Educational Leadership Course Descriptions
EDLD 6002: Administrative Law
An introduction to the legal environment of the school. The course will cover legal concepts, regulations, and codes for school operation. Special emphasis will be given to administrators' knowledge of the proper implementation of policies, regulations, rules, and procedures in public schools.
EDLD 6013: School Organization and Leadership
Principles and concepts of school organization and the role of the educational leader.
EDLD 6023: Organizational Change
This course is a study of the principles of organizational change and how they relate to educational institutions. Students will evaluate existing school programs, and write a proposal to develop and implement a focused improvement plan that leads to an effective school change.
EDLD 6102: School Finance
A study of school budgeting, accounting techniques, and funding formulas.
EDLD 6113: Action Research and Data Analysis
This course will address the theories and practice of research with emphasis on action research for school improvement. The course will focus on gathering, accessing, and interpreting information needed for effective decision-making for high performing schools.
EDLD 6153: Communication with School and Community
Identification, study, and analysis of concepts and procedures to develop and implement effective communication and public relations strategies between the school and the community. Also includes community analysis, school issues, public responses, and policy development.
EDLD 6203: Education and Society: Continuities and Discontinuities
The relationship between society and educational systems including factors which have either positive or negative effects upon the stability of the system.
EDLD 6253: Instructional Leadership
Principles of effective instructional leadership including the role of the principal as an instructional leader focusing on the critical friend and clinical supervision models, curriculum and data analysis.
Note: This course is a prerequisite for EDLD 6402.
EDLD 6303: Technology as an Administrative Tool
The role of technology in improving the education system is the focus of this course. The use of technology by the administrator to improve the quality of education managerially and instructionally is the emphasis of the course.
EDLD 6313: Principles of Curriculum for School Leadership
A study of the elements and principles of curriculum design and construction for principals at the elementary, middle and secondary school levels. The course considers the school leader's role in curriculum development, implementation and evaluation.
EDLD 6352: Physical Environment of Schools
A study of the effects of the physical environment of the school upon instruction and learning. The course will include the development of physical plants conducive to and effective for learning.
EDLD 6402: Working with the Marginal Performer
Prerequisite: EDLD 6253
The application of supervision in working with teachers with marginal success is the focus. The course will include a study of mentoring and teacher evaluations systems.
EDLD 6551: Administrative Internship
Directed on-the-job activities. Designed to give instructional leaders experience in the various subsystems composing the education system.
$50 internship fee.
EDLD 6552: Administrative Internship
Directed on-the-job activities. Designed to give instructional leaders experience in the various subsystems composing the education system.
Note: A student can repeat this course, earning a maximum number of four (4) graduate hours of credit
$100 internship fee.
EDLD 6554: Administrative Internship
Directed on-the-job activities. Designed to give instructional leaders experience in the various subsystems composing the education system.
$200 internship fee.
EDLD 6891, 6892, 6893: Independent Study
Open to graduate students who wish to pursue individual study or investigation of some facet of knowledge which complements the purpose of the University's graduate program. Students will be required to plan their studies and prepare formal written reports of their findings.
Note: The selected topic may not constitute any duplication of study leading to the accomplishment of a thesis.
Note: May be repeated for credit.
EDLD 6991: Professional Portfolio
Students will develop a portfolio organized to provide evidences demonstrating proficiency supporting the standards for Arkansas licensure requirements for building level administrators. This professional portfolio will be a comprehensive collection of artifacts reflective of the program of study designed to meet the standards for school leaders.
Note: After completing this course, students who do not successfully present their portfolio the semester they are scheduled for review will be required to reenroll the semester they request to reschedule for review.
EDLD 7003: Seminar in Systems Issues
This course focuses on system issues and the resulting development of coherent educational policy for public elementary and secondary schools that unifies purpose. This focus is primarily at the state level, where formal responsibility lies, but it concerns federal and district policy as well as school practice.
EDLD 7013: The Superintendency and Central Office
The scope and function of the central office will be the focus of this course. Theory and practice from the central office/ superintendent's perspective of such areas as superintendent-board relations, public relations, strategic planning, professional negotiation, special programs administration, leadership style, and school climate.
EDLD 7023: School Board Relations
The study of school board-administrator relationships and procedures with emphases on community relations, the politics of education and functioning cohesively as an educational, policy-making group.
EDLD 7033: School Personnel and Business Management
Principles, processes and procedures of school personnel management and business management are probed. Issues and topics investigated include supervision, evaluation, recruitment, staff development, salary and contractual obligations, attendance accounting, APSCN procedures, financial accounting, and property accounting.
EDLD 7113: Seminar in Current Issues
The course will investigate contemporary issues and trends related to educational leadership and examine problems and solutions that are of current concern for school organizations. These issues include school finance alternatives, serving a diverse constituency, meeting individual and group needs, accountability issues, instructional issues including the integration of technology, evaluation of instructional issues, evaluation of programs and personnel, and changing policies at the state and national level.
EDLD 7123: Educational Facilities
This is a study of school facilities and transportation planning and concepts, management and practices. Topics include how to use and maintain present school plants, keeping the board and community informed as to building needs, selecting architects, financing construction, safety and security issues, and developing educational specifications.
