The programs in Educational Leadership & Policy (EDLP) advance knowledge and address enduring, contemporary, and future issues in education by:
- Engaging in research grounded in broader current socio-cultural, economic, and political contexts (i.e., market-based reforms, school safety, culturally responsive leadership, controversies of globalizing educational policy, and external pressures on schooling)
- Addressing the significance of the historical and the changing contexts of education
- Exploring the issues of social justice for the educational equity and opportunities of all students
- Disrupting persistent discourses around “achievement gaps” undergirded by xenophobia, racism, linguicism, classism, and homophobia
Graduates of EDLP adapt to a changing world, predict the consequences of proposed action, and sustain continuous education improvements over time. They develop and refine their abilities as leaders to empower, inspire, and guide the performance of others in achieving the desired goals across varied education contexts, including but not limited to schools and school districts.
Educational Leadership & Policy prepares leaders to achieve results in the nation's schools by translating theory and knowledge into practice, applying skills in interpersonal relations and political diplomacy, applying research and data-based decision-making skills, and following ethical principles.
A Practical Application
Emphasis is placed on the practical application of critical theory and knowledge to leadership in education. Instruction recognizes and incorporates the principles of adult learning with courses, seminars, and other educational experiences featuring reflection, group, discussion, simulations, problem-solving, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and critical theory from a variety of disciplines (e.g., anthropology, sociology), as well as leadership and policy studies.
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
Students in our Ed.D. program will gain the leadership skills and research background to challenge unjust systems and promote continuous educational improvement in their organizations. Students continue to work as full-time practitioners while they study and apply new knowledge to their day-to-day practice. Our program is centered around the Dissertation in Practice, in which students work to address persistent challenges within their current educational organizations.
Educational Leadership, Ph.D.
The Educational Leadership & Policy Ph.D. program is designed to expand the boundaries of the educational leadership and policy field with an explicit focus on inclusivity, social justice, and anti-racism. The program prepares leaders to achieve results in the nation's schools by translating theory and knowledge into practice, applying research to inform decision-making, and following ethical principles.
Educational Leadership, M.Ed.
The MEd Educational Leadership program is designed for aspiring educational leaders who are seeking administrative certification. In this program, students gain experience and practice cultivating interpersonal relationships and strengthening political diplomacy skills. Study theory and research to inform and guide inquiry and practice, and graduate with experience working in a Tucson-area school district setting.
Emancipatory Education, Minor
The Emancipatory Education Graduate Minor is focused on encouraging P-20 educational leaders across all sectors (e.g., teachers, faculty, administrators, and policymakers) to develop liberatory approaches to education. The overarching goal of the minor is to encourage students to be active participants in seeking transformative educational praxis, which involves moving beyond identifying problems and challenges and toward creative approaches to improving educational systems and practices.
Educational Leadership, Minor
The Educational Leadership Graduate Minor provides students a deeper understanding of educational policy and the tools with which to analyze it. This minor is for doctoral students within and outside of the Educational Leadership and Policy Doctorate of Education program.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy
How do students and communities navigate educational transitions in a world shaped by systemic inequities? Dr. Nguyen’s research examines how policy changes, migration, and educational shifts affect minoritized students and communities across global contexts. Through a social justice lens, her scholarship spans U.S. and international policy analysis, ethnographic studies, and groundbreaking work on immigrant and international student experiences. Her insights are transforming how we understand equity during critical periods of change in education.
