Universityof WashingtonEducational Leadership & Policy Studies
http://education.washington.edu/areas/edlps/
This Area of the College aims to inform and promote the renewal of P-12 and postsecondary education, with the ultimate goal of creating powerful and equitable learning environments for all students. We engage in this challenge with: tools and frameworks from political science, economics, and sociology; the scholarship of leadership and public management, organizations, and policy; the analytical lenses of history and philosophy; and the wisdom of practice. All our work is grounded in deep analysis of the meaning and purposes of education in historical, social, cultural, and philosophical contexts.
This community of faculty and students participates in the intellectual ferment at the core of contemporary educational practice. We take seriously the moral imperative of strengthening learning and promoting equity in educational systems that serve a pluralistic, democratic, and often unjust society. Guided by this commitment, EdLPS leads educational renewal through its scholarship, its participation in national and international dialogue about difficult educational issues, and its efforts to prepare a new generation of educational leaders. Our research and teaching inform, for example, the transition of students from P-12 schooling to postsecondary education systems; the connections between leadership and learning, the redesign of the American high school; the development of a high-quality teacher and administrator workforce; the growth of social movements to transform educational institutions; the dynamics of race, ethnicity, gender, class and immigration in higher education; and the reshaping of community college and university education.
Various kinds of individuals—experienced educators, committed reformers, keen observers of the educational landscape—are drawn to graduate work in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies. Many anticipate future work as academics or analysts in universities, analytical institutes, professional associations, community-based organizations, and government agencies. Others are preparing for leadership roles as administrators, policymakers, and officials within, or in relation to, P-12 and postsecondary educational institutions.
Students who join EdLPS may pursue programs of study leading to an M.Ed. or a Ph.D. degree in one of three broad specializations:
Specialization in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education
Specialization in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership
Specialization in Higher Education
Students who wish to prepare for specific leadership roles may join one of the Area’s practice-oriented programs:
Danforth Educational Leadership Program, for aspiring school principals and program leaders (principals’ certificate, with an optional Masters degree)
Masters of Education in Instructional Leadership Program, for educators wishing to assume teacher leadership roles
Master's in Education Policy, for students seeking policy careers in a broad array of governmental, advocacy, philanthropic and social service organizations.
Leadership for Learning Ed.D. Program, for future “system-level” leaders in P-12 educational institutions (Ed.D., with optional superintendent’s certificate)
Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership Program(M.Ed.) for aspiring athletic leaders in postsecondary institutions, and the Graduate Program in Higher Educationfor individuals pursuing leadership roles in student affairs (M.Ed.) or top administrative posts in postsecondary institutions (Ed. D.)