Course Descriptions

EDL 501 - Leadership, Planning, and Organizational Behavior - 3 credits
This course provides school leaders with preparation in skills for providing purpose and direction for individuals and groups, shaping school culture and value, facilitating the development of shared strategic vision for the school, formulating goals and planning change efforts with staff, and setting priorities for one's school in the context of community and district priorities for student and staff needs.

EDL 502 - Technology and Information Systems - 2 credits
This course provides an understanding of selected computer applications for educational administrators. The focus of instruction is to have educational leaders use the computer as a decision making and planning tool for carrying out communication functions of administration at the building and district levels.

EDL 511 - Personal Communications and Ethics - 3 credits
This course prepares aspiring school leaders to plan for their personal and professional development; understand and use the principles of interpersonal, oral, and written communication; and follow a professional code of ethics and values.

EDL 512 - Research, Measurement, and Program Evaluation - 3 credits
This course provides school leaders with an understanding of how to determine what diagnostic information is needed about students, staff, and the school environment; examine the extent to which outcomes meet or exceed defined standards, goals, or priorities for individuals or groups; draw inferences for program revisions; interpret and understand research, measurements, and evaluations; relate programs to desired outcomes; develop equivalent measures of incompetence; and design accountability mechanisms.

EDL 513 - Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Theory - 3 credits
This course provides school leaders the ability to understand major curriculum design models, interpret school district curricula, initiate needs analyses, plan and implement with staff a framework for instruction, align curriculum with anticipated outcomes, monitor social and technological developments as they affect curriculum, and adjust content as needs and conditions change.

EDL 514 - Personnel, Supervision, and Staff Development - 3 credits
This course provides school leaders with preparation in skills for instructional improvement, working with faculty and staff to identify professional needs. Classes are designed for in-depth study and practice planning, organizing, and facilitating programs that improve faculty and staff effectiveness and are consistent with institutional goals and needs; supervising individuals and groups; providing feedback on performance; arranging for remedial assistance; engaging faculty and others to plan and participate in recruitment and development activities; and initiating self-development.

EDL 515 - Education Law and Organizational Structure of Schools - 3 credits
This course is designed as a beginning law course for school administrators. Topics to be studied include organizational structure of schools, federal and state court systems, church-state issues, teacher rights, student rights, rights of students with disabilities, instructional issues, tort liability, and equal opportunity in education.

EDL 516 - Policy and Educational Finance - 2 credits
Includes such topics as the organization of and responsibility for education in the United States at the federal, state, and local levels; basic administrative theories, processes, and techniques; and major areas of concern in the operation of local schools.

EDL 517 - Social, Cultural, Political, and Community Dimensions of Schools - 4 credits
This course provides school leaders with an understanding of the historical, philosophical, ethical, social, and economic influences affecting education to the degree that they can apply their understandings to professional decisions. Students are expected to apply political concepts and strategies and approaches to collaboration in involving the community in decision making, building community support for integrating health and social services in support of students, and developing community support for school priorities. Throughout the course, students' work will be expected to manifest a sensitivity to issues of diversity in a pluralistic society.

EDL 519 - Principalship - 2 credits
This course provides school leaders with an understanding of the role of the building principal along with skills and techniques associated with the principalship. The topics include the principal's role in community and family relationships and collaboration, using community resources to support the academic and social needs of students and families, the development and application of policies related to students and staff, planning and delivering of curricular and co-curricular programs within the school, and the principal's role in working with staff. Students must also enroll in a one-credit field-based experience (EDL 520, 521 or 522) appropriate for their desired level of preparation for the principalship

EDL 520 - Middle School Principalship - 1 credit
Corequisite: EDL 519. This course provides a field-based experience in the role of the middle school principal.

EDL 521 - Elementary School Principalship - 1 credit
Corequisite: EDL 519. This course provides a field-based experience in the role of the elementary school principal.

EDL 522 - Secondary School Principalship - 1 credit
Corequisite: EDL 519. This course provides a field-based experience in the role of the secondary school principal.