Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, MA

for the degree of Master of Arts in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (on campus)


Graduate Degree Programs

Degree programs in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership are designed to meet the academic and professional interests of individuals preparing for careers as academic professionals, adult educators, college professors, corporate trainers, educational policy analysts, governmental administrators, instructional designers/technologists, non-profit representatives, organizational development specialists, and university administration leaders. 

Admission

The Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership carefully considers all applicants for graduate study. Interested applicants should start at the College of Education Graduate Programs website. In addition to the application, the applicant is required to submit the following information: a statement of purpose, updated resume, official transcripts from all colleges attended, and three letters of recommendation. A scholarly writing sample in English (e.g., a master's thesis, article, or academic paper) is required for application to a doctoral program. 

International applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency for admission. Please see the English Proficiency Requirement for Admission for additional information on this requirement.

Facilities and Resources

The College of Education offers a variety of resources to support graduate students throughout their academic journey. The Bureau of Educational Research assists students in securing research funding, and each student is assigned a graduate adviser to help plan their program of study, select courses, and track progress toward degree completion. Additional information about university-wide resources is available on the GradMAP website.

Financial Aid

Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. Please note: Graduate students employed as staff by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Fellowship. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid.

for the degree of Master of Arts in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (on campus)


The Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership offers many programs leading to the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.).  A list of programs and additional requirements can be found on the program's website, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.

Students may select a concentration in:


Foundations Hours8
Choose at least two foundation courses from the Course List tab. At least one of these two courses must be a course from outside the degree-granting department.
Thesis Research Credit (min/max applied toward degree)2-8
400/500-Level Courses approved by Advisor16-22
Independent Study (min/max) (optional)
Total Hours32

Other Requirements

Concentration courses may overlap with other coursework requirements.
A concentration is not required.
500-Level Hours Required in Education (Thesis Research Credit not included) 12 hours
Minimum GPA 3.0

for the degree of Master of Arts in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (on campus)


Foundations Course List

Culture in the Classroom
Curriculum Development for the 21st Century
History of American Education
Asian American Education
Historical and Social Barriers
School and Society
Professional Ethics in Education
Critical Thinking in Education
Sociology of Education
Racial and Ethnic Families
Politics of Education
Economics of Education
Technology and Educational Reform
Educational Politics and Policies
Foundation of Higher Education
Any 400 level EPSY course
Global Issues in Learning
Equity Issues in Special Education
Disability Issues in Special Education

for the degree of Master of Arts in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (on campus)


Upon the conclusion of the program in EPOL, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based programs and practices.
  2. Comprehend current topics and trends in EPOL-wide fields that inform evidence-based practices to improve equity, diversity, and social justice across a wide range of educational, professional, and organizational contexts.

for the degree of Master of Arts in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (on campus)


Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership

Head of the Department: Lorenzo Baber
Director of Graduate Studies: Linda Herrera
Graduate Admissions Information: Linda Stimson (on campus) and Jena Pfoff (online/off-campus)
Education Policy, Organization & Leadership faculty
142 Education Building, 1310 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-3542
gradservices@education.illinois.edu

College of Education

College of Education programs

Admissions

College of Education Admissions & Requirements
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements