Educational Leadership & Policy
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
PACE Master's Degree Program of Study
The program requires the completion of at least 45 credits, which includes at minimum:
- ELP Professional Studies Core (16 credits)
- Thematic Specialization (20-22 credits)
- Electives (7-9 credits)
- Culminating Experience (4 credits)
Students have considerable flexibility in shaping their thematic specialization and elective course work in consultation with a faculty advisor.
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 EPFA 520 and EPFA 511 as early 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 adviser students may choose one theme or combine courses from a variety of themes.
Higher Education and Organizational Change Theme
Students who are interested in the organization and administration of postsecondary institutions may find that this theme addresses their professional and career goals.
ELP 528 Leadership in Postsecondary Education (4)
ELP 521** Adult Learning and Motivation (4)
ELP 533 Planning and Budgeting in Postsecondary Education (4)
ELP 536 Postsecondary Curriculum (4)
ELP 537 Policy and Governance in Postsecondary Education (4)
ELP 538** Contemporary Issues in Postsecondary Education (4)
ELP 541 The Community College (4)
ELP 527 Legal Issues in Higher Education (4)
**Highly Recommended
Adult Learning and Development Theme
This theme is designed to serve the needs of students who are primarily interested in adult learning in either educational or professional settings.
ELP 521** Adult Learning and Motivation (4)
ELP 522** Teaching Diverse Adult Learners (4)
ELP 523** Assessing Adult Learning (4)
ELP 529 Principles of Training and Development (4)
ELP 536 Postsecondary Curriculum (4)
ELP 538 Contemporary Issues in Postsecondary Education (4)
Completion of ELP 520 or ELP 521 is recommended prior to enrollment
**Highly Recommended
Student Services Theme
This theme is designed primarily for Student Affairs professionals or those interested in a career in student affairs related work in two- and four-year colleges and universities and related organizations serving adults.
ELP 521** Adult Learning and Motivation (4)
ELP 525** Student Services in Higher Education (4)
ELP 526** Facilitating Student Success in Postsecondary Education (4)
ELP 527** Legal Issues in Higher Education (4)
ELP 538 Contemporary Issues in Postsecondary Education (4)
ELP 528 Leadership in Postsecondary Education (4)
**Highly Recommended
Training and Development Theme
This theme was designed by educators and Training and Development professionals using the American Society for Training and Development's "Models of Excellence." The program is designed to meet the needs of educators who work in the business community or government agencies as trainers, training managers, training consultant, teachers, human resource and staff development personnel, and management development consultants.
ELP 521** Adult Learning and Motivation (4)
ELP 529* Principles of Training & Development (3)
ELP 530 *Course Design and Evaluation (4)
ELP 531 Contemporary Issues in Training and Development (3)
ELP 532 Training Methods (3)
ELP 534 Leadership of the Training Function (3)
ELP 510 Developing Course Materials (3)
ELP 535 Organizational Transformation through Training & Development (3)
ELP 539 Developing Training Materials (3)
ELP 544 Instructional Design for Online-Based Training (3)
ELP 545 Building Online Training (4)
ELP 510 Developing Intercultural Competence for Trainers (3)
ELP 510 Methods and Models for Intercultural Training (2)
ELP 810 Certified Professional in Learning and Performance Preparation (ASTD-CPLP)
*Pre-requisite for other Training and Development courses
**Highly RecommendedFor more information about the classes within the Training & Development theme, please visit http://www.ceed.pdx.edu/t_and_d
Service-Learning Theme
This theme is designed for students, faculty/insturctors, administrators, and community partners/organizations who are interested in designing and conducting service-learning and community-based learning experiences.
ELP 510** Introduction to Service-Learning (4)
ELP 510A** Service-Learning in Educational Leadership and Policy (4)
Options: a)Portland metro area; or b)International
ELP 536** Postsecondary Curriculum (4)
ELP 521 Adult Learning and Motivation (4)
ELP 522 Teaching Diverse Adult Learners (4)
ELP 528 Leadership in Postsecondary Education (4)
**Highly Recommended
Electives (7-9 credits)
Elective credits should be related to the student's overall program and selected in collaboration with an adviser. Students may enroll in graduate-level courses from within the Graduate School of Education or other departments within Portland State University. Students may also engage in independent study.
Culminating Experience (4 credits minimum)
Candidates for the Master's degree with a specialization in Postsecondary, Adult & Continuing Education must select, in consultation with their faculty adviser, one of two culminating experiences: Comprehensive Examination or Thesis.
Comprehensive Exam Option
The Comprehensive Examination is a projected-based experience that requires enrollment in ELP 507: PACE Comps (4 credits), taken as Pass/No Pass and offered only during fall and spring terms. Students should have completed a minimum of 35 credits, including the Professional Studies Core, before enrolling in the course. The ELP 507: PACE Comp course will meet 4 to 6 times during the term to help guide students through the completion of their project or in-depth paper. Students will present their projects/paper orally in the final meeting(s) of the course. Further options and guidelines for completing the comprehensive examination process will be discussed in the class.
Thesis Option
The Thesis option requires enrollment in 6-9 credits of ELP 503: Thesis. The thesis is likely to require 2-4 quarters of additional work before completion of the program. This also requires the appointment of a Thesis Committee of two tenure-track faculty, one of whom must be from the ELP Department, and a faculty member appointed by the Office of Graduate Studies. Visit the Office of Graduate Studies website for Thesis guidelines.
For information about the 18-credit PACE graduate certificate programs, please visit http://www.pdx.edu/elp/pace-graduate-certificates.
