Education Policy and Leadership (MS)
*Course sequence is subject to change. For current course information, please visit our website.
About the Education Policy and Leadership (EPoL) Master’s of Science Program
A pandemic that has heightened inequality. A renewed drive for racial and economic justice. A need for core beliefs and evidence to guide educational decision-making. A facility in a wide range of analytic methods. These are the kinds of motivating catalysts and personal characteristics of those who will thrive in the Education Policy and Leadership Master’s Program at the University of Oregon. Now is the time for an inter-disciplinary, reflective and skill-oriented education like the kind you will find in the EPoL program.
Our program is a 12-month place-based program that awards you a Master of Science degree in Education Policy and Leadership (EPoL). The program combines methodological training, theoretical grounding, and practical expertise in US education policy, evidence-based decision-making, organizational leadership, and policy-making processes. If desired, EPoL students can add on an optional specialization in data science.
For information on how to apply, please visit our website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the process for education policy development, implementation, and evaluation.
- Demonstrate skills to analyze data with a goal of identifying problems, understanding their possible causes, and evaluating potential solutions.
- Act as an effective, equity-oriented, continuous improvement change-maker and a responsive leader in education-related settings.
- Effectively communicate both through presentation of ideas and through receptive listening and processing of other stakeholders' ideas.
Education Policy and Leadership Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| Term 1 (Summer) | ||
| EDST 693 | Educational Governance and Policy Process | 3 |
| EDST 695 | Foundations of Education Policy and Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 612 | Social Science and Education Research Design | 3 |
| Term 2 (Fall) | ||
| EDST 690 | Writing for Education Policy Leaders | 3 |
| EDST 694 | Survey of United States Education Policy | 3 |
| EDUC 641 | Applied Statistics in Education and Human Services I | 3 |
| Term 3 (Winter) | ||
| EDUC 643 | Applied Statistics in Education and Human Service II | 3 |
| EDST 692 | Educational Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Term 4 (Spring) | ||
| EDST 696 | Educational Policy and Leadership Master's Capstone | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (minimum of 6 courses or 18 credits) | 18 | |
| Evidence-Based Decision Making in Schools | ||
| Education Policy for Multilingual Students | ||
| Higher Education Policy | ||
| Education Law | ||
| Higher Education Leadership | ||
| Survey and Questionnaire Design | ||
| Learning Organization | ||
| Leading for Equity | ||
| Program Evaluation I | ||
| Program Evaluation II | ||
| Educational Data Science Capstone Project | ||
| Introductory Educational Data Science | ||
| Learning Organization | ||
| Data Visualization for Educational Data Science | ||
| Functional Programming for Educational Data Science | ||
| Machine Learning for Educational Data Science | ||
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Residency Requirements
This is an in-person program located at the main University of Oregon campus in Eugene, Oregon. All students must attend classes and required meetings in person. Three consecutive terms of full-time study (graduate credits) must be completed to meet graduate school residency requirements. Students are expected to take classes in person whenever possible. Only three courses total across the program and a maximum of one course per term may be taken in an online or virtual format.