Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development
Apply NowThe Adult, Workforce, and Continuing Professional Education specialization with the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development is unique in its emphasis on serving the spectrum of both formal and informal adult learning organizations, and its inclusion of administrative, instructional and technology-related leadership within a practitioner preparation program. Based on a land-grant, Research Extensive University, the department reflects the tripartite commitment to quality instruction, research scholarship and service outreach.
The Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development with a specialization in Adult, Workforce, and Continuing Professional Education, is one-of-a-kind as its primary commitment is to part-time students who are full-time working professionals. Full-time students are eligible for consideration to receive full funding through scholarships, fellowships and research and teaching assistantships, which allow our students to work with top faculty on cutting-edge projects. To meet the needs of full- and part-time students, most courses are offered once a week during late afternoon or evening hours. Some courses are regularly available during summer sessions and weekends and through distance education technologies.
Admission Requirements
Applications for admission are submitted through the Graduate School. We accept students from a wide range of educational backgrounds. To qualify for admission, applicants must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in any field. International applicants must also have a TOEFL score of 100 or higher. Admission decisions are based on several criteria, including undergraduate GPA, work history and interest in the field.
Student Financial Support
To be eligible for financial aid, students must be enrolled in Master’s or Doctoral degree programs offered by the University. Unfortunately there is no financial aid available for Graduate Certificate students. Occasionally graduate assistantships are available for full time students in our degree programs. Please check with your advisor about assistantship opportunities.
Degrees
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD)
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD): Adult and Lifelong Education
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD): Community College and Career Education
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD): Counseling and Counselor Education Concentration
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD): Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD): Higher Education
- Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development (PhD): Higher Education Opportunity, Equity, and Justice
- Education Research & Policy Analysis (Minor)
- Teaching, Training, and Educational Technology (Certificate)
Courses
Overview of role of education within a culturally diverse society. Major attention to racial, socioeconomic and regional subpopulations. Issues discussed include subcultural influences on public school performances, equality of educational opportunity, social stratification and mobility, and the impact of schooling on intergroup relations.
Typically offered in Fall only
Relationship of constitutional, statutory and case law to elementary and secondary public school settings, particularly in areas of students, teachers and liability. Particular emphasis on N.C. and federal law.
Typically offered in Spring only
Examines school organization theories and critical domains of leadership (e.g., school vision, culture, management, collaboration, ethics, and environments). Develops conceptual, managerial and interpersonal leadership skills through analysis of school goals and purpose; organizational design, development and improvement; curricular and instructional leadership; and school-community relationships. Instructional activities will include lecture, seminar discussion, case and problem-based analysis. Graduate standing required.
Typically offered in Fall only
Examination of social, cultural, political and policy environment of schooling with emphasis on NC. Analysis of major theories of school change and development. critical examination of opportunities and barriers to strategic change efforts. Instructional activities will include lecture, sminar discussion, case and problem-based analysis.
Typically offered in Spring only
Prepares administrators to strategically plan, manage and evaluate core programs and systems for the safe and efficient operation of schools. Operational domains examined will include information systems, management systems, curriculum, instruction, student behavior and school security systems. Instructional activities include lecture, sminar discussions, case, situation and problem-based analysis.
Typically offered in Fall only
Examination and application of models, theories, and research pertaining to personnel appraisal in education, including recruitment hiring, retention, and dismissal; evaluation models for professional and classified staff; use of effective professional development models to support professional growth and development.
Typically offered in Fall only
Theories and practices of funding K-12 education including examination of: political frameworks and policy issues; concepts central to education finance and budgeting; purposes, designs, and uses of school budgets; procedures for generating, analyzing and interpreting issues related to education finance and school budgeting. Construct, manage and analyze school and district-level budgets; address issues of economic efficiency, equity and fiscal adequacy and their fiscal impact on the school community. Understand North Carolina's Uniform Chart of Accounts accounting structure for school budgeting.
Corequisite: ELP 553
Typically offered in Spring only
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Opportunity for graduate students in education to study problem areas in professional education under direction of member of graduate faculty.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or PBS status
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Utilization of participant-observer role and required participation in selected educational situations with emphasis upon development of observational skills, ability to record relevant observations by means of written journals, skills in analyzing experiences identifying critical incidents and projection of events and consequences. Required development of possible alternative courses of action in various situations, selection of one of alternatives and evaluation of consequences of selected course of action.
Prerequisite: Nine hrs. in grad.-level courses
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the master's degree and are writing and defending their theses.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Reading and discussion of 20th-century works in educational philosophy. Consideration of such movements as pragmatism, reconstruction, perennialism and existentialism.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Comprehensive study of constitutional, statutory and case law as related to elementary and secondary school administration. Emphasis on legal issues associated with governance, finance, property, personnel and curriculum.
Typically offered in Spring only
Historical and sociopolitical contextual analysis of underlying values, methodologies and policies associated with economic and financial planning of K-12 education (e.g., efficiency, equity, and liberty) and the economic and financial mechanisms used to generate, distribute, and expend revenues for educational purposes.
Typically offered in Fall only
This course will draw on both classic and contemporary materials in educational policy research and will primarily focus on the substance of policy research rather than methodology. It addresses research pertaining to the foundations, implementation and evaluation of policy in all levels and sectors of the educational system. Major attention will be given to education in the United States, with comparative perspectives included.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Analysis of political interactions of individuals and groups in P-12 education, specifically, how politics shapes educational decisions within a federal system of governance. Topics covered include micropolitics and macropolitical systems at the school, district, municipal, state, and federal levels, as well as political culture, interest groups, advocacy coalitions, and institutions. Doctoral standing required.
Typically offered in Fall only
Understand the purposed and uses of school data for research-based school improvement. Understand different types of assessment needed for school and district-wide improvement. Develop models of administrative decision making incorporating key goals, resources, curriculum alignment, data, assessment, and evaluation. Doctoral student status required.
Typically offered in Spring only
Prepares district-level administrators to analyze the changing nature of the superintendency, including major management and leadership responsibilities and leadership approaches. Operational domains examined include school governance and organizational theory, school boards, school district policy, collaborative leadership, material and human resource management, systemic and sustainable reform, contemporary challenges, and personal practices management. Doctoral standing required.
Review of educational program evaluation with emphasis on (1) theory and conceptual models of evaluation, (2) evaluation design, and (3) environmental practical factors influencing design and implementation of evaluation studies.
Typically offered in Fall only
Special Topics in Educational Research and Leadership
Opportunity for graduate students in education to study problem areas in professional education under direction of member of graduate faculty.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or PBS status
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Utilization of participant-observer role and required participation in selected educational situations with emphasis upon development of observational skills, ability to record relevant observations by means of written journals, skills in analyzing experiences identifying critical incidents and projection of events and consequences. Required development of possible alternative courses of action in various situations, selection of one of alternatives and evaluation of consequences of selected course of action.
Prerequisite: Nine hrs. in grad.-level courses
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall only
Provision of individualized but structured investigation of alternative problem definitions, research methodologies and statistical analyses for a problem of student's choosing, usually associated with thesis or dissertation. In small groups or individually with instructor, student consideration of research design, measurements and statistical analysis necessary to conduct research.
Prerequisite: ELP 742
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
A project or problem in research in education for graduate students, supervised by members of graduate faculty. Research chosen on basis of individual students' interests and not to be part of thesis or dissertation research.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Dissertation research.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For students who have completed all credit hours, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring