Educational Leadership Program of Study

Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a 45-credit program that includes:

  • ELP Professional Studies Core (16 credits)
  • Thematic Specialization (20-22 credits)
  • Electives (7-9 credits)
  • Culminating Experience (2 credits)

Students have considerable flexibility in shaping their thematic specialization and elective course work.

Printer-friendly Program of Study form

Professional Studies Core (16 credits required)

Students may complete the professional studies core at any point in their program. However, it is recommended that students complete the professional core courses as soon as possible.

Foundations of Education (4 credits)

ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education (4)

OR

ELP 554 Philosophy of Education (4)

Research and Evaluation (4 credits)

ELP 511 Principles of Educational Research and Data Analysis I (4)

Organizational Systems (4 credits)

ELP 568 Educational Organization and Administration (4)

Adult Development (4 credits)

ELP 520 Developmental Perspectives on Adult Learning (4)


Thematic Specializations (20-22 credits)

The Thematic Specializations are to serve as a learning guide in assisting students with focusing and developing their program. They are not intended to be prescriptive. As such, working with their advisor students may choose one theme or combine courses from a variety of themes.

Educational Foundations Theme

Students interested in exploring the roots of educational thoughts and practices, and the effects of institutionalized education on individuals, society, and the environment. This theme explores competing concepts of formal education from the view points of philosophy, history, sociology, economics, culture, anthropology and politics.

ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education (4)

ELP 552 History of Education (3)

ELP 553 History of American Education (4)

ELP 554 Philosophy of Education (4)

ELP 555 Gender and Education (4)

ELP 556 The Urban School and "At-Risk" Status (4)

ELP 557 Cultural Pluralism and Urban Education (4)

Educational Policy Analysis Theme

Students interested in studying a particular educational policy or policy issue in depth while under the guidance of a faculty mentor who works closely with the student in planning a combination of readings and field research projects to accomplish the student's learning objectives.

ELP 505 Reading and Conference: individual readings arranged
with a sponsoring faculty mentor (6 maximum)

ELP 506 Projects: individual projects arranged with a sponsoring faculty mentor (6 maximum)

ELP 569* Introduction to Educational Administration (4)

ELP 581 U.S. and Oregon School Law and Policy (4)

*Required course

The policy sequence offered by Urban Studies and Planning is recommended as an area of elective studies: USP 560 Policy Process (3), USP 561 Policy Analysis: Theoretical Foundations (3), USP 562 Policy Implementation (3) and USP 563 Program Evaluation (3).

Educational Research, Evaluation, and Staff Development Theme

Students interested in developing a career in educational research, assessment, program evaluation and/or staff development in K-12 schools and institutional research in postsecondary institutions.

ELP 512*** Principles of Ed. Research and Data Analysis II (4)

ELP 513* Adv. Research Designs & Data Analysis in Education (4)

ELP 514*** Educational Measurement and Assessment (4)

ELP 515 Program Evaluation (4)

ELP 521** Adult Learning (4)

ELP 522 Motivating Adult Learners (4)

ELP 523 Assessing Adult Learning (4)

ELP 560 Supervision and Evaluation of Instruction (4)

ELP 561** Staff Development: Planning, Implementation and Evaluation (4)

*Recommended for Research and Evaluation
**Recommended for Staff Development
***Recommended for both

Leadership Studies Theme

Students interested in educational leadership, but are not specifically interested in obtaining an administrative license. It provides a solid foundation for understanding educational organizations and developing leadership skills that are valuable in various educational settings.

ELP 569* Introduction to Educational Administration (4)

ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education (4)

ELP 554 Philosophy of Education (4)

ELP 557 Cultural Pluralism and Urban Education (4)

ELP 560 Supervision and Evaluation of Instruction (4)

ELP 562 School and Community Relations (4)

ELP 563 Human Relations in Educational Organizations (4)

ELP 564 Administration of Curriculum (4)

ELP 581 U.S. and Oregon School Law and Policy (4)

*Required course

Electives (7-9 credits)

Elective credits should be related to the student's overall program and selected in collaboration with an advisor. Students may enroll in graduate-level courses from the Graduate School of Education or other departments within Portland State University. Students may also engage in independent study.

Culminating Experience (2 credits minimum)

Candidates for the Master's degree with a specialization in Educational Leadership must select, in consultation with their faculty adviser, one of two culminating experiences: Thesis or Culminating Project.

Culminating Project Option

A Culminating Project is a project-based experience that might include a comprehensive report on students' engagement in an applied project such as development of curriculum, instructional materials, video documentary, and collaborative work in the community or a community appraisal. The nature, content and the depth of the culminating project will be decided by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Thesis Option

The Thesis option requires enrollment in 6-9 credits of ELP 503: Thesis. The thesis is likely to require 2-3 quarters of additional work before completion of the program. Thesis also requires the appointment of a 3-member thesis committee, 2 from the ELP Department and one member appointed from the Office of Graduate Studies. Visit the Office of Graduate Studies website for Thesis guidelines, http://www.gsr.pdx.edu/ogs.html.

Master's thesis is an opportunity for students to engage in:

  • critical analysis of the theme of his/her study
  • review of literature on the topic
  • collaborative ethnographic research with a community partner