Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- apply the knowledge, skills, and inquiry strategies to solve significant problems related to educational policies and practices;
- demonstrate through their clinical experiences their participation in, and ability to navigate, day-to-day responsibilities of a school administrator;
- utilize data effectively to enhance learning opportunities for all students;
- recognize and address inequities imposed on students and educators, and promote necessary change;
- understand and apply evidence of effective organizational and systemic change for equity, inclusion, and justice;
- identify and meet contemporary challenges facing schools and school leaders;
- impact and enact policy defined by school board or legislative action;
- manage and distribute resources to enact the optimum impact upon programs at the building and district level;
- embrace differences of persons and perspectives, and understand the challenges faced at all levels of a school system PK–12; and
- exhibit the ability to successfully develop a district overview or administrative problem in practice.
The Specialist in Education program in educational policy and leadership studies with an educational leadership subprogram requires 60 s.h. of graduate credit and is offered for educators who already have their master's degree and Iowa administrator license. Students must earn a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 in major coursework.
The program prepares candidates to be superintendents in Iowa or to hold other district-level leadership positions in K–12 school districts. It also prepares them for appointments as area education agency chief administrators and for jobs in state or federal departments of education.
Students can transfer up to 30 s.h. from a previously earned master's degree. Students must complete a minimum of 30 s.h. of coursework at UI after program admission. This is generally comprised of 20 s.h. of coursework and 10 s.h. of clinical work. At the conclusion of the program, students are required to present their first-year entry plan. Many educational leadership courses are offered synchronously via distance education; see MyUI for information about courses offered during current semesters. For detailed information, refer to EdS programs on the Educational Leadership website.
Students seeking superintendent endorsement must have an Iowa administrator license. They obtain the superintendent endorsement (State of Iowa endorsement 171) upon completing the required EdS coursework and at least three years of principal experience.
The EdS in educational policy and leadership studies with an educational leadership subprogram requires the following work.
Required Courses
The course EPLS:6323 School Finance is provided through the Iowa Superintendent’s Finance and Leadership Consortium (ISFLC), a partnership between the University of Northern Iowa and the Iowa Association of School Boards. Students enroll and participate in the two 2-day sessions offered yearly by ISFLC. During the first session, all students take the introductory school finance course. During the second session, students may choose from a variety of related school finance offerings.
Students enroll in this program through University of Northern Iowa Continuing Education and are expected to transfer the hours to the University of Iowa so they may count toward the superintendent’s endorsement.
Clinical Courses
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
EPLS:6404 | Central Administration Clinical | 3 |
EPLS:6405 | Superintendent Entry Plan and Portfolio Development | 1 |
EPLS:6415 | Orientation to the Superintendency: Clinical | 2 |
EPLS:6417 | Operational Leadership Clinical | 1 |
EPLS:6419 | Human Resources Leadership Clinical (Iowa Evaluator Approval Training opportunity is available through AEA PD Online; contact the closest AEA for information.) | 2 |
EPLS:6425 | Organizational and Educational Leadership Clinical | 1 |
Students are required to spend 40 clock hours of effort for each semester hour of clinical courses. Documentation of these hours must be maintained and submitted at the end of the course. Documentation should include the date, time spent, description of the activity, and reflections. Each activity must be identified with the corresponding National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standard. A syllabus will be provided to guide the clinical activity.
Final Examination
The final exam is satisfied by taking EPLS:6405 Superintendent Entry Plan and Portfolio Development.
Superintendent Endorsement
Students seeking superintendent endorsement must have an Iowa administrator license. They obtain the superintendent endorsement (State of Iowa endorsement 171) upon completing the required EdS coursework and at least three years of principal experience.
Admission
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College and of the educational leadership program. Complete applications are reviewed as they are received.
The Specialist in Education program in educational policy and leadership studies with a higher education and student affairs subprogram requires 60 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must earn a UI cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 in major coursework.
The program provides advanced graduate study in administration, policy studies, and specializations developed in consultation with an advisor. The EdS also may be awarded upon completion of a combined program of graduate work in higher education and another academic field, or upon completion of a higher education sequence following a master's degree program in a different field.
Required Courses
The EdS program of study must include the following.
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| 18 |
| 10 |
| 28 |
EPLS:7395 | Educational Specialist Research | 4 |
Total Hours | 60 |
Depending on the student's career goals, the program may include an appropriate structured and supervised internship, determined in consultation with the advisor.
Comprehensive Examination
A culminating experience is required of all students, the nature of which is contracted with the advisor. An oral examination of the culminating experience may be required.
Related Field
Students majoring in another field who want to complete a related field in higher education and student affairs should consult with a higher education and student affairs faculty member early in their study. Plans of study are developed individually.
Sample Plans of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Educational Policy and Leadership Studies, EdS
Educational Leadership Subprogram
This sample plan is being reviewed and will be added at a later date.