德克萨斯理工大学

Texas Tech University's Masters of Education (Non-Certification) in Educational Leadership is a 36-hour online program designed to prepare graduates for non-certified positions in education, government, the private sector, nonprofits, leadership & policy institutes, research-based advocacy groups, or to continue to a doctoral degree. Emphasis is on (1) understanding the relationships between education, leadership, and policy; (2) using evidence to make education-related decisions and policies; and (3) preparing to lead meaningful change through policy, research, and practice.

We prepare educational change leaders in research and policy.
Students learn how to use evidence to make education-related decisions and policies.
Taught by dynamic faculty with professional, research, and policy experience and both national and international reputations for excellence.
Graduates are trained in critical inquiry, with an emphasis on equitable leadership and policy.

The M.Ed. (Non-Certification) in Educational Leadership, with a Policy Focus, is an online degree requiring the completion of 36 credit hours and attracts students both in Texas and nationally, due to the online nature of the program. This degree program is designed with a required “Foundations of Educational Policy” core of 9 credits (3 courses) centered on educational policy development, implementation, and analysis both historically and across national, state, and local communities. There is also a required “Legal and Organizational Change” core of 15 credits (5 courses) centered on leadership, legal, and organizational factors central to educational policy. Finally, students are required to complete coursework in a “Social and Political Issues” core of 12 credits (4 courses), which focuses on the social and political agendas and educational leadership issues that internally and externally influence the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational policy.

Typical Applicants and Career Opportunities

The non-certification M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, with a Policy Focus, provides recognition for expertise in an increasingly important area—leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational policy. This degree program is of interest to a wide variety of early-career leaders as well as established professionals working in and/or pursuing careers in educational organizations (e.g., schools, educational administration, colleges, universities) as well as organizations that work in partnership with those types of educational organizations. Many current K-12 teachers seek to increase their expertise through graduate degrees to understand how decision-making and systemic change happens in their schools, districts, state, and nation as well as to understand how to either bring about or be part of positive change impacting their schools, classrooms, and students.

The program is also of interest to professionals with experience in related fields and agencies (e.g., social services, family support agencies, juvenile justice) and who have backgrounds in related academic disciplines (e.g., political science, sociology, economics, public administration, government relations), including but not limited to junior-level program specialists and others pursuing careers in educational policy institutes, research centers, advocacy organizations, and district level administrative policy positions. The courses for the non-certification M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, with a Policy Focus, build on a foundation in educational leadership, but include a key focus on policy development, implementation, evaluation, and relevance in the readings and assignments. Thus, students seeking masters-level graduate degrees in EDLD have the opportunity to increase their policy understanding and how to be part of the educational policy process.