MA in Education, Educational Leadership

This course examines qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research designs and methodologies. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate educational research and utilize research techniques. Topics include experimental, non-experimental and mixed research designs, methods of data collection and analysis, descriptive statistics, and threats to validity. Students learn to utilize APA formatting and examine issues related to plagiarism and academic integrity.

This course explores various leadership and organizational change theories with an emphasis on the relationship between theory and practice. Various strategies to bring these theories into practice through leadership will also be discussed. The skills and strategies for leading the creation of a compelling, shared vision and mission in educational organizations based on multiple sources of data will be explored. An emphasis is also placed on leading by example to promote the implementation of the shared vision.

In this course, collaboration, communication, and team development structures and theory will be emphasized so candidates can develop the skill set necessary to engage stakeholders in effectively implementing the shared vision and lead transformational change. Specifically, skills and strategies will be explored that candidates can use to nurture trust, build effective teams, engage in collaborative decision-making, facilitate conflict resolution and build capacity among all members of the educational organization.

This course will further explore leadership change theories in order to prepare candidates to facilitate the change process required to continuously improve educational organizations. The complexities of leading transformational change will be explored with an emphasis on overcoming barriers to change. Aligning organizational systems with the mission and vision of the organization will be explored. Lastly, the importance of the leader serving as an agent of change will be emphasized.