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Curriculum

PhD, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

How to Apply

This 42- to 60-credit Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program will equip you for a future as a professor or researcher in the field of educational leadership and policy. You’ll delve into diverse aspects of schools and other educational institutions, including their organizational, political, social, managerial, and interpersonal dimensions. The Educational Leadership and Policy Studies PhD program is designed for those who wish to pursue careers as professors or researchers.

Core Course Sequence

The curriculum focuses on critically analyzing contemporary issues in practice through collaborative study environments with professors, school leaders, and fellow doctoral students. You’ll take an administrative core that includes courses in educational reform and leadership, organizational theory, and educational policy analysis. This core coursework is supplemented by individualized research into educational leadership, culminating in a written dissertation.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Administrative Core
AMLT-GE 3301Educational Reform and Leadership3
EDLED-GE 3097Professional Seminar in Administration I3
EDLED-GE 3098Professional Seminar for Administration II3
EDLED-GE 3005Educational Policy Analysis3
AMLT-GE 2053Organizational Theory3
Foundational Core or Cognate6
Research
RESCH-GE 2140Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry3
AMLT-GE 3027Quantitative Methods in Organization and Administrative Studies I3
EDLED-GE 3001Research Methods in Education Leadership and Policy Studies.3
Research Electives9
Dissertation Proposal Seminar
EDLED-GE 3013Dissertation Proposal Seminar in Administration I3
or AMLT-GE 3400 Dissertation Proposal Seminar
Total Credits42

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
EDLED-GE 3097 Professional Seminar in Administration I 3
EDLED-GE 3001 Research Methods in Education Leadership and Policy Studies. 3
AMLT-GE 2053 Organizational Theory 3
Foundational Core or Cognate 3
 Credits12
2nd Semester/Term
AMLT-GE 3301 Educational Reform and Leadership 3
EDLED-GE 3098 Professional Seminar for Administration II 3
Foundational Core or Cognate 3
Research Elective 3
 Credits12
3rd Semester/Term
AMLT-GE 3027 Quantitative Methods in Organization and Administrative Studies I 3
RESCH-GE 2140 Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry 3
EDLED-GE 3005 Educational Policy Analysis 3
Research Elective 3
 Credits12
4th Semester/Term
EDLED-GE 3013
or AMLT-GE 3400
 Dissertation Proposal Seminar in Administration I
or Dissertation Proposal Seminar
 3
Research Elective 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits42

Students combine coursework with extensive work each term on dissertation research. Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.

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