The coursework in school improvement is consistent with a growing knowledge base within the K-12 environment. The coursework will prepare school leaders in a variety of roles (lead teachers, supervisors, staff developers, central office administrators, principals, superintendents, etc…) for leadership focused on the “technical core” of schooling: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. To this end, students in this program will develop skills in transformational school leadership, professional development, curriculum development, instructional improvement, improvement of student assessment, and databased whole-school improvement. 

Graduates in School Improvement hold such positions as

Teacher-leader
Department chair
Principal or assistant principal
Staff Developer
Instructional supervisor
Curriculum coordinator
Government agency administrator or consultant
Superintendent (or assistant or associate)
Private consultant
University Faculty (e.g. Ed leadership, teacher education)

SI COURSEWORK

Core
ED 7311 Educational Philosophy in a Social Context (3 hours)
ED 7364 Team Development in Education (3 hours)
ED 7312 Leadership and Organizational Change (3 hours)
ED 7315 Models of Inquiry: Understanding Epistemologies (3 hours)
ED 7313 Advanced Studies in Adult Learning and Development (3 hours)
ED 7314 Community Development for Educators (3 hours)
 
Major
ED 7331 Foundations of School Improvement (3 hours)
ED 7332 Facilitating School Improvement (3 hours)
ED 7333 Curriculum and Instructional Leadership (3 hours)
ED 7334 Models of Educational Assessment (3 hours)
 
Research Courses
ED 7351 Beginning Quantitative Research Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Year 2 Fall or Spring)
ED 7354  Intermediate Qualitative Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Year 2 Summer)
And/or
ED 7353  Intermediate Quantitative Research Design and Analysis (3 hours) (Year 2 Summer)
ED 7341 Dissertation Proposal Development (3 hours) (Year 3 Fall or Spring, after core & research courses)
 
Elective Courses
9 hours (3 courses)