Instructional Leadership – Policy Studies: Degree Requirements

The Masters in Educational Policy Studies offers students a flexible pathway towards their degree. Requirements include:

  • Completion of the 9-credit hour core curriculum
  • At least 12 credits at the 400 or 500 level in Educational Policy Studies (EDPS)
  • At least 9 credits at the 500 level.
  • At least 11 elective credit hours in 400 or 500 level courses

Core curriculum:

  • Philosophy or History of Education (ED 402 or 403)
  • Educational or Developmental or Adolescent Psychology (ED 421 or 422 or 445)
  • Curriculum, Instruction and Evaluation (ED 430 or 431)

Social Justice Strand

Suggested 4-course concentration:

  • EDPS 500: City Schools: Education in the Urban Environment
  • EDPS 505: Social Theory in Educational Foundations
  • EDPS 566: Cultural Studies in Education
  • EDPS 583: Gender, Sexuality, and Education

Suggested elective courses:

  • EDPS 480: Youth Culture, Community Organizing, and Education
  • EDPS 543: The Criminalization of Youth in Urban Schools
  • EDPS 549: Critical Pedagogies
  • EDPS 555: Political Economy of Urban Education
  • EDPS 565: Globalization and Education
  • EDPS 570: Historical and Philosophical Analysis of Education Policy
  • EDPS 572: Sociology of Education
  • EDPS 588: Critical Race Theory

Educational Policy and Policy Analysis Strand

Suggested 4-course concentration:

  • EDPS 500: City Schools: Education in the Urban Environment
  • EDPS 571: The Education Policy Process
  • EDPS 578: Political Theory and Education Policy
  • EDPS 581: Collective Bargaining in Education

Suggested elective courses:

  • EDPS 506. Leadership, Instruction, and Policy in Education
  • EDPS 555. Political Economy of Urban Education
  • EDPS 565: Globalization and Education
  • EDPS 568: Education and Law
  • EDPS 570: Historical and Philosophical Analysis of Education Policy
  • EDPS 572: Sociology of Education
  • EDPS 583: Gender, Sexuality, and Education
  • EDPS 588: Critical Race Theory
  • ED 424: Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy

Educational Leadership and School Improvement

Suggested 4-course concentration:

  • EDPS 552: Leading Urban Schools
  • EDPS 556: Leading Classroom Diagnostics & Interventions
  • EDPS 579: Organizational Theory in Education
  • EDPS 568: Education and the Law

Suggested elective courses:

  • EDPS 548: Leading the Improvement of Literacy Learning
  • EDPS 550: Improving Educational Organizations
  • EDPS 553: Leading Urban School Systems
  • EDPS 557: Developing Organizational & Leadership Capacity
  • EDPS 558: Leading the Improvement of Math Learning
  • EDPS 571: The Educational Policy Process
  • EDPS 581/470: Collective Bargaining in Education

Beyond taking classes within the Educational Policy Studies Department, students are encouraged to take courses from Departments and Colleges across UIC. Any graduate-level course taken outside of the Educational Policy Studies Department can be counted as an elective course for the MEd degree.