Leadership, Policy and Politics/Education Policy

About the Program

The degree programs in Education Policy/Leadership, Policy and Politics examine both formal and informal institutions of schooling and the political, legal, bureaucratic, organizational, economic, and social factors that affect both schools and the broader educational enterprise. Students address critical problems affecting education, develop a broad and inclusive view of the kinds of issues facing policymakers, and are encouraged to study and reflect on the processes by which research becomes linked to policy and practice. We assume that issues related to the roles that families, communities, and civil society play in promoting education outside of school will escalate in importance in the future. Graduates of the programs currently work in national school reform organizations and non-profit groups focused on children and youth; local, state and federal education agencies; private research institutes and advocacy groups; and in colleges and universities as faculty and administrators.  

The Education Policy/Leadership, Policy and Politics curriculum centers on a set of core courses that provide foundational knowledge about the policy process, the historical development of education policy, the institutional and social contexts in which policies are developed and implemented, and the theories and concepts that social scientists and legal scholars use to examine education policy. Coursework beyond the core is chosen individually in conjunction with a faculty advisor. Students in the M.A. and Ed.M. programs of study select a substantive specialization tied to students' professional and academic goals, in four areas: Early Childhood Education Policy, K-12 Education Reform Policy, Higher Education Policy, and Law and Education Policy. They are also required to explore one policy topic in depth as part of a culminating field experience, and to complete a research methods sequence focused on the requirements of education policy professionals. Doctoral students complete the master’s-level core courses, a two-part advancement to candidacy process, and a research dissertation. Students in Education Policy/Leadership, Policy and Politics may take coursework leading to the M.A., Ed.M., and to the Ph.D. degrees. Coursework is typically offered during the academic year. For further information contact Professor Luis Huerta at huerta@tc.columbia.edu.