TC is home to six distinct degree programs for students interested in policy. To compare them, click here.
Early Childhood Policy
Within the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, the Early Childhood Education Program offers a Concentration in Early Childhood Policy.
At both the Ed.M. and Ed.D. levels, this program provides students with a firm grounding in early childhood pedagogy, programs, and practice, as well as in policy analysis and policymaking related to young children and their families. Students in Ed.M and Ed.D. programs combine theoretical knowledge with practice in the policy field as they become familiar with an array of policy issues impacting contemporary child and family life. They are prepared for careers in academia, research, and policy.
Faculty Contact:Sharon Lynn Kagan, Virginia and Leonard Marx Professor of Early Childhood and Family Policy and Associate Dean for Policy, and Director, Office of Policy and Research
Economics and Education
The Economics and Education Program within the Department of International and Transcultural Studies offers a Specialization in Educational Policy to equip M.A., Ed.M., and Ph.D. students with the skills required to for the effective design and implementation of education policy.
The policy specialization places strong emphasis on the financial, managerial, and policy challenges facing schools, colleges, and other institutions at various levels of the educational system. Economics and Education prepares students for careers in academia, administration, and research. Program coursework is supplemented by classes taken outside the department.
Faculty Contact:Francisco Rivera-Batiz, Professor of Economics and Education
Leadership, Policy, and Politics
Within the Department of Organization and Leadership and the Education Leadership Program, the Leadership, Policy, and Politics concentration prepares students for such positions as policy analyst, policy advocate, and educational researcher.
It focuses on the role of leadership while developing students' skills in the political, economic, and legal analysis of education policy issues; research methods; and writing effective policy briefs. Students are required to explore one policy topic in depth as part of a field experience. Students in the Leadership, Policy, and Politics concentration may take coursework leading to the M.A., Ed.M., or Ed.D., and to the Ph.D. in Education Leadership.
Faculty Contact:Luis Huerta, Assistant Professor of Education and Douglas Ready, Assistant Professor of Education
International Education Policy Studies
The International Educational Development Program within the Department of International and Transcultural Studies offers an International Education Policy Studies concentration for M.A., Ed.M., and Ed.D. students.
This concentration is interdisciplinary in focus and encompasses a wide range of national and global perspectives in the field of education in low-income countries. Courses prepare students to engage in the work of policy analysis, education sector reviews, education sector strategy, reform needs assessment and evaluation, and policy formation. Students in this concentration take policy courses in other TC departments and on the wider Columbia University campus.
Faculty Contact:Gita Steiner-Khamsi, Professor of Education
Politics and Education
The Politics and Education program is for M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D. students who wish to study the ways governance institutions, political ideologies, and competing interests both within and outside of the education community influence the content, form, and functioning of schooling.
Depending on their interests, master's students conduct research in education policy shops; teach politics or history in secondary school; or hold leadership positions in government, schools, corporations, citizen groups, and foundations. Doctoral recipients teach in academia, conduct research in think-tanks and research centers, and advise public officials.
Faculty Contact:Jeffrey Henig, Professor of Political Science and EducationCharacter
Sociology and Education
Within the Department of Human Development, the Sociology and Education Program offers M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D., and Ph.D. programs.
Each provides an analysis of educational issues and policies from a sociological perspective. Policy-related issues emphasized in coursework include the social organization of urban schools and school systems and the success or failure of urban schools in meetings the educational needs of the diverse populations they serve. The Sociology and Education program prepares students for work in applied educational research, policymaking, advocacy, consulting, the management of educational activities, and direct service.
Faculty Contact:Aaron Pallas, Professor of Sociology and Education
