Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations
Discipline Contact
Dr. Eric Camburn, (816) 235-1293, camburne@umkc.edu
Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations is a discipline in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program administered by the School of Graduate Studies.
Note: The discipline-specific requirements listed here are in addition to the requirements listed in Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Application Procedure and Minimum Criteria for Admission and Minimum Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements.
Discipline-Specific Admission Requirements
Applicants who designate Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations (ELPF) as their primary discipline will be expected to have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, covering all college work taken prior to the bachelor's degree, or a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, covering all post-baccalaureate work completed to date.
Applications are only reviewed once a year, for admission beginning the next fall term. To be considered, applications must be submitted to the Admissions Office by February 15.
The applicant must provide the following supplementary documentation:
- Written recommendations from appropriate professors and practitioners in the field (selected by the applicant).
- An autobiographical sketch. (This should be a brief resume of academic and professional goals and the applicant's personal, academic and career history as it relates to those goals. It should also include reasons for choosing Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations as a field of study.)
- Evidence of graduate-level writing ability provided by writing samples, prior scholarly writing or the successful completion of an essay examination.
When evaluating applications, faculty members will consider evidence in the applications of such factors as communication and academic skills, a clear and important research agenda, demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to education. There is no minimum aggregate GRE score required for applications to be considered for ELPF. Applicants must meet the GRE requirements for their other discipline(s).
A strong application will clearly articulate your research interests with respect to educational leadership, policy, and/or foundations. You are also strongly encouraged to note in your application any ELPF faculty members with whom you share research interests, and who you believe could help you achieve your research goals. Applicants for whom ELPF is the primary discipline will be asked to participate in an interview with ELPF faculty to assess whether doctoral studies in ELPF will be an effective vehicle for advancing the applicants' scholarly and professional goals. Applicants are also encouraged to contact the ELPF discipline Coordinator to discuss their applications.
Alternate Admission Criteria
International applicants will be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program on the basis of background, experience and educational attainments in their home countries. Exceptions to the general criteria for admission to Interdisciplinary Ph.D. study may be made for students whose potential for success in the doctoral program may not be reflected in the general criteria.
Qualifying Requirements for Full Admission
In some cases, the division may ask that 12 hours of work at UMKC be taken prior to full admission.
Students admitted under alternate criteria will be notified upon acceptance of any coursework deficiencies they must satisfy or other preparation they must undertake prior to full admission.
Suggested Compatible Co-disciplines
Curriculum and Instruction, History
Core Program Requirements
Students with Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations as a primary discipline will be required to complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework (listed below) in addition to 12 Research hours (Qualitative or Quantitative, listed below) and 12 dissertation hours (Educ-UL 5696).
Students with Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations as a co-discipline will be required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of coursework (5685 plus 12 other hours from the below list) in addition to 12 Research hours. Below are lists of courses in three sample Emphasis Areas for students to consider. These samples are meant to be a starting point for students and advisors to consider.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Education emphasis | ||
| EDUC-UL 5550 | Organization And Administration Of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5551 | Student Affairs Administration In Higher Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5556 | The College Student | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5557 | Legal Aspects Of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5558 | Advanced Student Development Theory | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5559 | Current Issues In Community Colleges | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5560 | Leadership In Higher Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5564 | History Of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5566 | Racial And Ethnic Diversity, And Cultural Understanding | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5636 | Policy Issues in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5685 | Problems And Issues In Education & Urban Leadership | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 Emphasis | ||
| EDUC-UL 5501 | Foundations Of School Leadership & Organization | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5502 | Building Administration And Management | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5503 | Student, Staff And Organization Development | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5512 | School Finance | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5515 | Governmental And Legal Aspects Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5518 | Leadership for School Improvement | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5520 | Data Driven Leadership for Reculturing Schools | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5523 | Administrative Roles For Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5525 | Cultural Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5526 | Philosophical Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5527 | Historical Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5528 | Sociological Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5531 | Educational Leadership and Human Resources | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5627 | Advanced Educational Supervision | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5628 | The Superintendency | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5685 | Problems And Issues In Education & Urban Leadership | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Emphasis | ||
| EDUC-UL 5524 | Philosophical Inquiry And Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5525 | Cultural Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5526 | Philosophical Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5527 | Historical Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5528 | Sociological Foundations Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5602 | Seminar In The History Of American Urban Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5655 | Studies In Philosophy Of Education | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5685 | Problems And Issues In Education & Urban Leadership | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Research Credit Options - Students may choose to take additional methods classes beyond the 12 credit-hour requirement to improve their knowledge of a particular research method in service of their dissertation research. Please note relevant course prerequisites as some courses are intended to be taken as a sequence. | ||
| EDUC-R&P 5608 | Introduction To Graduate Research | 3 |
| Select three additional courses from the list below, or from other courses approved by the Supervisory Committee | 9 | |
| EDUC-R&P 5555 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| EDUC-UL 5589 | Special Topics In Educational Leadership | 1-6 |
| Special Topics can be Historical Research Methods I and/or II | ||
| EDUC-R&P 5612 | Applied Quantitative Research in Education | 3 |
| EDUC-R&P 5615 | Qualitative Research Theory & Design Educational Setting. Part 1 | 3 |
| EDUC-R&P 5616 | Qual Data Collection And Analysis In Educational Settings. Part 2 | 3 |
Requirements for Comprehensive Examinations
Students with Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations as the primary discipline must pass a Comprehensive Examination including both the primary discipline and the co-discipline areas. Written notice of your plans to take the Comprehensive Exams should be submitted to your primary advisor at least two months before the exams are scheduled. You must complete the Application to take the Comprehensive Exams from the School of Graduate Studies (available at https://sgs.umkc.edu/academics/interdisciplinary-ph.d.-program/iphd-forms.html).
Students with Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations as a co-discipline will be required to take Comprehensive Exams that include the primary and co-disciplines – the primary discipline guidelines will shape the co-discipline exams. Please consult your advisors to schedule your exams.