Graduate Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY STUDIES

Graduate programs in the department provide study leading to doctoral and master's degrees and to the Certificate of Advanced Study. The three programs offer students graduate preparation for a wide variety of leadership and staff positions in school- and district-level administration, colleges and universities, and other organizations at local, state, and national levels. In addition, overseas students and others are prepared for educational planning and policy making positions in foreign countries and with international agencies and foundations. The doctoral and certificate programs are approved by the New York State Education Department for school- and district-level administrative certification. The master's degree is approved for school-level certification.

Admissions

Each prospective graduate student must submit a formal application for admission and receive a formal letter of admission before registering for courses. Graduate students are expected to hold a bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing. Their preparation must be appropriate to the program they wish to pursue, and their academic record should promise success in a graduate program.

Students who wish to apply for entrance to a master's program or who wish to enter doctoral or certificate of advanced study programs within the School of Education must apply directly for admission to the University Office of Graduate Admissions and Policy.

In addition to criteria for general admission to graduate study, doctoral applicants must submit a satisfactory score from the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants for the Certificate of Advanced Study must have completed a masters degree.

An interview with at least one full-time member of the educational administration faculty may be requested for all certificate and doctoral applicants. This interview is structured, but time is allowed for applicants to pursue their own questions.

A limited number of students may be admitted as "nondegree students." A nondegree student usually is allowed to take up to 12 credits or four courses before considering or being considered for degree status.

An applicant seeking to qualify for state certification for administrative supervisory service in public schools must have completed initial preparation for teaching and hold, as a minimum, a provisional certificate valid for teaching in the public schools of New York, or equivalent preparation.

An applicant who has completed graduate study with specialization in an appropriate field may apply for admission with advanced standing.

Concentrations

The programs in educational administration and policy studies include three subfields that allow students to pursue courses related to particular career interests. These concentrations are:

  1. School Administration;
  2. Higher Education Administration;
  3. Educational Policy Studies.
Program Leading to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Policy Studies

The program leading to the Ph.D. in educational administration requires at least three academic years of full-time work, or the equivalent over a longer period, beyond the baccalaureate and may involve as many as four years. The program is designed to develop research competence and the effective application of skills in the educational administration and policy studies field.

Program of Study (78 credits, minimum)

The student, in consultation with the faculty advisor, develops a program of study taking into account the previous preparation, area of specialization, and objectives.

Requirements include the following:

  1. Pre-core requirements: Aps 600, 601, 660;
  2. Core requirements:  Aps 700, 701, 760;
  3. Research sequence:  Aps 714, 715, and 891;
  4. 18 credits (minimum) in a concentration listed above;
  5. 12 credits (minimum) in support disciplines such as philosophy, economics, sociology, psychology, and political science;
  6. 21 credits (minimum) of approved electives.
Dissertation

The student must submit a dissertation which demonstrates ability to treat comprehensively a significant problem in education. The dissertation should reveal the student's ability to employ both the fundamental concepts of administration and the technical skills of scholarly research.

Departmental Examinations

The student must pass a comprehensive qualifying examination covering, as a minimum, the following four areas: organizational theory, management procedures, environmental context of educational organizations, and the concentration area.

Research Sequence

Full Time Study in Residence

Students must demonstrate, with the approval of their faculty adviser and the Curriculum Committee of the department, that they are engaging in work or other experience of at one year in duration which is relevant to their doctoral studies and contributes to intensive intellectual growth. The requirement for continuing registration in the program must be met during this period, in accordance with the University of Albany�s Graduate Policy and Procedures for doctoral students.
OR
They must earn a minimum of 24 course credits in two regular sessions, not necessarily consecutive, except as indicated here:

Admission to Candidacy
  1. Satisfactory record in course and seminar study.
  2. Completion of University requirements.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive qualifying examination.
  4. Demonstrated knowledge of educational research procedures and techniques.
  5. Acceptance of a dissertation proposal.
Program Leading to an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School Building Leadership

Program of Study (35 credits)

