on strengths and limitations of descriptive research, program development efforts, efficacy trials, and scale up efforts. Readings expose variation in research practice partnerships and describe educational research related to student subgroups.
This course is designed to introduce the quantitative and qualitative social science research process to students, as well as to help familiarize students with some of the more popular forms of assessment within the fields of higher education, student affairs, and athletic administration.
What is "social" about education? How are schools connected to larger issues in society? Using the lenses of history, philosophy, anthropology, and sociology we explore education as a social institution. Our goal is to develop a deeper insight into the processes, practices and values that shape education as we explore themes such as social inequality, social justice, and cultural diversity, and the changing nature of schooling in a global world.
The development of education in the United States since colonial times, emphasizing the social-historical forces and ideological concepts that determined the direction and nature of education in the United States to the present.
Inquiry into the applicability to present problems of selected philosophical themes and approaches. Issues include conceptions of pupils, theories of learning and teaching, educational equity and justice, indoctrination, and the adequacy of educational research itself.
Studies the sociological theory and research that applies to a systematic analysis of education as its functions in modern society. Selected social and educational problems are discussed to interpret the sociological nature of the educational process and the role of the school as a complex social organization. Research of educational outcomes and consequences is considered. The effects of school on social stratification are also considered.
Anthropology's unique contribution to the study of human life centers around the concept of culture and the methodology of ethnography. In the course of the semester, we will examine the relationship between culture and education and the ways in which the study and understanding of education can be enhanced by attention to culture. Using cases drawn from studies of learning and schooling in cultures around the world as well as among minority cultures and societies in the United States , students will be challenged to begin to see education through cultural comparative frames of reference.
Why does school look so similar across the world in spite of vast differences in resources, culture, and history? What countervailing notions of education might be displaced through the spread of formal Western education? This class explores the effort to expand access to formal schooling globally and probes the meanings, problems, and opportunities provided by modern education systems.
Explores the cultural, philosophical, social, and political foundations of education in China, Korea, and Japan, with particular emphasis on how contemporary development and issues in education change require close attention to sociocultural and international contexts.
This course is designed to introduce the quantitative and qualitative social science research process to students, as well as to help familiarize students with some of the more popular forms of assessment within the fields of higher education, student affairs, and athletic administration.
This course examines the topics of character development, values education, more reasoning, ethics and the role of school in the formation of citizens for participation in a democratic society. Philosophical, religious, comparative, historical, sociological and other perspectives will be explored with respect to the attitudes toward and approaches to moral education.
What does it mean to educate in and for a multicultural society? This course offers a global comparative view of education in multicultural societies around the world. We will explore how different societies' experiences with multiculturalism have lead to a variety of challenges for educational systems globally. What are these challenges and what are some potentially promising approaches?
This is the capstone course in the Social Foundations Master of Education (M.Ed.) program. It is an education issue-based seminar emphasizing research, analysis and disputation on a range of topics central to scholarship in the Social Foundations academic discipline. The course requires intensive, supervised student engagement in developing and defending fact and theory-based arguments related to selected contemporary educational challenges.
Examines the role of women in education from historical, sociological, philosophical, and psychological perspectives. Focuses on issues related to girls and women in current educational settings.
Introduction to school administration, including the organization and structure of the school system; legal basis for school administration; authority, responsibility, and control of different levels of government for education; the administration and supervision of the instructional program; and the application of theories of leadership and organization to enduring problems of schooling. Prerequisites: Restricted to students who are admitted into a degree and/or endorsement program in Administration and Supervision, or permission of instructor.
Through research based practices and theoretical framing, students learn to build schools' professional capacity through recruitment, interviewing, induction, professional development, evaluation, and compensation. The process is considered in school and policy contexts with attention to ethical and diversity considerations. Students develop actionable plans for employing, supporting, and retaining professional capacity as a leader.
This course covers the basic principles of engaging families and the community in the life of a school, a fundamental responsibility of school leaders. Topics include communication with the school community and families, community partnerships, crisis communications, and research-based engagement practices. This course will provide tools and resources for building positive relationships with staff, parents, and the community at large.
