Courses required for 11-credit licensure option

Additional courses required for 20-credit licensure certificate

Elective courses, general K-12 focus

Elective courses, applicable toward staff development certificate

Elective courses, applicable toward school technology leadership certificate

Other elective courses for licensure

Courses required for 11-credit licensure option

EDPA   5385     Licensure Seminar

Prepares the learner for a successful experience in the licensure program and fulfills the preassessment requirement in MR 3512 governing the licensing of school administrators.  Content includes an overview of the rules and requirements of the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Rule 3512 governing the licensing of educational administrators, completion of the required individual preassessment, development of the learner’s program plan, an overview of reflective practice and frames of leadership, and an introduction to the use of the electronic portfolio.

EDPA 5385 Grid [Excel file]

Instructors: Ann Werner, Lynn Scearcy, Neal Nickerson [PDF file]

EDPA   5386     Portfolio Seminar

Addresses portfolio development, with emphasis on leader skills, presentation skills, and personal portfolio development.  Through the course students develop skills to create unique portfolios and presentations that capitalize on their personal skills and simultaneously address the required competencies for licensure by the State of Minnesota as principal, superintendent, director of special education, or director of community education.  Portfolio components include resume, vita, philosophy, vision, analysis, reflections and exhibits – all which become essential elements to demonstrate proficiency of required competencies.  Preparation for presentation to the candidate’s review panel as well as portfolio organization is emphasized throughout.

EDPA 5386 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Kent Stever [PDF file]

Overview course appropriate to license sought, 3 credits

EDPA      5321     The Principalship

Merges theory and practice on educational leadership and specifically on the principalship. It is an overview of the competencies in MR3512 (knowledge, skills, and behaviors) required for K-12 principal licensure.  The roles of the principal as a leader and manager will be addressed.  Through readings, case studies, projects, and class interaction students will explore theory and practices essential for effective school leadership.

EDPA 5321 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Ann Werner

EDPA      5322     School Superintendency

Role/responsibility of superintendent in school district. Emphasizes real life experiences, leadership potential as CEO. Purposes, power, politics, practices of position. Interplay of internal school forces, external community forces analyzed in multiple contexts. Manifestations of leadership in public, high-profile appointment.

EDPA 5322 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Cryss Brunner

EDPA      5389     Administration of Community and Alternative Education Programs

Designed for students who are working on their licensure for director of community education, and/or principal with an emphasis on alternative education settings; charter schools, and alternative education programs (ALC).  Emphasis is placed on the competencies of leadership, community relations, communication, community assessment, program development/ implementation, program evaluation, best practices and philosophy/administration of these programs.

EDPA 5389 Grid [Excel file]

Sally Latimer [PDF file]

EDPA      5368     Special Services Policy and Administration

Designed to help prospective and practicing school administrators obtain the knowledge and skill competencies required for licensure as a director of special education in Minnesota.  The course will provide an overview of the legal basis, administrative practices and critical issues related to the leadership and administration of special education. 

EDPA 5368 Grid [Excel file]

Instructors: Kim Riesgraf [Word file], Chris Sonenblum [PDF file]

EDPA   5324     Financial Management for Elementary-Secondary Education

Designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of financial management and the budgetary process, both in terms of their theoretical underpinnings and their practical applications.  The course provides an overview of state-local school finance systems, budgeting, governmental fund accounting, and interpretation of financial information. 

EDPA 5324 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Nicola Alexander

EDPA   5396     Field Experience in PK-12 Educational Administration

Provides practical field experience for aspiring school administrators who are seeking Minnesota licensure as PK-12 Principal, District Superintendent, Director of Special Education, or Director of Community Education.  Features practical experience in the appropriate field under the guidance of a practicing school administrator and the University instructor. Each planned field experience (internship) is designed by the mentoring administrator, the university instructor, and the administrative intern based upon the State of Minnesota required competencies for each administrative license. Four specific plus four elective administrative projects are required of each class member.

