Educational Policy, MA
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Academic Advising
We are here to support your success and experience while at the MLFTC. Please connect with your assigned advising team, Team Innovate, when you have questions about the program and resources.
Phone: 602-543-9419
Email: MLFTCInnovate@asu.edu
Appointments:
General advising - https://calendly.com/team-innovate
Plan of Study (iPOS) advising - https://calendly.com/team-innovate/ipos-creation-or-planning
For tips on preparing for an advising appointment and different ways to connect with us, see the Academic Advising page on this site.
Click here to meet the academic success team!
Your academic advising team works together to keep you informed, on track for graduation, and supported throughout your program. Here is some information about the roles within the team.
Academic Advisors:
Jack Quenelle - Academic Success Advisor
Elaine - Academic Success Advisor
Sophie Owen - Academic Success Advisor, Sr.
As the core members of your advising team, we will interact with you most frequently. We are experts on your program requirements and are available to assist with program-related questions. We are also familiar with ASU and MLFTC resources and will refer you, as appropriate, to ensure you are fully supported.
Other members of the team:
Cadie Ely - Academic Success Coordinator, Sr.
Cadie coordinates advising-related functions, working mainly behind the scenes, though you will likely hear from her at some point during your program.
Brian Robinson - Academic Success Coordinator, International Partners
Brian supports students in various countries throughout Africa pursuing graduate certificates, as well as students in China pursuing programs taught exclusively in the Mandarin language.
Program Description and Policy Information
The Master of Arts in Educational Policy at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College pairs educational policy and applied data analysis to deepen your understanding of research and policymaking. It is particularly well suited for individuals whose careers require the use and interpretation of data, such as overseeing assessments or conducting program evaluations. Classroom teachers will gain a new perspective on their schools, classrooms, and teaching with the skills they develop in the degree program.
This 30-credit hour program prepares you to critically assess education programs and policies, and develop the skills needed to engage in data-driven decision making. Core coursework is taught one night per week; you then have the flexibility to work with a faculty member or an academic advisor to customize a schedule of elective courses based on your educational needs and interests. In your courses, you will learn to:
Analyze key issues in contemporary education policy
Evaluate and synthesize research literature
Analyze and interpret data
Conduct applied research projects
Develop your expertise in an area of interest or research methods
Important: This program does not lead to teacher certification. For information on education programs that lead to teacher certification, visit the MLFTC Graduate Program webpage and look for a masters program with teacher certification listed.
Program related policies:
Students are encouraged to read and understand the Student Handbook (2023/24), as well as familiarize themselves with the ASU Graduate College Policy Manual.
ASU students and faculty are expected to act with integrity in their educational pursuits - discover what academic integrity is and why it is important. See the Policy and Code of Conduct page for more detail on academic integrity and other university policies.
Required Courses
To determine the sequence in which you should take the courses in the program, click the dropdown that corresponds to the year when you started the program. The specific course sequence will also include the term (fall, spring or summer) and the session (A or B).
Culminating Experience
The culminating experience for the MA in Educational Policy is an independent applied research project related to educational policy. In their final semester of the program, students will take EPA 593 Applied Project in Educational Policy. In this course, students will be mentored by a faculty member to apply the research skills and knowledge they have developed through their coursework to design and execute an individual or group applied research project.
Students must earn a grade of B or higher in the culminating experience course.
Plan of Study
The iPOS is an agreement between the student, academic advising unit, and Graduate College that maps the requirements for degree completion. You are required to submit your iPOS prior to applying for graduation. An inital iPOS submission goes through a review process for the academic advising unit and the Graduate College to determine if approval can be granted. Approval from both departments is required for students to graduate and register for their culminating experience.
It is important to maintain the iPOS throughout the duration of the program to avoid inaccuracies at the time of graduation, which could affect your ability to graduate. If you need to make changes to your iPOS it is recommended to make changes to your iPOS as soon as possible to avoid future consequences.
When you submit your Plan of Study (iPOS), list Jeanne Powers for faculty advisor as "Chair."
If you have questions about submitting your initial iPOS, we invite you to schedule an appointment with us - https://calendly.com/team-innovate/ipos-creation-or-planning.