Department Name

The M.A., Ed.M., and Ed.D. programs in Adult Learning and Leadership are structured around core courses, a core research sequence, concentration courses, and electives. A culminating project is required at all times. At the M.A. level, the project is usually an application of what has been learned to real world problems or concerns. The Ed.M. project and the Ed.D. dissertation are research-focused.

Required core courses can be selected in the areas of leadership, strategy and management, adult learning, human resource development, group dynamics, organizational behavior, and technology for learning or management. At least one course is to be taken (or in some cases, transferred from prior accredited graduate study) in each of these seven areas no matter what the degree level. Many courses are offered by the Program or the Department; other courses can be taken elsewhere in Teachers College or Columbia University.

 

The following courses illustrate offerings in each required area.

 

Required Core Courses (21-30 points) Leadership (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 4800              Workshop: Leadership and the biographical method (3)

 

• ORLJ 5005               Leadership and super-vision (3)

 

• ORLD 5819              Workplace learning institute: Emotional intelligence workshop (3)

 

Strategy and Management (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 5054              Strategy development as a learning process in organizations (3)

 

• ORLJ 4002               Functions of organizations (3)

 

• ORLJ 5002               Advanced functions of organizations (3)

 

• ORLA 5025              Ecology of data-driven leadership (3)

 

• ORLA 5541              Federal politics, federal policies, and administrators (3)

 

Adult Learning (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 4800              Workshop: Community building (1)

 

• ORLD 4053              Facilitating adult learning (3)

 

Human Resource Development (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 5055              Staff development and training (3)

 

• ORLD 5062              Human resource development in organizations (3)

 

• ORLJ 5003               Human resource management (3)

 

• ORLJ 5310               Preparation for coaching (3)  

 

Group Dynamics (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 5819              Workshop learning institute: Group coaching workshop (3)

 

• ORL 5362                 Group dynamics: A systems perspective (3)

 

• ORLJ 5017               Small group intervention: Theory and method (3)

 

Organizational Behavior (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLJ 4005               Organizational psychology (3) (Note: This is a prerequisite                                                         for many ORLJ courses)

 

• ORLJ 5045               Organizational dynamics and theory (3)

 

• ORLJ 5106               Psychological aspects of organizations (3)

 

• ORLD 5819              Workplace learning institute: Social intelligence workshop (3)

 

Technology (minimum of 3 points):

 

• MSTU 4020              Social and communicative aspects of the internet (3)

 

• MSTU 4022              Telecommunications and distance learning (3)

 

• MSTU 4083              Instructional design of educational technology (3)

 

• A&HF 4089              Aesthetics of technology (3)

 

Required Core Research Sequence (3-18 points) M.A. (minimum 3 points):

 

• ORL 5521     Introduction to research methods in education (3) or

 

• ORLJ 4009   Understanding behavioral research (3)

 

Ed.M. (minimum 6 points):

 

In addition to one of the above listed courses, Ed.M. students must take a statistics course from those listed below.

 

Ed.D. (minimum 18 points):

 

At the Ed.D. level, coursework must include a research design course, a data collection course (either qualitative or quantitative), a data analysis course (either qualitative or quantitative), and a dissertation seminar. These courses include, but are not limited to, those listed below. Ed.D. candidates must take ORLD 7500 (1 point) in the semester in which they defend their proposals. Ed.D. candidates must also enroll in ORLD 8900 (or 3 point Teachers College course) during fall and spring semester, after passing the certification examination. 

 

• HUDM 4120             Basic concepts in statistics (3)

 

• HUDM 4122             Probability and statistical inference (3)

 

• ORLD 4800              Workshop: Critical literature reviews (2)

 

• ORLD 5550              Research on organizational learning (3)

 

• ORL 6500                 Qualitative research methods     in organizations: Design and                                                       data collection (3)

 

• ORL 6501                 Qualitative research methods     in organizations: Data analysis                                        and reporting (3)

 

• ORLD 7500              Dissertation seminar in adult education (1)

 

• ORLD 7900              Directed dissertation research (3)

 

Contextual Concentration Specific Course Requirements (15-18 points)

 

Adult Development Theory and Applications (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 4051              How adults learn (3)

 

• ORLD 5819              Workplace learning institute: Cultural intelligence workshop (3)

 

• HUDF 4028              Sociology of the life course (3)

 

• HUDK 5023             Cognitive development (3)

 

• HUDK 5027             Moral development (3)

 

• HUDK 5125             Cross-cultural developmental psychology (3)

 

• ORLH 5525 Advanced professional seminar: College student development theories (3)

 

Adult Learning Theory and Applications (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 4050              Introduction to adult and continuing education (3)

 

• ORLD 4815              Developing critical thinkers (1)

 

• ORLD 4827              Fostering transformative learning (2-3)

 

• ORLD 4828              Imagination, authenticity, and individuation in transformative learning (2-3)

 

• ORLD 4850              Discussion as a way of teaching (1)

 

• ORLD 5057              Adult learning and education: Theory and practice (3)

 

• ORLD 5815              Critical theory and adult learning (1)

 

Systems Learning Theory and Applications (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 5061              The learning organization (3)

 

• ORLD 5550              Research on organizational learning (3)

 

• ORLA 4049              Creating learning communities (3) 

 

Program Development and Management (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLD 4052 Program development: Assessing learning needs and evaluating outcomes (3)

 

• ORLD 5053              Developing and managing adult learning programs (3)

 

Conflict Resolution (minimum of 3 points):

 

• ORLJ 5148               Managing conflict in organizations (3)

 

• ORLJ 5340               Basic practicum in conflict resolution (3)

 

• ORLJ 6040               Fundamentals of cooperation, conflict resolution, and

 

mediation in different institutional contexts (3)

 

• ORLJ 6350               Advanced practicum in conflict resolution (3)

 

Elective Courses

 

Electives include, but may not be limited to, courses in conflict resolution, policy and evaluation, technology for learning, and management/ information systems. These are tailored to the student’s career goals and can be taken in the Department or elsewhere in Teachers College or Columbia University. Electives can include transfer courses. Students are required to take a minimum of three breadth courses at Teachers College (2-3 points each totaling at least 6 points) outside of our immediate program area to satisfy the Teachers College breadth requirement.

 

A culminating integrative project for the M.A. is required. For the Ed.M., the culminating project must be a research study. For the Ed.D., a dissertation is required. Guidelines for the integrative project are available in the program office located in Room 201 Zankel Building. Students should meet with their advisor the semester before they plan on graduating, to review the guidelines. Students in the Ed.D. program are required to pass a certification examination and to write a qualifying paper  and successfully defend a dissertation. Details of the program are available in CD and hard copy format as an advisement guide.