Instructors: Lynn Scearcy, Neal Nickerson [PDF file]

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Additional courses required for 20-credit licensure certificate

EDPA   5344     Legal Aspects of Elementary and Secondary Education

Overview of legal foundations of elementary/secondary education. Statutory themes, relevant case law, emergent policy issues. Implications for educational organizations and for administrative practice.  The purpose of this course is to help future building-level educational leaders become acquainted with the legal issues that often confront students, teachers, and administrators. Furthermore, this course aims to help those future leaders acquire the knowledge necessary to act upon those issues in a professional, legal, and ethical manner.

EDPA 5344 Grid [Excel file]

Instructors: Scott McLeod, J. Dennis O’Brien [PDF file]

EDPA   5348     Administration of Human Resources in Education

Designed for students in school administrative licensure programs and for practicing school administrators interested in developing a conceptual understanding and management skills in the areas of human resources, including, but not limited to, employee recruitment, selection, orientation and support, contract interpretation and administration, collective bargaining, and strategies for attracting and retaining outstanding teachers and other school employees. The course will provide both a conceptual overview of effective personnel practices and practice in essential skills required for an effective administrator and leader.

EDPA 5348 Grid [Excel file]

Instructors: Michael Lovett [PDF file], James Martin [PDF file]

EDPA   5387     Administration of Teaching and Learning

Explores the administration of teaching and learning as a system in inclusive schools.  The core question addressed by each presenter is: "How does the specific system component explored by each individual presenter address the core mission of education, which is student learning?"  Through the eyes and experiences of multiple experts, components of this system are discussed focusing on the topics an administrator must address when functioning as a leader of learning.  Areas include: What are the questions an administrator must ask to assure alignment with the mission, goals and culture of your school system?  What must be considered to assure that curriculum and instructional techniques are inclusive of each culture represented by your school’s membership?  What is the framework for building a master schedule, including people, time, space, and motion, that supports rather than constrains teaching and learning?  What are the issues that leaders should consider regarding assessment and evaluation?  And, how can professional development be used as a tool to maximize the successes of each member of the community of learners?

EDPA 5387 Grid [Excel file]

Instructors: Ann Werner, Heidi Barajas, J. Richard Dewey [PDF file], Carole Gupton [Word file], William Sommers [PDF file]

EDPA   5391     Special Education Law

This course is designed for students who are working on their licensure for director of community education, superintendent, K-12 principal, and director of special education.  Emphasis will be placed on the competencies of leadership, policy and political influence and legal and regulatory applications focusing specifically on special education law.

EDPA 5391 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Laura Booth [Word file]

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Elective courses, general K-12 focus

EDPA   5341     The American Middle School

Provides an overview of the American Middle School with a focus on philosophies, skills and applications pertinent to teaching/working in one.  Students will research the purposes, functions and limitations of the middle school model and their implications for teachers, support staff and administrators.  Seminal literature and websites for the middle school movement will be referenced and researched.  Readings will chronicle the history of the middle school movement, the essential components of a middle school, criteria for the evaluation of a middle school, and the current status of the middle school in America. The characteristics of middle school students will be learned, and the significance of these characteristics in successful middle school programming explored.  Programs that successfully integrate consideration of student characteristics into practice will be reviewed and discussed. Best practices of exemplary middle schools will be studied.  Field research, in the form of shadowing and/or inquiry techniques will be studied and practiced.

EDPA 5341 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Lynn Scearcy

EDPA   5388     Building the Master Schedule

This course allows you to (1) develop broad perspectives on scheduling models for schools; (2) explore strategies for personalizing schools and the characteristics of master schedules that enable personalization; (3) walk you through the entire process of building the master schedule, as you address the issues of pedagogy, participants, politics and practices of your organization; and (4) experience hands-on learning, using the state-of-the-art, web-based Infinite Campus Student System, as you build you own master schedule on-line.

