Course of Study

This seminar forms the base of the research offerings for students in the Ed.D. in Policy & Leadership Studies.  In the course, we will explicate knowledge production through systematic inquiry in education, including processes, questions, and strategies used to conduct meaningful research in educational systems including U.S. K-12 public schools, U.S. higher education, and international education.  We explore the intersection of theory and practice with emphasis on the epistemological assumptions and design of thoughtful, ethical inquiry about education.  We also emphasize sound academic writing principles and provide structured guidance in developing those skills.

Introduction to the roles of federal, state, and local government in US K-12 education policy, the diverse ways of studying education policy, and to specific current policy issues including educational accountability, school finance, the controversy over school-district regionalization in Massachusetts, challenges facing urban schools, and how research affects education policy debates.

"Collaboration" is a widely championed educational imperative, yet the concept is largely misunderstood.  Course participants will learn to capitalize on the power of inter-organizational and interpersonal collaboration so as to increase student achievement, empowerment and performance.

This course will immerse upcoming educational leaders in the philosophy, principles and practical applications of learning theory, differentiated instruction, and performance assessment.

An introduction to basic concepts, skills, strategies, and research related to leading and managing schools.  Topics include organizational culture, and models of decision making, leadership, learning, and instruction.

Analyze, evaluate, and increase your cognitive, interpersonal, and self-management effectiveness using concepts and tasks related to visioning, planning, resolving conflicts, teamwork, promoting human development, and overcoming organization resistance to change.

This course begins with a brief survey of basic theories of organizational behavior and change.  Examines such strategies as action research, strategic planning, and negotiation - emphasizing the role of different kinds of leadership in the process of change.

The purpose of this course is to give students in the social sciences and, in particular, education, skills in statistical reasoning so that they will be critical readers of research literature in their fields and in a position to design research studies and analyze data on their own.

Introduction to the assumptions, language, logic, and methods of qualitative inquiry in educational settings.  Students are required to conduct a small-scale qualitative research project.