UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST DOCTORAL PROGRAM
GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Program name: Higher Education College: School of Education Department: Department of Educational Policy, Research & Administration Degrees and Emphases: Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership Tuition and Fees: http://www.umass.edu/gradschool/tuitfee/index.html |
Contact Persons: Web Page (URL) address: http://www.umass.edu/education/departments/main_epra.htm Degree first offered: 1969 Typical number of students admitted each year: 8-10 |
PROGRAM STATEMENT
Several major themes characterize the interests of this program. These themes are identified as an attempt to promote critical understanding, skills acquisition, and values development. The themes are related to (1) educational decision-making, planning, and policy development, (2) effective implementation, administration, and leadership, and (3) modes of conceptualization and inquiry (particularly in the analysis of paradigms and research methods). These three foci indicate some of the general areas of core knowledge that we would expect all of our students to explore. As well as providing opportunities to address these concerns in the abstract, our programs are structured to enable students to specialize in and across a variety of local, national, and international settings and at a range of levels from early to higher education. Underlying these foci and concrete interests is a commitment to promote excellence and equity in and through education.
Analyses of the various manifestations of policy development and implementation represent a confluence of a number of analytic disciplines, notably, sociology, political science, anthropology, psychology, literary analysis, and the like. The program seeks to be a connector at which these theoretical, methodological, and applied interests intersect.
PROGRAM MISSION
In the context of this doctoral level program on education policy and leadership, the concepts of "policy" and "leadership" are broadly conceived. "Policy" encompasses guidelines or blueprints for action, ranging from macro-level national, state, or district plans and regulations to more local-level school and college programs and other initiatives. Substantive areas include all major issues and facets of education and related systems: equity, finance, law, change, decision-making structures, community and national development, and the like. Similarly, "leadership" is intended to embrace a broad spectrum of activities and orientations from formal positions of authority to informal, micro-level interactions. Major themes across this program include the concern with how to promote equity and excellence, how to foster democratic communities, and how to create more effective education systems at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels and beyond, within the formal and non-formal school contexts, and within the U.S. and abroad.
The goals include preparing scholars and practitioners in the areas and competencies indicated above. Indicators of the effectiveness of our program include faculty and student evaluations, the employment and success of our graduates, service to the Commonwealth, the nation, and the international community.
PROGRAM UNIQUENESS
UMass is ideally situated in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, with close links to Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire Colleges (via the 5 College Consortium). Students may complete practica and take courses at these institutions, or use the resources of several other colleges within a short commute.
NATIONAL STANDARDSAPPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
GPA Requirement: 3.00
3 letters of recommendation
Interview
Personal Statement
Deadline: January 15
CURRICULUM INFORMATION
Program Curriculum:
Proseminars (6 credits)
Core (Policy, Leadership, Foundations (6 credits)
Research (6 credits)
Advanced/Specialization (12 credits)
Electives (6 credits)
Integrative Seminar/Comprehensive Examination (3 credits)
Dissertation (18 credits)
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Students in student affairs or higher education administration programs (2005-2006):
| Total | 42 | 7 | 35 | 32 | 10 |
| 15 | 85 | 40 | |||
PROGRAM FACULTY (Name, title, typical number of coursed taught annully, interests)
| Name | Title | Number of Courses Taught | Interests |
| Benita Barnes | Assistant Professor | 4 | student development theory, student affairs administration, graduate education |
| Joseph Berger | Associate Professor | 2 | leadership, organizational theory, student access and outcomes, community colleges |
| Gary Malaney | Adjunct Associate Professor | 3 | research methodology, program evaluation, student life |
| Shederick McClendon | Assistant Professor | 4 | student development and college impact, student affairs administration, diversity in higher education |
| KerryAnn O’Meara | Assistant Professor | 4 | faculty issues, tenure, service learning, pedagogy, history of higher education |
| Mary Deane Sorcinelli | Associate Professor | 1 | faculty development, pedagogy |
| Elizabeth Williams | Adjunct Assistant Professor | 2 | research methodology, survey research, sociology |
Associated Faculty
Scott Brown, Director, Career Development Center, Mt. Holyoke College; Courses Taught – 1, Interests – student development theory, career services
Charles DiMare, Director, Student Legal Service, UMass; Courses Taught – 2, Interests – higher education law, student leadership
Michael Gargano, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UMass; Interests – student life, orientation, athletics
John Lombardi, Chancellor, UMass; Courses Taught – 1, Interests – higher education management
Martha Stassen, Director, Academic Assessment and Planning, UMass; Courses Taught – 1, Interests – student outcomes assessment
Last modified
March 29, 2007
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