Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
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Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Joseph R. Pearson Hall, Rm. 421
1122 West Campus Rd.
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-3101
phone: (785) 864-4458
fax: (785) 864-4697elps@ku.edu
Edwards Campus
Prospective Careers
Timetable of Classes
"Because leadership matters"
Susan B. Twombly, Professor
The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) offers a broad range of programs in educational leadership and policy studies. The department’s master’s and doctoral programs prepare administrators, researchers, faculty members, and leaders for positions in all levels of the educational system. The Department offers academic programs in educational administration (for leadership of K-12 schools); higher education; historical, philosophical and social foundations of education; and policy studies. ELPS also houses the faculty in educational technology. When applying for admission to a doctoral program, students must indicate the specific concentration for which they seek admission. Detailed information for each degree program can be found by clicking on the program link. If you need additional information about a specific program or would like to schedule an appointment with a faculty member in a specific program or concentration, please contact us.
Best wishes,
Susan B. Twombly
The educational administration programs prepare K-12 teachers and administrators for leadership roles in school settings. Programs stress fundamental fields of knowledge, practice and educational policy development necessary for effective leadership of elementary and secondary teachers and their schools. The master’s program leads to licensure at the building level and the Ed.D. to licensure at the district level. The M.S. and Ed.D. are cohort programs designed to accommodate working professionals. Courses for the Master’s and Ed.D. are offered at both the Lawrence Campus and at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, KS. Students beginning at the Edwards Campus can take all of the required coursework at the Edwards Campus. About 80% of the Ph.D. coursework is offered at both campuses, with the remainder scheduled only at the Lawrence Campus.
Programs in higher education administration prepare current and prospective college or university leaders, administrators, faculty in community colleges and in some disciplines for which a doctoral degree does not exist, and administrator/leaders in non-profit organizations. The courses provide theoretical and practical knowledge of higher education as a complex human activity. The Master’s program, with its emphasis on preparation of entry level professionals, draws students from around the country and requires full-time students to have an assistantship. The majority of doctoral students are full-time employees in a college or university within driving distance of the Lawrence Campus, and courses are offered in the evenings.
The foundations of education programs offer master’s and doctoral level study in the history, philosophy and sociology of education. Most students who pursue degrees in this area are pursuing careers as teachers as researchers or future college-level faculty in these fields.
The policy studies concentration permits students to define a program of studies focusing on educational policy, utilizing courses from all of the Department’s programs. Students pursuing this concentration draw on courses from at least two of the department’s programs to make up their program of study. Student committees will include faculty from the fields represented in the student’s program of study. The Policy Studies concentration is interdisciplinary in orientation and permits students considerable flexibility in focusing on various aspects of educational policy.
The educational communication and technology concentration is currently being offered under the Curriculum and Instruction degree. Please visit that page on the Curriculum & Teaching website.