EDPA 5388 Grid [Excel file]

J. Richard Dewey [PDF file]

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Elective courses, applicable toward staff development certificate

EDPA   5364     Context and Practice of Educational Leadership

Current research/practice on educational leadership. Focuses on creating school cultures conducive to continuous improvement/change. Strategies for personal/organizational leadership in PK-12 settings.

EDPA 5364 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Jennifer York-Barr 

EDPA   5374     Leadership for Staff Development

Designing, implementing, evaluating staff development in PK-12 settings. Research-based standards for effective staff development. Need for embedded time for collaborative learning, evaluating staff/student outcomes.

EDPA 5374 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Jennifer York-Barr 

EDPA   5501     Principles and Methods of Evaluation

Introduction to program evaluation. Planning an evaluation study, collecting and analyzing information, reporting results; evaluation strategies; overview of the field of program evaluation.

EDPA 5501 Grid [Excel file]

Instructors: Jean King, Stuart Yeh

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Elective courses, applicable toward school technology leadership certificate

EDPA   5305     Leadership and Vision in School Technology

How to create a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology into educational environments. Ways to foster environment/culture conducive to realizing that vision.

EDPA 5305 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5306     Staff Technology Development and Support

How to lead an organization in designing, implementing, evaluating, improving, and sharing approaches to staff development. Technology-related development. Facilitating staff development through use of technology.

EDPA 5306 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5307     School Management and Technology

Various organizational/management issues impacted by information technology. Focuses on hardware, software, and database technologies designed to facilitate management/operations of school organizations.

EDPA 5307 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5308     Emerging Issues and School Technology

Needs of schools/administrators to remain on forefront of information technologies. Focuses on anticipated technological trends years/decades ahead.

EDPA 5308 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5309     Electronic Communication Tools and Environments for Schools

Various electronic communication channels, information environments to facilitate educational organizations' operations/communication. Focuses on networked environments, integration with handheld computers, and outreach to internal/external stakeholders.

EDPA 5309 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5310     Data-Driven Decision-Making I

Data-driven decision-making needs of schools/administrators. Focuses on data collection/analysis needs of educational organizations and on use of appropriate software/databases to collect, manage, analyze, and report school information.

EDPA 5310 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5311     Data-Driven Decision-Making II

Continuation of 5310. Data-driven decision-making needs of schools/administrators. Hands-on training in students' own organizations in using technology to analyze data to make educational decisions.

EDPA 5311 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5312     School Technology Policy Issues

Various state/national policy issues related to educational technology. Focuses on "digital divide" in schools/communities, federal educational technology policy initiatives, and state/federal educational technology legislation.

EDPA 5312 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5313     Legal and Ethical Issues in School Technology

Social, legal, and ethical issues related to school technology. How to model responsible decision-making related to these issues.

EDPA 5313 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5314     School Technology Safety and Security

School safety/security issues impacted by information technology. Network/data security. Physical safety of students, employees, and facilities. Computer recycling/disposal. Appropriate ergonomic environments for students/employees.

EDPA 5314 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5315     School Technology Leadership Multimedia Project

Students focus on individualized school technology leadership topic of choice, deliver a multimedia presentation of project results. Regular consultation with faculty, peer mentors, and outside mentors.

EDPA 5315 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5325     Analytical Tools for Educational Leadership

Technological/analytical tools associated with data-driven decision-making processes in K-12 school environments.

EDPA 5325 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

EDPA   5326     Data Analysis for Educational Leadership

Advanced technological/analytical tools associated with data-driven decision-making processes in K-12 school environments.

EDPA 5326 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Scott McLeod

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Other elective courses for licensure

EDPA   5001     Formal Organizations in Education

Classical/current theories of organizations. Applications to education and related fields.

EDPA 5001 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Melissa Anderson

EDPA   5041     Sociology of Education

Structures and processes within educational institutions; linkages between educational organizations and their social contexts, particularly related to educational change.

