Master of Education in Education Policy and Leadership

Education Policy Drives Social Change

Our M.Ed in Education Policy and Leadership gives students the tools to shape the future of education. The EPL program prepares educators and other professionals to serve as leaders in education organizations. Students gain the knowledge and skills in leadership, policy, law, economics, and research to effectively administer education programs and policies at all levels. The EPL program is offered in three formats; on-campus, online, and hybrid.

Hybrid Option:

The Education Policy & Leadership program is excited to offer a new Hybrid program option. Students will be able to complete their M.Ed in one year by taking a mix of on-campus and online classes over three semesters. This new fast-track option is designed for Full-Time students only. Admission requirements are the same for the on-campus and online programs. Degree and course requirements are also the same as the on-campus and online programs.

Program Highlights

• 30-unit master's degree that can be completed in four or five semesters
• Cohort model for full-time teachers and other education professionals
• Full-time faculty and expert practitioners who bring policy, research, and school experience
• Practical consultancy projects with schools and DC education policy organizations
• Special emphasis on implementation and on connecting policy to education practice
• Support for identifying career pathways

Program Pillars

Graduates of the MEd program will be equipped with the skills every education leader needs to be effective, including strategic budgeting, collaborative inquiry, policy analysis, partnership building, learning science, and program evaluation. We strive to hone students’ knowledge and develop their skills and beliefs in the following four domains:

• Systems Change. Students will be able to describe the education policies and leadership strategies necessary to implement equitable and effective education policies and programs.
• Personal Leadership. Students will be able to find, evaluate, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to inform decisions.
• Social Justice and Anti-Racism. Students will be able to frame problems and critically analyze education policies and leadership strategies using data, policy/legal/economic/equity frameworks, real-world experience, and other evidence.
• Policy and Research. Students will be able to provide effective leadership through collaboration, professionalism, management, and equitable practices.

Washington, DC

The physical location of American University gives EPL Students many opportunities to access policymakers, non-profit organizations, government, and beyond. EPL Students have the chance to regularly meet with change makers in education while completing their degree. One feature of the EPL Program is the Pro-Seminar course. Students are paired with a partner organization and complete a field-based consultancy project with the organization. Through these experiences, students help partner organizations advance their work while gaining valuable real-world experience and applying the skills and knowledge learned through their studies.

Support

The EPL Program offers its students dedicated support throughout their time with the School of Education. The American University Career Center provides career exploration opportunities for our students including job fairs and resources for writing cover letters and resumes. EPL Students can also take advantage of free resources like the Academic Support and Access Center, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Bender Library Writing Center, and many other resources available to students.

Credit: 30