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Master of Science  in
Educational Policy and Leadership
Online or On Campus

Improve Cradle-to-Career Programs and Policies

Take on domestic or international educational leadership and policy analyst roles with confidence and advance your career or prepare for further study in a doctoral program.

The educational policy and leadership master’s program provides you with a strong foundation in organizational theory and analytic decision making related to learning contexts across the lifespan.

Pursue your passion by completing a concentration in your area of interest, working on faculty research projects, and connecting with other students who want to make an impact on the way education systems are created and managed in the United States and around the world. 

Program of Study

Core Courses

  • Introduction to Organizational Leadership
  • Introduction to Social Analysis
  • Quantitative Methods in Educational Leadership or approved course in statistics. You may take a course in another subject if you pass the departmental research methods exam. 
     

Concentration Courses

Three courses in your area of interest.
 

Support Discipline Courses

Two courses in subjects such as philosophy, economics, sociology, psychology, or political science. 
 

Electives

Choose three courses related to your program.
 

Research Course

Seminar in Education Policy and Leadership or Master's Thesis in Educational Administration


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact Graduate Advisor Gina Giuliano at [email protected]. 

Areas of Concentration

Choose from three concentration options:


Educational Policy

Obtain a working knowledge of different philosophical approaches to policy adoption and implementation, and learn how to lead policy initiatives in government agencies, analyze policy for research and advocacy organizations, and succeed in faculty positions.


Global and Comparative Educational Policy

Dive into the global education policy making process from early proposals to implementation, including stages of policy adoption, monitoring, and evaluation. Alumni with this concentration are working with foreign ministries of education and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and UNESCO.


School Leadership

This concentration prepares you to step into leadership positions in preschools, elementary schools, secondary schools, and university appointments in the area of school leadership. 

Note: This program does not lead to NYS certification as a School Building Leader (SBL) and it is not an acceptable master’s for NYS Professional teacher certification. If you are seeking the SBL credential, see UAlbany's Advanced Graduate Certificates. If you are seeking a master’s degree for NYS Professional teacher certification, please contact the Pathways Into Education Center at [email protected].

programofstudy

Admissions Requirements

admissions
Deadlines
  • Fall: Rolling
  • Spring: Rolling
  • Summer: Rolling

There is no departmental assistantship consideration for this program.

Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Supplemental documents

Resume

Statement of Goals
The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program.  It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals. 

Educational Leadership Essay
Please type one essay of no more than 800 words each from among the three possible topics below:

  1. i. Summarize the leadership activities in which you have been involved in recent years and explain how these experiences reflect your vision of and capacity for leadership.
  2. ii. Identify a problem or challenge in a school, school-related organization, or your professional life generally and write an analysis in which you assess the issues(s), describe effective strategies for addressing the issue(s), and make clear the implications for the exercise of effective leadership in the situation.
  3. iii. Describe a problem of educational policy decision-making, policy content, or policy implementation, and explain how a deeper understanding of policy or the policy process could improve the situation.
Special Notes

This program offers an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience in the course listing as an option to fulfill course requirements. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If applicants have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of the intended academic program.

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Master of Science
  • Graduates are prepared to enter (a) early to mid-career administrative posts in higher education institutions or education or training units in other organizations or agencies or (b) early career policy analysis posts in education departments, professional associations, or policy research firms or centers.
  • Graduates are prepared to draw from, and critically apply, information from the relevant knowledge and skill base.
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Careers and Advisement

The Pathways Into Education (PIE) Center is the central office on campus serving undergraduate, graduate, and prospective students interested in pursuing careers in education and programs leading to teacher certification.

Please call or email to schedule an appointment.

Graduate Advisement:
Email Graduate Advisement
518-442-3529

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