Education Policy
This 33-credit master’s degree program is focused on the changing landscape of education policy in the 21st century. The field is looking for leaders with sophisticated skill sets who are able to understand complex federal and state statutes and regulations, research and report on initiatives, draft policy and regulatory language; conduct financial analyses; and possess a deep understanding of the inequities in education. They must then combine those skills with a knowledge of the most promising models to shape effective, evidence-based education policies. This program comprises 11 three-credit courses delivered online. Students can also opt to include a three-credit internship for an experiential learning opportunity.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to this master’s program must have a earned a four-year bachelor’s degree by the time of their matriculation.
Please visit the departmental program page for details.
Program Requirements
Number of Credits Required: 33
One-week residency in Washington, D.C., required.
Please see additional GPA and Grade Requirements on the Graduation page.
While not required, students may elect to take ED.820.611 Experiential Learning if they are pursuing in-field experience during their time as a student.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Introductory Course (3 credit hours) | ||
| ED.820.602 | Introduction to Education Policy (includes a 1-week residency in Washington, D.C.) 1 | 3 |
| Core Courses (30 credit hours) | ||
| ED.820.600 | Introduction to Statistics 2 | 3 |
| ED.820.601 | Intermediate Statistics | 3 |
| ED.820.603 | Federal Education Policy | 3 |
| ED.820.604 | Diversity | 3 |
| ED.820.605 | International Education Policy | 3 |
| ED.820.606 | State and Local Education Policy | 3 |
| ED.820.607 | Understanding Education Research 3 | 3 |
| ED.820.608 | Education Finance | 3 |
| ED.820.609 | Outside the Schoolhouse | 3 |
| ED.820.610 | Capstone Course | 3 |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
- 1
The Foundational Introductory Course will be taken first, outside of the statistics courses.
- 2
Applicants who have completed an introductory-level statistics course with an earned grade of B or better in the past five years may petition to substitute another graduate-level course for ED.820.600 upon approval from the faculty director. Students frequently use ED.820.611 as a substitution.
- 3
Understanding Education Research (ED.820.607) will be replaced with Introduction to Social Science Research (ED.830.600) starting Summer 2026.
Sample Program Plan
FULL TIME
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | Credits | |
| ED.820.602 | Introduction to Education Policy 1 | 3 |
| ED.820.607 | Understanding Education Research 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
- 1
Introduction to Education Policy (ED.820.602) - includes participation in the course's week-long seminar in DC during the summer.
- 2
Understanding Education Research (ED.820.607) will be replaced with Introduction to Social Science Research (ED.830.600) starting Summer 2026.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ED.820.600 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ED.820.603 | Federal Education Policy | 3 |
| ED.820.604 | Diversity | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| ED.820.601 | Intermediate Statistics | 3 |
| ED.820.606 | State and Local Education Policy | 3 |
| ED.820.608 | Education Finance | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Term | ||
| ED.820.609 | Outside the Schoolhouse 1 | 3 |
| ED.820.605 | International Education Policy 1 | 3 |
| ED.820.610 | Capstone Course | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
Students may speak to the program director about potentially using a different elective to substitute for this course.
PART TIME
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | Credits | |
| ED.820.602 | Introduction to Education Policy 1 | 3 |
| ED.820.607 | Understanding Education Research 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
- 1
Introduction to Education Policy (ED.820.602) - includes participation in the course's week-long seminar in DC during the summer.
- 2
Understanding Education Research (ED.820.607) will be replaced with Introduction to Social Science Research (ED.830.600) starting Summer 2026.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ED.820.600 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ED.820.603 | Federal Education Policy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| ED.820.601 | Intermediate Statistics | 3 |
| ED.820.606 | State and Local Education Policy | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer Term | ||
| ED.820.605 | International Education Policy 1 | 3 |
| ED.820.609 | Outside the Schoolhouse 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ED.820.604 | Diversity | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| ED.820.608 | Education Finance | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer Term | ||
| ED.820.610 | Capstone Course | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
- 1
Students may speak to the program director about potentially using a different elective to substitute for this course.
STUDENT OUTCOMES
The goal of our program is to provide the comprehensive, research-based, real-world, and workplace-ready skills and knowledge for students and professionals interested in the field of K-12 education policy.
The primary educational outcomes of the program is to prepare graduates to analyze and evaluate education research, translate research into policies, and contribute effectively to governmental agencies, legislative offices, mayor’s offices, think tanks, and nonprofits that focus on education.
Upon successful completion of the program, we expect students to be prepared to:
- Analyze and evaluate education research.
- Analyze the structures that comprise public education in different states within the U.S. and in peer nations around the world.
- Analyze national and international educational assessment data.
- Translate research into policy recommendations for different stakeholders (i.e. states, local education bodies, city governments, or non-profits/think tanks).
- Analyze current or proposed federal and state legislation and regulatory language for their potential impact.
- Analyze existing education budgets and funding streams.
- Evaluate proposed policies in terms of their potential impact on underserved or marginalized populations.
- Compose reports, policy memos, op-eds, and policy briefings on educational issues in strong, clear, and empirically based language.