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The Graduate School at the University of Missouri–Columbia (Mizzou)

Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis Graduate Programs

Contact Information
College of Education

About ELPA's Graduate Programs

The graduate programs in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis are designed to meet the specific educational needs of the student in a particular area of emphasis. Graduates find employment in a wide range of settings including colleges and universities, public schools, policy agencies, professional associations, government and business and industry.

The PhD Program in ELPA requires a minimum of 60 hours beyond the master’s degree. The goal of the PhD program is the preparation of professional researchers, scholars, or scholar practitioners who have high levels of competence in conducting research that adds to the knowledge base.

The program also has a goal of meeting the student’s individual career goals and interests through the development of an appropriate plan of study. Each emphasis area has slightly different requirements and areas of focus; however, all 3 emphasis areas require a major or content area core, which includes teaching and research internships; a support area; a research core; and the completion of a minimum of 6 hours for the dissertation.

The Statewide Cooperative EdD Program in Educational Leadership is designed to enhance the knowledge and competencies of educational leaders so they provide optimal leadership in organizations that educate a wide range of learners from youth to adult. The program’s curriculum is designed to prepare leaders who are inquiring, reflective practitioners who are competent in defining and solving complex problems in education.

The Educational Specialist (EdSp) Program is designed to enhance the knowledge and competencies of K-12 educational administrators and to lead to advanced principal certification and/or superintendent certification. The program, designed in a cohort format, is a two-year, 34-credit-hour program. The program has a thematic, integrated, problem-based curriculum intended to prepare school and district leaders who are inquiring, reflective practitioners. The curriculum is aligned with state standards for certification.

The department’s master’s programs are intended to provide initial preparation for leaders in a variety of educational contexts, including higher and continuing education and PK-12 schools. Programs vary according to emphasis area and are designed to meet student’s individual career goals and interests - e.g., student affairs administration, initial principal certification, continuing education, general higher education administration and medical education.

A minimum of 33 credit hours is required for the M Ed.

Satisfactory Rate of Progress
All ELPA students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward their degrees. Satisfactory progress of students will be determined through an annual review by the director of graduate studies, graduate students’ academic advisers and their committees. Judgments about satisfactory progress will involve consideration of the following:

* Graduate School time limits for programs
* GPA for departmental courses
* Continuous enrollment and active engagement in course work or research (EdD and PhD)
* Student performance in research credits
* Timely resolution of incomplete grades

Degrees

Degrees available in the following emphasis areas:

  • MA, M Ed in Higher and Continuing Education
  • M Ed in Learning and Instruction (concentration in Educational Leadership)
  • EdSp in Educational Administration
  • EdD in Educational Leadership
  • PhD in Educational Administration
  • PhD in Educational Policy Studies
  • PhD in Higher and Continuing Education

Graduate Certificates

  • Education Policy Studies
  • Higher and Continuing Education Administration