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Urban Teacher Leadership Master of Science Program

The M.S. major in Urban Teacher Leadership creates a cadre of teachers who will become change agents that positively affect their classrooms, their schools, their communities, and their school districts as well as the national conversation about educational change. Specifically, the program is for teachers who will remain in their classrooms while assuming leadership roles in the schools and in the larger context of the school community. The program is developed around a set of academic and field experiences that provide basic knowledge and skills for leadership in collaboration, writing for change, reflective thinking, problem solving, and the advocacy of excellence in urban education.

This program has been developed specifically for teachers in urban school settings. Both experience in urban schools and urban research studies suggest that urban communities meet unique challenges that must be addressed by teachers in those schools. Students will collaborate inside and outside the classroom with cohort members, with university faculty, with community agencies, and with urban leaders. To complete the program, the student must develop a master’s leadership project designed to effect school change.

Students may obtain the Leadership Endorsement for Instructional Supervision as part of the major by taking EPEL 7000, EPEL 7410, and EPSF 7450. Recommendation for this endorsement will be made after successful completion of the requirements of the major.

Program Admission - Application Deadlines:  Summer (February 1), Fall (May 1), Spring (October 1)
Program applicants must meet minimum college admission criteria and have at least one year of teaching experience.
In addition to meeting the above criteria, applicants must interview with representatives of the program’s advisory board and each applicant must submit a portfolio that includes the following:

  • Evidence of a commitment to the academic success of all children
  • Evidence of a high level of competence in a content area such as art, drama, literature, mathematics, science, or music
  • Letters of recommendation from (1) a colleague, (2) a parent, (3) a former student, and (4) an administrator explaining the qualities of the applicant
  • A written discussion of the applicant’s professional goals
  • Indication of leadership potential through documentation of work with other teachers, professional presentations at conferences, work with community agencies, work with parent groups, etc.
  • Evidence of experience with urban children who live in low-income environments.

Program Degree Requirements
A. Professional Studies (12)
Required (12):
EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)
EPSF 7120 Social and Cultural Foundation of Education (3)
EPSF 7450 Curriculum Foundations for the Educational Leader (3)
EPY 8250 Psychology of Inner-City Children (3)

B. Major (21)
Required (21):
EPEL 7000 Educational Leadership and Organizational Culture (3)
EPEL 7200 Community Resources and School Development (3)
EPEL 7410 Istructional Leadership (3)
EPEL 7680 Practicum (6)
EPEL 8620 Psychological Aspects of Leadership (3)
EPS 8970 Seminar in Educational Policy Studies (3)

C. Elective (3)
With the consent of their adviser, students select elective coursework related to improving the cohort’s teaching practices.

Comprehensive Examination
Completion of the EPEL 7680 (6 hours) Practicum requirements including the leadership project and research paper fulfills the comprehensive examination requirement for this program.

Program total: minimum of 36 semester hours