This course explores the principal¿s pivotal role in organizational operations and change, focusing on how school leaders shape climate, foster internal professional accountability, and respond to the demands of external accountability. Students examine schools as complex organizations, analyze leadership routines and tools, and apply improvement science to address a real-world problem of practice.
This course explores school finance principles and challenges, emphasizing budgeting activities like planning, data collection, development, communication, implementation, and monitoring. Topics include resource allocation, accounting, business management, organizational behavior, and data management. Students apply concepts and engage in discussions.
This course explores laws and policies that shape U.S. public school teaching and learning environments, covering Supreme Court cases and federal legislation. The course introduces legal principles and guidelines for fulfilling leadership duties and protecting the respective rights of student and teacher. Students will be prepared to make fair and ethical decisions, enhancing educational opportunities for all students.
This course gives students conceptual and philosophical frameworks for leading good instruction and creating conditions for teaching and learning in schools and districts. Students reflect on their own instructional filters and deepen understanding of what we know about effective teaching and learning. Considering various instructional issues, students learn to supervise and evaluate instruction, connecting supervision with professional growth.
This course equips educators with tools to lead continuous improvement aimed at advancing the academic success, engagement, and belonging of all children. Grounded in improvement science, the course introduces tools for systemic change and includes field-based application in P-12 teaching and leadership.
Examines how, as a team, school leaders analyze the relationship of the integration of technologies to teachers' beliefs & practices & to local school culture, structures, & policies. Students will evaluate factors critical for successful implementation of educational technology; identify & deconstruct the distributed leadership of educational technology in a school setting; & plan comprehensively for a system of practice to lead EdTech.
Leadership for Equity of Diverse Populations seeks to support special populations in schools. It proposes that effective leadership for all special student populations involves particular knowledge and requires a strong equity orientation.
Under close guidance of an individual faculty member, students work on areas of particular interest that cannot be met in regularly scheduled courses. Enrollment in this course is limited to three credits in a master's degree program.
The VEST proseminar is a set of activities designed around the speaker series. Students will read and critique academic articles, hear nationally renowned speakers present their recent work, and engage in conversation and dialogue with our visiting speakers. The primary goal of the proseminar is to improve your ability to critique research.
The primary goal of this course is to provide a structure to support you in planning and designing your Research-Practitioner Partnership Experience project. We will discuss how to find and contact a potential partner, how to begin a conversation about research with a partner, how to listen to the partner's needs, how to guide a discussion that focuses your project on a specific research question, and how to write the RPE proposal.
This course will cover a single emerging research issue on a rotating basis. Examples of topics include data visualization, program innovation, tools for open science, communication of findings to broad audiences, and grant-writing. The explicit focus is to cover topics that are not currently covered or emphasized by existing coursework for VEST fellows but are indispensable to cutting-edge research in the education sciences.
This course is designed to provide students with both a theoretical and applied understanding of experimental/randomized control designs and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Emphasis on the applied use of these principles will be facilitated through SPSS.
Focus is on the generalized linear model (GLM) for cases when variables have specific non-normal conditional distributions, with emphasis on common data analytic challenges that arise in real world settings. Topics include nonlinear relationships, nominal and ordinal outcomes, discrepant data, and bootstrapping methods. Course materials are grounded in applied examples from the social and health sciences.
A rich body of literature has emerged about the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments in field settings. This course introduces students to advances in the design and analysis of field experiments; provides opportunities for students to read and discuss well-known field experiments that have had important implications for policy; and discusses methodological issues related to both experiments and non-experiments.
An advanced methods course on quasi-experimental statistical techniques for generating unbiased effect estimates when random assignment is not feasible. Underlying theories, identifying assumptions, and applications are presented for techniques drawn from a variety of disciplines including economics, sociology, and psychology including regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, difference-in-difference, matching, and fixed effects.
Education policy research increasingly leverages econometric methods applied to large-scale datasets. This course bridges the gap between prior training in econometrics or causal inference and the application of these techniques (regression adjustment, fixed effects, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, matching) through discussion of empirical articles and replication or simulation exercises.
