College: School of Education
Designation: Department
Major: Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
Degrees Offered: M.S., Ph.D.
Other: Ph.D. Minor and Specialist Certificate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis; Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning Scholarship in Higher Education
Tracks: M.S. degree subplans: cooperative program with UW-Oshkosh, or cooperative program with UW-Whitewater
Faculty: Professors Bredeson (chair), Cabrera, Capper, Conrad, Hayes, Kelley, Knox, Odden, Peterson, Phelps, Way; Associate Professors Mead, Borman; Assistant Professors Camburn, Halverson, Jackson; Clinical Professor James Shaw
The mission of the department is to create, integrate, exchange, and apply knowledge about leadership, learning, and organizational performance to advance educational quality and opportunity.
Many varied educational constituencies need to be able to analyze and to inform debate on educational issues, and to lead and develop learning communities that meet the diverse learning needs of students and society. We believe effective educational leadership in any institution embodies three values: inquiry, equity and reflection. (Strategic Action Plan 2004)
Graduates and recipients of the department's instruction are expected to reflect the knowledge, skills, and personal qualities that will be successful in promoting, producing, and improving learning and increasing public trust in educational institutions.
The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis offers the M.S. degree, the Ph.D. degree, the master administrator capstone certificate, and an educational specialist certificate in educational leadership and policy analysis. All are intended to increase professional knowledge and skills essential for educational leadership, and to prepare persons for leadership positions at all levels of education: preschool, elementary, secondary, special education, vocational and technical schools, and colleges and universities, both public and private.
In keeping with this mission, the department has three specialties or emphases: higher, continuing, and postsecondary education, focused on the effective administration of postsecondary institutions; K-12 leadership, emphasizing the effective administration of primary and secondary institutions; educational policy, stressing effective formation and analysis of policies governing the administration of all educational institutions. Students in each specialty will focus their course work within the emphasis, although students are encouraged to learn about other areas as well. Many students in the department also pursue the course work for the Wisconsin certification for K-12 leadership.
The department offers a master administrator capstone certificate for students not currently enrolled in a UW-Madison degree program. Capstone certificate applicants are admitted as Special students through the Division of Continuing Studies; see www.dcs.wisc.edu/capstone. All course work for the administrator certificate can be applied later to the doctoral program, particularly in the K-12 leadership specialty. Certification-only students are not eligible for any degree without first applying for the specific degree program desired.
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved the cooperative master of science degree program in educational administration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater campuses on February 5, 1982.
The cooperative program provides the opportunity for educators in the northeastern and central regions of Wisconsin to obtain a master of science degree, with certification (principal, director of instruction, director of special education and pupil services) in educational administration, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All required course work will be offered on either the Oshkosh or the Whitewater campuses.
Students must be admitted simultaneously to UW-Madison and UW-Oshkosh or UW-Whitewater. Program admission will be to the UW-Madison Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and to the UW-Oshkosh Department of Human Services and Professional Leadership or the UW-Whitewater Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Upon completion of the approved program, students will be awarded a master of science degree from UW-Madison.
Full-time graduate students may receive appointments as research, program, or project assistants. These assistantships usually provide for remission of tuition (except for segregated fees) and provide a stipend to help meet the expenses of graduate study. Students with superior records may compete for fellowships, scholarships, and other awards. Information regarding financial aid opportunities is available on the Web at www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/admissions/funding.htm .
Admission to the department is based, in part, on the following criteria: undergraduate GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work, GPA on 9 or more graduate credits, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, three letters of recommendation from persons who are qualified to judge the applicant's academic and professional competence, and a "reasons for study" essay.
Information regarding the admissions criteria and application process is available on the Web at www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/admissions/general_adm.html .
Capstone certificate applicants are admitted as Special students through the Division of Continuing Studies; see www.dcs.wisc.edu/capstone .
For more information: Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, 1152 Educational Sciences Building, 1025 West Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706; 608-263-2701; FAQ: www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/admissions/faq.html ; elpa@education.wisc.edu; Department: www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/; Master's program: www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/academics/degrees/MS.html; Doctoral program: www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/academics/degrees/PhD.html; Certification programs: www.education.wisc.edu/elpa/academics/degrees/certificationprogs.html; Master Administrator capstone program: www.dcs.wisc.edu/capstone.