Masters DegreeThe Education Policy Program offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Education and Human Development with a concentration in Education Policy Studies. The program prepares leaders to contribute to the advancement of education policy at the local, state, national, and international levels. The program is ideally suited for those aspiring to mid-level professional positions in international organizations concerned with education, in national government agencies, in professional associations involved with education, in private consulting firms, and in state education agencies.The Masters program has five streams of preparation. It provides
a broad perspective of the philosophical, historical, social, economic,
and political contexts that influence education and are, in turn, influenced
by education. It introduces the skills needed to develop policy,
analyze policies, advocate in behalf of policies, and implement policies.
It develops skills in analysis of contemporary policies and policy proposals.
It provides students with an understanding of the research and evaluation
methods which are often used to inform policy, and which sometimes are
used deceitfully to mislead policy makers. The program allows students
four elective courses to explore other areas of education and policy.
The electives may be used partly for internships and independent study.
Students are also encouraged to participate in the many hearings, consultations,
meetings, and other events that occur almost daily in Washington D.C.
Required CoursesEDUC 214 - History of American Education ReformsAll courses are three credits. A total of 36 hours are required. The "EDUC 220" designation is used for all new courses in the Department of Educational Leadership. There will be multiple "220" courses taught in any given semester. Check the course titles closely when look at the course schedule and when registering. EDUC 214 and 268 are generally taught only in the fall semester, and EDUC 281 and 220:yy (Analysis of Education Policy Issues) are generally taught only in the spring semester. Students are encouraged to take mostly required courses during their first year, leaving their electives to the second or third year, when their specific interests sometimes have changed.
Course DescriptionsRequired CoursesEDUC 214 - History of American Education ReformsWhat distinguishes between successful and failed education reform attempts? This course examines how values, ideas, social and economic contexts, politics, and leadership serve to propel and oppose education reform efforts. The focus will be on the American experience, but cross-cultural examples will be introduced. EDUC 268 - Leadership and Education
EDUC 271 - Education Policy
EDUC 281 - Program Evaluation
EDUC 295 - Quantitative Research Methods II
EDUC 307 - Qualitative Research Methods
EDUC 288 - Analysis of Education Policy Issues
Optional Courses Students have to take at least one of the following four International Education courses providing a cross national perspective on education: EDUC 201: International and Comparative Education: Theoretical foundations of comparative and international education. Systematic investigation of the structure and practices of selected representative school systems throughout the world. EDUC 202:15: Comparative Solutions to Common Educational Problems: Examination of how different countries have addressed challenges and problems in education that face almost all countries. EDUC 203:10: Programs and Policies in International Education: Overview of policies and programmatic responses in developing countries EDUC 285: Education and National Development: Examination of the inter-relationships between education and various aspects of national development in both advanced industrial countries and those moving toward industrialization. Elective CoursesStudents may use their electives to take a wide range of courses. They sometimes take elective courses offered by the Education Policy Program. Second year students may, with the approval of the instructor, take doctoral level courses in the Education Policy Program. Students sometimes take courses in other programs of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development such as International Education, Education Administration, Higher Education Administration. They may take additional research methods courses. They also sometimes take courses in programs of other schools, such as Business Administration, International Affairs, Political Communication, Political Management, Public Administration, Sociology, and Woman's Studies. Students may take courses at other universities that participate in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, in accordance with the rules for that. Finally, many students use one or more electives for supervised individual study or internships with Washington organizations.Admissions ProceduresThe admissions procedures are explained in the School's main web site at http://gsehd.gwu.edu/Prospective+StudentsCAREFUL: The deadline for financial aid applications is usually in January. Applicants must indicate their desire for aid in questions 18-20 of the main application and in a separate "Application for On-Campus Tuition Support," which is found on the last two pages of the School's brochure on "Funding Opportunities, Awards and Prizes."NOTE: Considerable effort has been taken to make this page accurate, but only the GWU Bulletin of Graduate Programs provides the official statement of University and School requirements. [Last updated July 20, 2007]
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