College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Education policy and leadership MA

in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development

This Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) track program is about gaining a mastery of skills and knowledge in how politics, policies, and organizational cultures affect pre-K-12 education and development.

Benefits

Striking a responsive balance between theory and practice, our program prepares students to:

  • Assess school organization and policies, instructional strategies, and student outcomes.
  • Understand the role of personal epistemologies and the role in systematic reproductive oppressive trends in educating minoritized students.
  • Design and implement programs to address needs and create change in support of student learning and success.
  • Identify the particular skills and values necessary to executing collaborative school and system improvement.
  • Understand classroom and school dynamics, and implement research-based changes for student success.
  • Apply research-driven strategies and programs to balance the needs of students, families, teachers, and administrators.
  • Prepare for a doctoral program or to work in PK-12 educational settings.
  • Engage in a community with leading researchers, faculty members, and administrators all committed to the improvement of teaching and learning.
  • Navigate and understand the complex world of education and provide insights to support common benefits.

Careers

This degree prepares students for a wide range of careers, including:

  • Research fellow
  • Research assistant
  • Teacher leader
  • Teaching and learning specialist
  • Educational consultant

Coursework

M.A. students choose between Plan A and Plan B options. Plan A students register for thesis credits, write a master's thesis, and meet with their committee members for an oral defense of the thesis. Plan B students write a final examination paper that they submit to their committee members for review and approval.

    Program core (6 credits)

    Take a minimum of 6 credits from the following:

    • OLPD 5001—Formal Organizations in Education (3 cr) [Take OLPD 5001 if offered – if not offered take alternatives OLPD 5011 or OLPD 5607]
      OR OLPD 5011—Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice (3 cr)
      OR OLPD 5607—Organization Development (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5041—Sociology of Education (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5044—Introduction to Economics of Education (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5048—Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5344—School Law (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5364—Context and Practice of Educational Leadership (3 cr)
    • OLPD 8302—Educational Policy Perspectives (3 cr)

    Related fields (6 credits taken outside EPL)

    The master’s degree requires 6 semester credits taken outside the program track that directly relate to the student’s area of study. Courses totaling 6 or more credits should be selected in consultation with the advisor and should constitute a solid coursework foundation for the student’s thesis. These courses may include additional methods courses taught outside the department.

    Electives (2-8 credits)

    Selected in consultation with advisor to meet 30-36 total credit requirement for this program.

    Research design and methods (6 credits)

    Selected in consultation with advisor.

    Thesis credits (10 credits)

    Take 10 or more credits of the following:

    • OLPD 8777—Thesis Credits: Master's (10 cr)

    Research project

    Plan A students will develop and carry out an empirical research project under the supervision of their advisor.

    Required coursework (6 credits minimum)

    Take a minimum of 6 credits from the following:

    • OLPD 5001—Formal Organizations in Education (3 cr) [Take OLPD 5001 if offered – if not offered take alternative OLPD 5011]
      OR OLPD 5011—Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5607—Organization Development (3 cr)
    • OLPD 8302—Educational Policy Perspectives (3 cr)

    Related fields (6 credits taken outside EPL)

    The master’s degree requires 6 semester credits taken outside the program track that directly relate to the student’s area of study. Courses totaling 6 or more credits should be selected in consultation with the advisor and should constitute a solid coursework foundation for the student’s thesis. These courses may include additional methods courses taught outside the department.

    Program core (6 credits)

    Choose one course from each of the following areas:

    Leadership courses
    • OLPD 5048—Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5364—Context and Practice of Educational Leadership (3 cr)
       

    Other coursework

    • OLPD 5041—Sociology of Education (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5044—Introduction to the Economics of Education (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5128—Anthropology of Education (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5324—Strategic Financial Planning and Policy for Educational Leaders (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5344—School Law (3 cr)
    • OLPD 5346—Politics of Education (3 cr)

    Research design and methods (3 credits)

    OLPD 5501—Principles and Methods of Evaluation (3 cr)

    Colloquium paper (3-6 credits)

    Students prepare a paper on an issue of relevance in school administration or revise and expand three course papers. Total of 120 hours of work required. Students in the two-year program must take 3 or more credits of OLPD 5095. Students in the one-year program must take a total of 6 cr of OLPD 5087 or OLPD 5095 over 3 semesters with advisor approval (three of those credits will count towards the Electives requirement).

    • OLPD 5087—MA Research Seminar (1-3 cr)
      OR OLPD 5095—Problems: Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (1-3 cr)

    Electives (3-8 credits)

    Selected in consultation with advisor to meet 30-32 total credit requirement for this program.

    How to apply

      Admission Deadline

      Applications are due by February 1 for a Fall semester start. Fall semester start only.

      Applicants may only apply to one OLPD track.

      Applications are not complete until ALL required materials and fees have been received. If anything is missing, your application may not be considered until the next review date the following year. It is strongly recommended to apply at least two weeks before any submission deadlines.

      Applications are processed by the Graduate School. A decision for admission notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department's admission committee and your transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by Graduate School officials.

      Admission Requirements

      Degree: Bachelor's degree

      GPA: Undergraduate 3.0

      Note: Applicants should not submit GRE scores, as they will not be considered in the review process.

      TOEFL/IELTS Scores (Not required for U.S. students):

      • TOEFL: Internet based = 79 or above
        (21 writing/19 reading)
      • IELTS = 6.5

      Tuition and funding

      Tuition information: CEHD | OneStop

      Financial aid: CEHD | OneStop

      Readmission

      If a graduate student in an OLPD program has become inactive they must follow the readmission procedures.

      Whether you seek reactivation after accidentally being discontinued this term or want to return after a long absence these are the steps needed to re-apply.

      1. Complete the proper online readmission application.

        If you have been away from the program less than five years use the Express Readmission Application and email it to olpd@umn.edu. All others must submit the Online Application for Readmission
         
      2. Once received, the department will forward your application to the appropriate admissions committee. Readmission decisions are normally determined by the program’s admissions committee, not any one individual faculty member.

        Readmission is never guaranteed. Decisions for readmission are based on a review of previous progress toward degree completion, the proposed timeline for completion, the availability of faculty resources, and/or any additional application materials they may request from you. Individual programs/tracks reserve the right to readmit students under the current graduate program requirements, rules, and guidelines. They may also request an applicant to provide additional information prior to making a decision.
         
      3. Once the committee makes their recommendation, the department’s DGS will sign off on the decision and forward the result to the central Graduate Admissions Office for processing. Once processed, you will be notified of the decision.

      Individual department programs and tracks reserve the right to require readmitted students to retake coursework if they deem it appropriate. Readmitted students are also required to abide by current time-to-degree policies as determined by the University, which may differ from the policy in place when they first started the degree program.

      Individuals seeking readmission to the Ph.D., Ed.D., and M.A. program tracks in the former EDPA, WHRE, and WCFE majors can only reapply to the appropriate program track under the Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) major name.

      Questions?

      We’re here to help. Simply complete this form and a member of our department will be in touch.