Required Courses – 29 credits:
Aps 570           Introduction to Law and Education (3)
Aps 600           Introduction to Organizational Leadership (3)
Aps 601           Introduction to Social Analysis (3)
Aps 614           Quantitative Methods in Educational Leadership (3)
Aps 619           Supervisory Leadership (3)
Aps 630           Financial and Human Resources in Education (3)
Aps 618           Family and Community Partnerships (3)
Aps 896–898   School Leadership Internship I, II and III (8)

Select one policy analysis elective – 3 credits:
Aps 500           U.S. Educational Governance, Policy and Administration (3)
Aps 670           Analysis for Educational Policy and Leadership (3)
Aps 674           Educational Leadership in Federal and State Government (3)

Select one social science support discipline elective – 3 credits
Phl 601             Philosophy of Education (3)
Aps 602           The Economics of Education (3)
Aps 604           Macrosociology of Education and Educational Leadership (3)
Aps 605           Microsociology of Education and Educational Leadership (3)
Aps 606           Ethics and Education (3)
Aps 608           Politics of Education (3)

Program Leading to an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School District Leadership

Admission to the School District Building Leadership program is limited to candidates who have completed the EAPS advanced graduate certificate program in school building leadership (or its equivalent) and possess a Masters or CAS Degree in Educational Administration or School Leadership, or in education or a related area.

Program of Study (15 credits)

Required Courses – 15 credits:
Aps 623           School Board and Community-School Relations (3)
Aps 631           Economics of Education II (3)
Aps 673           Advanced Human Resources Policies in Education (3)
Aps 770           Law and School District Leadership (3)
Aps 780           Advanced Seminar in Educational Leadership (3)

Program Leading to an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School District Business Leadership

Admission to the School District Building Leadership program is limited to candidates who have completed the EAPS advanced graduate certificate program in school building leadership (or its equivalent) and possess a Masters or CAS Degree in Educational Administration or School Leadership, or in education or a related area.

Program of Study (15 credits)

Required Courses – 15 credits:
Aps 623           School Board and Community-School Relations (3)
Aps 631           Economics of Education II (3)
Aps 673           Advanced Human Resources Policies in Education (3)
Aps 770           Law and School District Leadership (3)
Aps 780           Advanced Seminar in Educational Leadership (3)


Program Leading to the Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and Policy Studies

This program of study includes courses specifically designed to qualify the student for New York State administrative and supervisory certification. The Certificate of Advanced Study requires a minimum of 60 graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate.

Program of Study (60 credits, minimum)

The student, in consultation with the faculty advisor, develops a program of study taking into account the previous preparation, area of specialization, and objectives.

Requirements include the following:

  1. Pre-core requirements (12 credits): Aps 600, 601, 660, and the statistics requirement by either taking an approved quantitative research methods course (e.g. Aps 614 or see your advisor for other courses that qualify), or by passing a departmental research methods exam.
  2. 15 credits (minimum) in the administrative concentration. (K-12 or higher specified)
  3. 9 credits (minimum) in support disciplines such as philosophy, economics, sociology, psychology, and political science;
  4. 3 credits - Eaps 780 - Applied research or policy analysis;
  5. Electives: 21 credits minimum.
Program Leading to the Master of Science in Educational Administration

This master's program is introductory to the study of educational administration and policy studies. It closely resembles the existing advanced program sequences, however, and students who complete this program and who are accepted in the advanced programs may do so with a minimum loss of credit.

The program requires a minimum of 36 credits of graduate credit distributed as follows:

  1. Core requirements (9 credits): Aps 600, 601, and 660.
  2. Concentration (9 credits) chosen from the above list.
  3. Support discipline courses (6 credits minimum);
  4. Additional education and elective courses (9 credits) to support the chosen concentration, the statistics requirement by either taking an approved quantitative research methods course (e.g. Aps 614 or see your advisor for other courses that qualify), or by passing a departmental research methods exam. May include a practicum (2 credits) and an internship (4 credits) for those wishing to qualify for S.A.S. certificate;
  5. Research (3 credits): Aps 680 Seminar or Aps 699 Master's Thesis.