Additional topics include test equating, dimensionality assessment, and connections to other latent variable models. Application of these methods to educational and psychological testing and the use of statistical software is emphasized. Prerequisite: EDLF 7310, 8300, 8310, or instructor permission.
Presents the theory and rationale of selected multivariate statistical techniques. Topics include multivariate analysis of variance canonical correlation, discriminant analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Emphasizes computer-assisted analysis and the application of appropriate statistical methods to research data. Prerequisite: EDLF 8300 and 8310, or instructor permission.
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basics of multilevel modeling. Topics include random effects ANOVA models, means-as-outcomes models, random coefficients models, intercepts- and slopes-as-outcomes models, contextual models, random effects ANCOVA models, linear growth models, nonlinear growth models and cross-classified models. Prerequisite: EDLF 7420 or equivalent.
The major topics include exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis models, a variety of structural equation models, growth curve models, and multi-sample modeling analysis. The major focus of the course is both on the conceptual understanding of latent variable modeling and on practical application of these models in research and measurement. Students will work with data sets and computer programs to gain practical research experience.
This course is intended for graduate students who have used or plan to use case study methods in their own research. The course will examine the foundations, logic, design, and ethics of case study research in education and the social sciences. The class will explore single-, multiple-, and mixed-methods case study designs and methods of data collection, interpretation, and analysis.
Problems of practice through systematic inquiry are the focus of this course. We explore the intersection of theory and practice with emphasis on the design of thoughtful, ethical inquiry about educational problems of practice. There is a co-requisite (EDLF 5301: Academic Writing for Practitioners that is focused exclusively on academic writing to address problems of practice).
We focus on problems of practice (POP) through systematic qualitative inquiry, specifically focusing on qualitative processes, questions, and strategies to conduce meaningful inquiry in educational systems. Specifically, the focus is on identifying a qualitative question to address POP and the creation of a qualitative design to address the POP. Co-requisite of EDLF 8384 Lab of practice.
This Lab of Practice complements qualitative fieldwork methods in educational settings focusing specifically on observations, interviews, artifacts, and beginning data reduction and analysis that are the focus of EDLF 8383: Qualitative Inquiry. The Lab is an opportunity to engage in fieldwork on a very small scale allowing for practicing the major qualitative methods for generating qualitative data.
Focus is given to Problems of Practice (POPs) through systematic quantitative inquiry, specifically focusing on survey processes, questions and strategies used to conduct meaningful inquiry in educational settings. The course begins with the process for survey development followed by basic statistical processes and procedures for organizing and analyzing data from surveys. A co-requisite for the class is EDLF 8386: Survey Lab of Practice.
This Lab of Practice complements EDLF 8385: Survey Inquiry. The Lab provides a structured opportunity to engage in survey work on a very small scale allowing for practicing the main ideas focused on in EDLF 8385: Survey Inquiry.
The intersection of evaluation theory and practice is focused on with an emphasis on the design of thoughtful, ethical evaluation inquiry about problems of practice (POPs) associated with educational programs. The course focuses specifically on developing the knowledge, skills, and understandings regarding evaluation and the collection of information to make judgments about an education initiative or program.
Explores problems of designing, conducting, and reporting evaluation research studies. Time is spent examining philosophies of science that underlie evaluation studies; conceptualizing a total evaluation study; planning for the use of time and resources in conducting an evaluation study; assembling the evidence for or against a particular proposition; analyzing costs; and learning how to avoid common pitfalls in working with clients and program participants to design and conduct an evaluation study.
Advanced course in methods and practices of qualitative research. Students determine their own philosophy of inquiry and become increasingly proficient in the application of qualitative methods. Assumes an introductory course in qualitative methods. Focuses on research design and proposal development, data collection and analysis techniques, and presentation of findings. The course is field-based and guides students through the complete qualitative research cycle.