EDPA 5041 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Karen Seashore

EDPA   5044     Introduction to the Economics of Education

Costs and economic benefits of education, with a focus on K-12; educational markets, prices, and production relationships; investment and cost-benefit analysis.

EDPA 5044 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Darrell Lewis

EDPA   5048     Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership

Introduction to cultural variables of leadership that influence functioning of cross-cultural groups. Lectures, case studies, discussion, problem-solving, simulations. Intensive workshop.

EDPA 5048 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Michael Paige

EDPA   5103     Comparative Education

Examination of systems and philosophies of education globally with emphasis upon African, Asian, European, and North American nations. Foundations of comparative study with selected case studies.

EDPA 5103 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: John Cogan 

EDPA   5132     Intercultural Education and Training: Theory and Application

Examination of intercultural education; formal and nonformal education programs intended to teach about cultural diversity, promote intercultural communication and interaction skills, and teach students from diverse background more effectively.

EDPA 5132 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Michael Paige

EDPA   5302     Educational Policy: Context, Inquiry, and Issues

Review of social science concepts/research in considering educational policies/issues, process of inquiry that affect policy development, implementation, evaluation. Focus on pre-K-12. Role of educational leaders, administrators.

EDPA 5302 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Karen Seashore

EDPA   5356     Disability Policy and Services

Policy, research, and current practices related to education, health, and social services that support children, youth, and adults with special needs, and that support their families. Federal, state, and local perspectives.

EDPA 5356 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: David Johnson

EDPA   5372     Youth in Modern Society

Youth in advanced societies and as a social entity; functions and roles in industrial society, family, education, politics and government, economy and work, welfare and religion; organizations, social movements, and subcultures; empirical research and cross-cultural perspectives.

EDPA 5372 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Byron Schneider

EDPA   5376     Organizational Approaches to Youth Development

Defining youth development within framework of formal and informal organizations; organizational systems responsible for youth development in the community; policy issues surrounding these systems.

EDPA 5376 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Byron Schneider

EDPA   5381     The Search for Children and Youth Policy in the U.S.

Review of contemporary policy issues affecting children and youth in the U.S. and South Africa; identify national standards, norms and principles of youth development; conflicting expectations facing policy-makers; and search for the critical content of youth policy.

EDPA 5381 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Byron Schneider

EDPA   5384     Collaboration in Heterogeneous Classrooms and Schools

Policy, research, practice base for addressing range of student abilities/backgrounds in diverse schools. Collaborative approaches to curricular, instructional, social support.

EDPA 5384 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Jennifer York-Barr 

EDPA   5524     Evaluation Colloquium

Informal seminar of faculty and advanced students. Issues/problems of program evaluation.

EDPA 5524 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Stuart Yeh

EDPA   8002     Critical Issues in Contemporary Education

Meanings of difference from sociological, psychological, historical and philosophical perspectives as related to current and emerging critical issues in education. Participants help design, facilitate, and present the course.

EDPA 8002 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Dick Nunnely [PDF file]

EDPA   8011     Doctoral Research Seminar I

Introduction/planning for individual program development, preliminary examinations, and dissertation prospectus. Modes of inquiry used in current research in education, databases relating to education, recent writings on literature synthesis, key contributions to education literature.

EDPA 8011 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Karen Seashore

EDPA   8020     Leadership: From Theory to Reflective Practice

Leadership theory. Emphasizes seminal scholars' work from related social science disciplines. Implications of theory for practice of leadership. Knowledge, behaviors, values, and skills needed in educational and other public settings.

EDPA 8020 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Karen Seashore

EDPA   8104     Innovative Systems Thinking in Education and Culture

Critical aspects of historical/contemporary systems philosophy, thinking, and analysis. Development of concepts/skills applicable to coping with evolutionary/chaotic environments. Modeling/simulation of learning systems in rapidly changing national/international contexts.

EDPA 8104 Grid [Excel file]

Instructor: Arthur Harkins