Proposal to Revise
Graduate Certificate in Education Policy Studies
Submitted by the Education Policy Certificate Task Force Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis
Drs. Emily Crawford, Rajeev Darolia, Sarah Diem, and Lisa Dorner September 25, 2014
This document contains the required information per the link below, as well as additional information explaining the current management structure of this certificate
(http://gfs.missouri.edu/curriculum/graduate-certificates/curriculum-changes.php). INTRODUCTION
Demand to make the existing Graduate Certificate in Education Policy Studies meet the interdisciplinary needs of students from programs across campus and working professionals throughout the state is increasing. Based upon strategic planning in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) and conversations with the MU Law School and Truman School of Public Affairs, an Education Policy Certificate Task Force was formed by ELPA in 2013 to address this issue.
This document proposes revisions to the Graduate Certificate in Education Policy Studies. The revisions center on: a new interdisciplinary set of classes from which students can choose to satisfy certificate requirements and a portfolio required upon completion of the classes. As before, the certificate serves both as a stand-alone certificate for non-degree-seeking graduate students and as a certificate that can be integrated within certain MU graduate programs.
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE FOR THE CERTIFICATE
As the attached documents demonstrate, this proposal has the full support of the College of Education (specifically the departments of ELPA and Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology/ESCP), the Truman School of Public Affairs, and the School of Law. Applications and review of requirements will be managed by an Education Policy Certificate Committee in ELPA; this committee will include at least two faculty members from ELPA.
(1) The designated director will be the Program Coordinator for PK12 Policy and PhD programs in ELPA, currently Dr. Lisa Dorner. With support from the Education Policy Certificate Committee in ELPA, the director will provide administrative oversight on the following: accepting participants, maintaining participants’ files, and assessing participants’ progress toward completion of the certificate program.
(2) The advisory committee currently includes Dr. Bradley Curs, Dr. Blake Naughton, and Dr. Stacey Preis. Dr. Curs has extensive experience analyzing policy for the state of Missouri, and
Executive Director of the Hook Center for Educational Leadership and District Renewal (http://education.missouri.edu/hookcenter/index.php). From 2008-2014, Dr. Preis was the executive director of the joint committee on education for the Missouri General Assembly; she currently serves as the assistant commissioner for the Office of Early and Extended Learning at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Missouri.
(3) Current participating faculty members include: Emily Crawford, ELPA; faculty affiliate in Truman Bradley Curs, ELPA
Melody R. Daily, Law
Rajeev Darolia, joint appointment in ELPA and Truman Sarah Diem, ELPA; faculty affiliate in Truman
Lisa Dorner, ELPA Melissa Maras, ESCP Philip G. Peters, Law
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The objectives of the Education Policy Studies Graduate Certificate are to provide students with:
• Knowledge that they can apply to the study of education policy within their major
discipline or to their work in policy settings (e.g., government, non-profit agencies, foundations, PK12 school districts, universities).
• Conceptual Tools to use to understand and resolve policy process and implementation
problems.
• Skills to analyze education policy issues, i.e., understanding differing values, political
and economic arguments, costs/benefits, and policy processes.
PROGRAM PLAN
• 12 credit hours / four courses required in the three areas listed below o Two of the courses must be from ELPA.
o One course must be from outside students’ home department or emphasis area. o All courses must be taken at the University of Missouri.
o All courses currently exist in the Graduate Catalog and are regularly offered. • Portfolio demonstrating knowledge/concept development and application of skills
COURSES
Foundations (only 1 of the following)
• PUB_AF 8170: Public Policy Processes and Strategies • ED_LPA 9402: Educational Policy (for doctoral students)
Knowledge/Concepts (1 or 2 of the following) • ED_LPA 9451: Higher Education Finance • ED_LPA 9457: Higher Education Policy • ED_LPA 9458: Sociology of Education
• ED_LPA 9462: History of U.S. Education Policy • ED_LPA 9463: Politics of Education
• LAW 5525: Education Law
• LAW 5526: Education Reform Law
• PUB_AF 8173: Education Governance, Finance and Policy • PUB_AF 8175: Early Childhood Policy
In addition, the certificate Director may approve one relevant seminar, topics, or practicum course by reviewing syllabi as necessary.
Skills (1 or 2 of the following)
There are prerequisites for some of these courses; it is the students’ responsibility to take such prerequisites prior to enrolling.
• ED_LPA 8955: Discourse Analysis in Education
• ED_LPA 9409: Policy Analysis Using Large Databases • PUB_AF 8190: Economic Analysis for Public Policy • PUB_AF 8420: Public Program Evaluation
• PUB_AF 8430: Public Policy Analysis
• ESC_PS 8690: Educational Planning and Evaluation Portfolio
Students must present the ELPA Education Policy Certificate Committee with the following: • Policy process or policy analysis paper demonstrating an understanding of the core tenets
of the political process (e.g., from the foundations course or one of the skills courses) • Concept paper demonstrating deep understanding of education policy issues (e.g., likely a
literature review from one of the knowledge/concept courses)
• Reflection (2-3 page double-spaced paper that explains the learning that occurred over taking these certificate courses)
APPLICATION PROCESS
(Appendix I), proposed plan of study (using the form found here:
http://gradstudies.missouri.edu/forms-downloads/repository/cert-plan.pdf), and their transcripts to [email protected]. The application form asks for a brief paragraph on students’ goals for the certificate. Students will be asked to: 1) Describe your degree program or current
professional work, and 2) how the Graduate Certificate in Education Policy Studies will help you meet your educational/professional goals.
COMPLETION PROCESS
To complete the certificate, students must then submit their final portfolio and the finalized Graduate Certificate Plan of Study form, with grades listed
(http://gradstudies.missouri.edu/forms-downloads/repository/cert-plan.pdf). Students must submit these final materials in the semester before they graduate to [email protected]. The ELPA Education Policy Certificate Committee will review
students’ work on October 1 and March 1 and forward their decision to student and the Office of Graduate Studies.
Appendix I: Application Materials
To apply for the Education Policy Studies Graduate Certificate, please send your transcripts, your proposed plan of study, and this form to [email protected].
For your proposed plan of study, please fill out the form found here:
http://gradstudies.missouri.edu/forms-downloads/repository/cert-plan.pdf, using the approved list of courses in the Graduate Catalog.
Name:
In about two-three paragraphs, please: 1) describe your degree program or current professional work, and 2) how the Graduate Certificate in Education Policy Studies will help you meet your educational/professional goals.