An advanced course in qualitative research methods that emphasizes the application of qualitative analysis using a qualitative data analysis software package as a tool. Readings focus on various approaches to qualitative analysis and the issues surrounding software use in relation to these approaches. A general knowledge of qualitative research design and methods and comfort with computers is assumed. Part of each class serves a workshop to learn a qualitative data analysis program and, therefore, the class is most useful for students who have data to analyze. EDLF 7404 (Introduction to Qual) or equivalent cours is required: EDLF 8440 (Advanced Qual) is recommended
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Special topics in education leadership, foundations and policy.
Why is there so much inequality in college entry and completion? How can higher education provide opportunity while sorting, selecting, and certifying students? What is the relationship between higher education and economic prosperity? By addressing these, and related questions, we will examine the complex interplay between inequality and opportunity and the relationship between higher education and the society at large.
This course is a survey of current theory and practice in student affairs programming, organizations, and administration in institutions of higher education. It emphasizes philosophy, services provided, and trends and issues within the profession, including research and literature analysis.
This course promotes an understanding of contemporary, traditional-aged college students from sociological, psychological, and historical perspectives. Topics include the social and cultural context of entering college students, student development theory, student outcomes assessment, student attrition, and the dynamics of student change.
This course introduces students to the range of topics, theoretical frameworks, and research strategies appropriate to the study of higher education.
This course emphasizes the historical development of American higher education, the growth of colleges and universities, and the major philosophical and sociological forces that have shaped their development.
This course examines trends and changes in the characteristics of college students and institutions they attend, as well as the larger social context in which they operate. It will explore emerging theories and methodologies that address student experience and research related to how college affects students.
This course addresses the organization of and governance and decision-making in postsecondary institutions. Through the application of theoretical frameworks based in a variety of social theories, it focuses on the impact of politics, culture, and policy on the organization and governance of higher education.
This course explores the dynamics of race/ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality in higher education policy, theory, and practice. Using a variety of theoretical frames and emerging research, the course will examine group differences in experience and perspective within American higher education.
This course examines contemporary policies and practices in the financing of American higher education. The interpretation and uses of financial data, sources and methods of securing funds, budget processes, and policies and issues regarding the financing of higher education are some of the topics covered.
This course introduces college and university management functions, organizational arrangement, administrative style and behavior, functional areas of administrative operations, decision-making, and long-range planning.
This course examines the broad legal framework of higher education, including constitutional and contractual rights to due process, equal protection, and free speech; legal and policy issues regarding tenure, promotion, intellectual property, and the constitutive role of the state in higher education; and tort liability and the impact of federal statutes such as the ADA, Title IX, and FERPA on the administration of colleges and universities.
This course is designed to provide students with a broad overview of, and principles related to, leadership in both the business/corporate and academic contexts. While there is significant overlap in these two industries, business and the academy, higher education has unique and complex challenges due to the design, nature, and current climate in the industry. The course will focus on leadership theory as the foundation for theory and practice.
Applies political and social theories to politics, policy and power in K-16 education. Concepts: role of the State, pluralism, rational choice, mobilization of bias, public goods, interest groups and social movements. Key issues: access and success, equity, school choice, stratification, governance, and reform. Goal is to enable students to conduct research using political theory and policy frameworks in educational settings.
Surveys selected major problems or issues facing contemporary American higher education.
This course is designed for those without training in economics who want a better understanding of how economic concepts and methods are used in analyzing education policy issues. It examines market concepts and forms of government involvement in the market and uses economic research in education. Students develop the skills of economic analysis by applying them to current issues in public education.
The Presidency in Higher Education explores the historical, conceptual, and contextual components of college and university presidents. Through humanities and social scientific research as well as case studies, students will understand how the presidency has evolved overtime as a result of specific internal and external influences, including power, legitimizing authority, governance, pathways, change, and institutional contexts.
Explores the moral and ethical dimensions of leadership within the context of education. Assumes that educational administration is fundamentally an ethical undertaking, or, as Christopher Hodgkinson claims, 'philosophy in action.' Readings, activities, and discussions are all designed to assist practicing and aspiring administrators, as well as other educators, in the explication and resolution of ethical dilemmas. Considers different moral positions and encourages students to examine both personal values and professional ethics.
