Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy

Explore education in the broader community and the policies that impact schools and teaching in urban centers with the Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy in Temple’s College of Education and Human Development. This 30- to 36-credit master’s degree program is designed so students can prepare to identify and apply effective practices for ethical and equitable leadership in schools, school districts and community systems. Students have the option to focus in either the Education Policy, School Leadership or Urban Education concentration. 

Through the program’s curriculum, students form advanced knowledge in the

  • development and implementation of educational policies and reforms; 
  • historical, economic and sociocultural community contexts that shape and influence local education and schooling;
  • influence of race, ethnicity and social class on education policy and opportunities for individuals; and
  • landscape of contemporary education reform, and identify skills used by advocates seeking change.

Core courses are designed to provide you with a deep understanding of schools, school leadership and the urban environment, as well as research practices and education policy. As an Educational Leadership and Policy master’s student, you’ll review, select, synthesize and apply research and practitioner literature to examine issues in education. You’ll be prepared to identify the complexity of the urban environment, and the unique challenges and opportunities inherent to urban communities.

Program Format & Curriculum

The Educational Leadership and Policy MEd with concentrations in either Urban Education or Education Policy is a 30-credit program. The Educational Leadership and Policy MEd with a School Leadership concentration may be taken as a 30- or 36-credit degree. Students may take up to five years to complete the program. All classes are offered in-person on Temple’s Main Campus.

Core courses you will take as part of the Educational Leadership and Policy MEd include the following.

  • Context for School Reform
  • Critical Understanding of Social Science Research
  • Leadership in Diverse Contexts
  • Policy and Practice in Urban Education
  • Reforming City Schools
  • Research for Change

Learn more about courses within the Educational Leadership and Policy MEd curriculum.

Certification

Students completing the School Leadership concentration have the option to complete a 36-credit curriculum that partially fulfills the state’s Principal Certification or Certification for Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction. Students seeking state certification will need to complete two clinical experience classes in order to qualify. Find out more about the clinical experience courses.

Pathway to Leadership Principal Preparation Program

The Pathway to Leadership Principal Preparation Program combines traditional principal certification preparation classwork, coaching and mentorship, as well as tailored and specific training to prepare strong leaders within the School District of Philadelphia.

Concentrations

You can focus on Educational Leadership and Policy or you can take one of the following concentrations.

  • Education Policy

    Learn to apply economics and statistics tools to better understand and evaluate education policy. Develop the necessary skills to define the interrelationship of educational policies at the federal, state and local levels.

  • School Leadership

    Design and use multiple measures of student success to help assess a school’s performance and responsiveness to student needs. Develop effective leadership skills to foster professional growth and organizational change to promote standards-based reform in schools. Partially fulfill Pennsylvania requirements for state Principal Certification or Certification for Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction.

  • Urban Education

    Develop an understanding of the ways broad structural factors—such as globalization, poverty and race relations—influence the conditions of education in urban settings. Explore how community members, educators, families and students experience school policies and practices. Engage with community organizations, policy and research think tanks, and schools as essential partners in broadening and sustaining educational opportunities.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Education offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,184.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,513.00 per credit

View the full cost of attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

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Additional Program Information