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 and scholars 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 department-wide core; emphasis area coursework; electives; a research core; and the completion of a minimum of 6 hours for the dissertation.
The 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 PK-12 educational administrators and to lead to advanced principal certification and/or superintendent certification. 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 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, and general higher education administration.
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Fall 2022 deadline: April 1, 2022*
*Note: Applications will be due April 1, with coursework beginning in the Fall semester of that same year.
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
On Campus
The program offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis with emphasis areas in Educational Administration, Educational Policy Studies, and Higher Education.
Fall deadline: January 15
Spring deadline: September 15
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Admissions screening and decisions for all graduate programs are not made until all required materials have been submitted. Admissions recommendations are based on a profile developed from data that include undergraduate (last 60 hours) and graduate grade point averages, recommendations, evidence of successful professional experiences and samples of scholarly writing.
Requires Campus Visits
The program offers an Education Specialist degree with emphasis in PK-12 Educational Leadership and Administration (Superintendent, Principal, and Executive Superintendency Certification).
Applications will be reviewed three times each year. Students will be informed of the results in enough time to enroll for the following semester. All materials must be submitted by these deadlines, when application review will begin.
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Admissions screening and decisions for all graduate programs are not made until all required materials have been submitted. Admissions recommendations are based on a profile developed from data that include undergraduate (last 60 hours) and graduate grade point averages, recommendations and evidence of successful professional experiences.
100% Online
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Admissions screening and decisions for all graduate programs are not made until all required materials have been submitted. Admissions recommendations are based on a profile developed from data that include undergraduate (last 60 hours) and graduate grade point averages, recommendations, and evidence of successful related experiences.
A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for the M Ed in PK-12 Educational Leadership and Administration, Elementary and Secondary Principal, Certification.
A minimum of 33 credit hours and a capstone project are required for the M Ed in Higher Education.
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Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: The purpose of the online graduate certificate in College Teaching is to enhance the teaching skills and career preparation of graduate students interested in obtaining academic positions in 2- and 4-year settings. This certificate will:
Certificate web site:
https://online.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/mu/education/college-teaching/grad-cert
Application Deadlines
On Campus
Note: This program is not accepting applications at this time.
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: The objective for the Graduate Certificate in Education Improvement is to provide an advanced education and training opportunity in the areas of continuous school improvement, building on a number of frame works. The program will provide an educational opportunity for current school, district, and University administrators – as well as their board members – in the foundations of managing complex organizations of managing complex organizations for continuous improvement. At the conclusion of the Graduate Certificate in Education Improvement, a student will:
The program will be offered as both a stand-alone program or as an additional program for students in related degree programs. The program consists of four courses delivered annually online over 7 months, from June through December. Two courses will be taught in the summer term and two courses in the fall.
Certificate web site:
Not available at this time.
On Campus
Note: This program is not accepting applications at this time.
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: The objectives of the Education Policy Graduate Certificate Program will be to provide students with (a) knowledge they can apply to the study of education policy within their major discipline or to their work in policy settings; (b) skills in analyzing education policy issues, i.e., understanding differing values, political and economic arguments, costs/benefits, and policy processes and (c) conceptual tools to use in understanding and resolving policy implementation problems.
Certificate web site:
https://education.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/certificates-minors/education-policy/
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Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Administration is designed to address the need for enhanced understanding of the higher education institutional context and for improved skills in areas required for effective administration of the higher education administration and governance and some technical knowledge about various aspects of administration (i.e., budget and finance, higher education law). Students also enhance understanding and skills in a relevant area of administrative practice (e.g., program planning for continuing educators, student affairs administration for student affairs professionals, the community college for community college administrators).
Certificate web site:
https://education.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/certificates-minors/higher-education-administration/
Application Deadlines
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Note: This program will start accepting applications for the Summer 2022 term and beyond in early August.
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description:
This Graduate Certificate in Global Education and Leadership prepares and positions educators to develop, sustain, and lead globally-minded schools (preschool to high school). Regardless of geographic location, educators and students are growing and learning in a transnational world. Examining global and local contexts, this certificate will provide the theories, tools, and resources for aspiring principals, curriculum leaders and other educators to successfully lead colleagues and students to be critical, reflective, and inquiring global stewards with refined intercultural skills.
The required four courses for this certificate each take an inquiry approach that allows educators to question and examine locally-relevant and globally-minded leadership principles and practices. The program as a whole expands upon ELPA’s commitment to developing equitable and inclusive leadership by bridging best practices in school leader development with the underpinning values of the International Baccalaureate (IB) organization (ibo.org) and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg4). In turn, the core value underlying the certificate is to foment intercultural understanding and global-mindedness in each of these critical aspects of educational leadership:
Certificate web site: https://education.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/certificates-minors/global-education-and-leadership/
Application Deadlines