Examines organizational and administrative theory and its uses in the management and functioning of school systems. Attention is given to the requisites for adequate theory and to methodological considerations in the study of organizations and administrative processes.
Examines the relationships between the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, political, and professional contexts of change. Topics include the nature of instructional change, case studies of successful and unsuccessful organizational change, planning for instructional improvement, and implementing and evaluating change.
The purpose of this course is to introduce experienced education practitioners to a new way of thinking about evaluation. In this course, we discuss evaluating programs, polices, and decisions in schools. This course leverages the expertise of the class to develop a set of skills that will lead to improved schools. The focus in this course is on identifying problems of practice, formulating appropriate hypotheses, and designing evaluations.
Students will analyze various diverse perspectives, assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses of leadership theories and models. Theories and models will be situated in the American public education context with a special focus on educational leadership at the school and district levels.
This course is designed to develop aspiring leaders' understanding of educational policy, the politics of education, and advocacy in education. Course readings and activities facilitate the ability to identify problems and unpack issues with implications for educational politics, policy and advocacy; gather and analyze data; identifying where and how to act to influence decisions through direct advocacy or action; and reflect upon this work.
This course explores relationships among educational values and vision, the definition of organizational problems, and the identification of relevant solutions. Approaches such as equity audit, appreciative inquiry, force-field analysis and root-cause analysis help students connect the identification and framing of priority issues with approaches to organizational decision-making that translate vision and values into organizational development. Prerequisite: Students in the (ExSel Ed.D. program)
This course examines research on learning and motivation in order to assist educators & educational leaders in thinking about the effectiveness of traditional & innovative designs for learning. A special focus concerns the development of learning environments for students in persistently low-performing schools & schools serving diverse populations. The course culminates in a practicum requiring the design of an innovative learning environment.
Participants in this course will explore how theories of motivation, research and personnel practices can enhance the development of both human and social potential within an educational organization. In addition, we will explore how values and beliefs shape those practices and can be used to enact leadership for social justice and equity. All students should be a member of the Ed.D. Admin & Supervision cohort group.
Developing High-performance Organizations is a doctoral-level course for ExSEL students and others interested in understanding how organizations evolve, develop, improve, and decline. Students examine case studies, research on efforts to improve organizational performance, and methods for studying organizations over extended periods of time.
The course offers a practice-focused, evidence-based, and critical examination of equity-oriented improvement in educational settings. Students explore equity issues from stakeholders' points of view and draw on principles and approaches of improvement science to develop working theories of change. Critical reviews of existing research and in-class working sessions provide the foundation for students' investigation of an improvement project.
Students in the Students Affairs Practice in Higher Education (SAPHE) program are required to serve about 20 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters in an internship related to their studies. In this weekly seminar, they discuss and analyze their internship experience.
Administrative Internship
Final course in SAPHE sequence where students complete capstone project and cover topics related to professional development.
Designed to give masters students experience conducting research in professional settings appropriate to their disciplines. Prerequisites: Permission of Advisor
For master's research, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.
Required for all doctoral degree candidates; deals with dissertation proposal development for students in educational administration.
Opportunities for experienced doctoral students to teach courses or partial courses at the University, or to supervise student teachers under the guidance of a faculty member. Opportunities are arranged by the students with the assistance of the sponsoring faculty member.
Supports advanced doctoral students in the Higher Education Program in developing research questions, refining methodology, and preparing for the dissertation or capstone. Emphasizes peer feedback, research writing, and proposal development. Students build momentum toward independent scholarship through structured planning, review, and critical reflection.
Ed.D. Research conducted under the guidance of capstone committee. 12 hours required for graduation. Permission of Instructor required.
Under close faculty guidance, students work on an area of interest not covered by the curriculum. A plan of study must be signed by the faculty sponsor and filed in the student's permanent file in the Office of Student Affairs. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Independent Research
Designed to give doctoral students experience conducting research in professional settings appropriate to their disciplines. Prerequisites: Advisor Permission Required.
Doctoral Dissertation Research completed under the guidance of dissertation committee. 12 hours is required for graduation. Permission of instructor required.