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: 

  1. Written recommendations from appropriate professors and practitioners in the field (selected by the applicant).
  2. 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.)
  3. 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.

Higher Education emphasis
EDUC-UL 5550Organization And Administration Of Higher Education3
EDUC-UL 5551Student Affairs Administration In Higher Education3
EDUC-UL 5556The College Student3
EDUC-UL 5557Legal Aspects Of Higher Education3
EDUC-UL 5558Advanced Student Development Theory3
EDUC-UL 5559Current Issues In Community Colleges3
EDUC-UL 5560Leadership In Higher Education3
EDUC-UL 5564History Of Higher Education3
EDUC-UL 5566Racial And Ethnic Diversity, And Cultural Understanding3
EDUC-UL 5636Policy Issues in Higher Education3
EDUC-UL 5685Problems And Issues In Education & Urban Leadership3
K-12 Emphasis
EDUC-UL 5501Foundations Of School Leadership & Organization3
EDUC-UL 5502Building Administration And Management3
EDUC-UL 5503Student, Staff And Organization Development3
EDUC-UL 5512School Finance3
EDUC-UL 5515Governmental And Legal Aspects Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5518Leadership for School Improvement3
EDUC-UL 5520Data Driven Leadership for Reculturing Schools3
EDUC-UL 5523Administrative Roles For Instructional Leadership3
EDUC-UL 5525Cultural Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5526Philosophical Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5527Historical Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5528Sociological Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5531Educational Leadership and Human Resources3
EDUC-UL 5627Advanced Educational Supervision3
EDUC-UL 5628The Superintendency3
EDUC-UL 5685Problems And Issues In Education & Urban Leadership3
Foundations Emphasis
EDUC-UL 5524Philosophical Inquiry And Education3
EDUC-UL 5525Cultural Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5526Philosophical Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5527Historical Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5528Sociological Foundations Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5602Seminar In The History Of American Urban Education3
EDUC-UL 5655Studies In Philosophy Of Education3
EDUC-UL 5685Problems And Issues In Education & Urban Leadership3
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 5608Introduction To Graduate Research3
Select three additional courses from the list below, or from other courses approved by the Supervisory Committee9
EDUC-R&P 5555Statistical Methods II3
EDUC-UL 5589Special Topics In Educational Leadership1-6
Special Topics can be Historical Research Methods I and/or II
EDUC-R&P 5612Applied Quantitative Research in Education3
EDUC-R&P 5615Qualitative Research Theory & Design Educational Setting. Part 13
EDUC-R&P 5616Qual Data Collection And Analysis In Educational Settings. Part 23

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.