EDU 701 - Foundations of Education Policy and Research

This six hour, two-semester course follows PPM 707. It focuses on selected educational reform policies from historical, social, and political perspectives and the research designs that are appropriate for studying them empirically. Students will engage in careful readings and critical analyses of primary, empirical, and peer-reviewed studies of educational reform policy formation and implementation, and they will examine appropriate designs for doctoral research along these lines. The reform policies that will be considered will reflect recurring issues and the dilemmas they pose for educational leaders. These include, but are not limited to: multiple and conflicting educational aims and purposes, upgrading the teaching profession (preparation, recruitment, retention, development), evaluating student achievement and teaching effectiveness, reducing inequalities in student opportunities and outcomes, and the interplay between corporate and non-corporate models of schooling. The following research designs will be emphasized: qualitative and mixed methods case studies, interview studies, content analyses, survey research, correlation studies, experimental studies, and ex-post /causal comparative studies. As part of the course, students will be introduced to doctoral faculty and their areas of research.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Ph.D. program and successful completion of PPM 707.
Co-requisite(s):
Credits: 6 (three each semester)

Course Typically Offered:
Course Type: Education