ED.830.600.  Introduction to Social Science Research.  3 Credits.  

This course will introduce students to the field of social research. Students will explore and critique different research approaches, consider the epistemology of research, and how research is situated within the academic community and employed in policy and practice. This course is designed to introduce students to the skills necessary to design and evaluate social science research. It is structured to give students an introduction to the practice of research and a survey of various modes of conceptualization, problem identification, and research designs used in the study of social science. The course develops understandings of the principles, processes, and techniques used in social science research. 

ED.820.600.  Introduction to Statistics.  3 Credits.  

This course is designed as an introduction to basic descriptive and inferential statistics, with a focus on how they are used in education research. Topics will include the summary and analysis of data using graphs, measure of central tendency, correlation, t-tests (independent and dependent), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Students will apply this knowledge to a series of problem sets that ask them to think about research problems in education, and conduct their own analysis of an educational or other social science problem in a research paper that involves conducting a bivariate analysis and discussing their results.

ED.820.601.  Intermediate Statistics.  3 Credits.  

This course introduces students to multiple regression as a tool for inferential statistics in social science, focusing on applications to education research. Students will begin with a review of basic statistical concepts and then move on to the basics of linear regression, including model assumptions, estimation, and statistical inference. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting coefficients, assessing model fit, and critiquing empirical studies. We will review methods for specific types of data in the linear model, including categorical variables, interactions, data transformations, and limited dependent variables. Finally, students will consider the limitations of regression and diagnostics for challenges, including missing data and outliers. This course is designed for students who have had at least a one-semester introduction to statistics. Students should have existing knowledge of probability theory, properties of distribution and random sampling, and basic statistical tests.

ED.883.711.  Introduction to Qualitative Inquiry.  3 Credits.  

This course is an introduction to the field and practice of qualitative inquiry. ‘Qualitative research’ is an umbrella term that encompasses many methodologies and methods, many of which aim to understand everyday social life as it occurs in its natural environment. In this course, students will be introduced to some of the varied perspectives related to qualitative inquiry, as well as the theoretical and historical foundations of qualitative research. Further, students will have an opportunity to learn about and practice some of the research methods that are common to qualitative research. As such, this course is also practical in scope, as students will complete a ‘mini-research’ study. Finally, this course aims to prepare students for more advanced study of qualitative inquiry.

ED.813.652.  Introduction to Global Education Policy and Analysis.  3 Credits.  

The course provides an introduction to international comparisons of education systems as it reviews the history, comparisons and the educational systems in Europe, Asia and the OECD countries. International education systems and policies are examined on the local and national levels. Methodologies for comparison are explored. Education leaders will become knowledgeable of the systems in competitor countries in order to make their schools academically competitive in the global economy.

ED.855.600.  Extended Learning.  0 Credit Learning Experience 

Students will participate in a variety of informal educational experiences, from guest lectures and one-on-one mentor conversations, to exploring how the use of museums, cultural institutions, and other real-world scenarios can be leveraged to promote learning. Students will both learn from these experiences as well as gain exemplars to implement in their own educational systems.

ED.855.610.  Seminar in Teacher Leadership.  1 - 3 Credits.  

Students in the final year present and evaluate their projects and plans for implementing change in their work environments. In addition, participants examine selected topics and current issues in educational leadership.

ED.855.619.  Global Leadership.  3 Credits.  

This course explores the nature of leadership in the current global society. Students will analyze the behaviors, practices, characteristics and qualities of effective global leaders across a variety of sectors. Students will understand global competence and learn how to become a globally competent leader.

ED.855.631.  Global Trends in Education: Challenges and Opportunities.  3 Credits.  

This course explores key global trends in education to introduce students to field of global, international, and comparative education as well as the role of international organizations in the identification of and response to shared educational challenges. Using case examples, podcasts, research evidence, and discussion students describe and analyze the impact of climate change, migration, and technological advancement on educational equity, access, quality, and innovation in diverse global contexts. Students develop a critical understanding of the ways in which education is influenced by complex global issues, but also conceptualize education as a strategic vehicle for solving global problems and improving lives on our planet. Course assignments foster creative thinking, technical, communication, analytic, collaboration, and podcasting skills. In a final group assignment, students create a podcast to investigate a global educational issue and the opportunities for innovation and improvement.

ED.881.611.  Action Research for School Improvement.  3 Credits.  

Students explore the role of the educator as an action researcher, with special emphasis on formulating and refining research questions as well as on selecting appropriate methodologies for classroom or school-based research. Students review research as a tool for assessing and improving teaching/learning environments.

ED.881.622.  Advanced Instructional Strategies.  3 Credits.  

Students review recent research on effective instruction and explore advanced classroom strategies and techniques designed to enhance their effectiveness in meeting the needs of diverse populations of learners. Examples include direct instruction, cooperative learning, dimensions of learning, creative problem solving, and applications of technology to thinking and learning. Students develop expert teaching skills and learn to diagnose and deliver instructional strategies that are most appropriate in specific circumstances.

ED.855.609.  Introduction to Entrepreneurship in Education.  3 Credits.  

This course provides students with the foundational skills necessary to think and behave entrepreneurially within educational systems and organizations in order to solve intractable problems. Students will formulate an understanding of themselves as entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities around them, and develop a method for solving a problem relevant to them. Further, students will learn the role of capital and socially conscious capitalism in creating sustainable ventures.

ED.887.615.  Explorations in Mind, Brain, and Teaching.  3 Credits.  

During the past decade, the learning sciences have produced a vast frontier of knowledge on how the brain processes, stores, and retrieves information. Educators have increasingly recognized a role as consumers of this emerging knowledge. Participants in the course will review this research, examining how it intersects with the correlates of a model of research-based effective teaching including the teaching of the arts across content areas. Topics of study will include the brain’s memory systems, the impact of emotions on learning, the processes involved in higher order thinking and learning, and issues related to child development. Participants will apply course studies to the creation of learning units that emphasize application of knowledge and the integration of the arts.

ED.893.653.  AI in Education.  3 Credits.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, influencing how we learn, teach, and—perhaps—think about understand knowledge itself. This course critically examines AI as both a tool and a mirror, reflecting human cognition, creativity, ethics, and systemic biases. Through hands-on experimentation, critical analysis, and applied projects, students will explore AI’s potential to enrich and expand educational goals and practices while questioning its limitations and potential dangers. Designed for a broad range of educational professionals, this course balances theoretical inquiry with practical skill development. Students will engage with AI tools, analyze their impact, and apply them in meaningful ways to their professional contexts.