EDLD 7133: School Finance for District Level Administration
Economics and school finance: Basic concepts include local, state and federal support of education, the Arkansas State Financial System (APSCN), budgeting and projecting, financing capital items, centralization vs. site-based concepts, fiscal management, auditing, and communicating finance to the board and community.
EDLD 7143: School Accountability Systems
This course probes the essential elements of a monitoring system designed to help schools and districts acquire the information they need to better realize their intentions for improvement, accountability, and school restructuring.
EDLD 7153: District Internship
A field study experience providing the student with an opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge, and develop and practice administrative skills as they relate to school accountability systems. It applies reflective practice under the direction of a practitioner mentor and a university advisor and focuses on a monitoring system model.
$100 internship fee.
EDLD 7163: Statistical Methods for District Leaders
An introductory study of inferential statistics utilizing parametric and nonparametric procedures to analyze school data.
EDLD 7173: Advanced Legal Issues
This course focuses on the United States Constitution and its effects on due process requirements for public schools. Issues include the relationship of constitutional, statutory and case law to public school districts particularly in these areas of current concern - students' rights and responsibilities, teachers' rights and responsibilities, procedural and substantive due process, and liability.
EDLD 7201: Administrative Internship in District Level Finance
A field study experience providing the student with an opportunity to synthesize and apply knowledge, and to develop and practice administrative skills as they relate to the principles of district level school finance. It applies reflective practice under the direction of a practitioner mentor and a university advisor and focuses on existing state and district level financial practices, resources, and responsibilities.
$50 internship fee.
EDLD 7891, 7892, 7893: Independent Study
Prerequisite: Ed.S. Program Director Approval.
This Independent Study is open to students pursuing the Ed.S. degree who wish to pursue individual study, investigation or project based research of some facet of knowledge which complements the Ed.S. program of study. Students will be required to plan their program submitting a formal program of study request, prepare written reports throughout the study and present their findings in a formal paper.
Note: A student may take no more than six (6) hours of Independent Study work.
EDLD 8003: Applied Research
Prerequisite: Admission to Ed.D. program.
This course of study facilitates excellence in teaching by exploring contemporary paradigms of educational research with an emphasis on informing thinking and decision-making to address problems in schooling. Skills to be emphasized include conceptualizing real-world problems in an inquiry manner so that information derived from the research literature can be applied to the problem, synthesizing the line of investigation. Seeing the historical perspective of the research and critically judging the worth or quality of the study (internal validity, sampling adequacy). Students will review the literature, develop an inquiry problem, gather and analyze data, and make recommendations to solve the problem.
EDLD 8013: Scholarly Writing
Prerequisite: Admission to Ed.D. program.
This course is designed to provide an overview of the literature review as it pertains to the research process and assist students in beginning to create a knowledge base about scholarly writing. Peer and instructor support systems are used in this course to enable student groups to complete a 22-page literature review in preparation for future course requirements. Special attention will be focused about the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual (6th Ed).
EDLD 8023: Quantitative Research
Prerequisite: Admission to Ed.D. program.
The focus of this course is the application of quantitative research methodology in the study of educational practice. Emphasis will be placed on study design, data collection, and data analysis using quantitative research methods. The fundamentals of quantitative research will be emphasized. Statistical analyses will be conducted using the SPSS software.
EDLD 8033: Qualitative Research
Prerequisites: Admission to Ed.D. program.
This course is intended to build in students' understandings of qualitative research, its theory and methods. As a doctoral-level research course, the material covered will be intended to prepare the student for successful competing of a qualitative doctoral dissertation.
EDLD 8043: Cultural Influences
Prerequisite: Admission to ED.D. program.
This course facilitates excellence in leadership by exploring current knowledge and research related to communication that builds positive relationships and community in a global society. Issues discussed include, but are not limited to, socioeconomic, ethnicity, gender, age, and other issues that require courageous communication. An emphasis on the educational leader as will guide the examination of socio-cultural and diversity issues pervasive in communicating and building relationships in a global society. These issues will be examined through an exploration of philosophy, leadership, multicultural, and critical pedagogy. Existing, as well as emergent cultural and societal patterns will be contextualized in terms of leadership in Arkansas, the US, and globally.
EDLD 8053: Ethics and Values
Prerequisite: Admission to Ed.D. program.
This course focuses on the ethical administrator, the ethical practice of educational leadership and the ethics of equity and social justice. Specific philosophical approaches and ethical theories will be discussed. Particular attention will focus on ethical leadership practices within a learning community and include field-based exploration.
EDLD 8063: Dissertation I-Proposal Writing
Prerequisites: Admission to the Ed.D. program. Completion of all core doctoral classes.
Students will prepare Chapter 1 - 3 for a dissertation proposal to be presented to the doctoral chair and committee members.
EDLD 8073: Synthesis Seminar
Prerequisite: Admission to Ed.D. program.
Integrating, synthesizing, and evaluating major concepts encountered in previous doctoral coursework. This course involves the completion of a student proficiency assessment comprised of a portfolio, synthesis paper and oral presentation. Successful completion is required to apply for candidacy.
EDLD 8083: Dissertation II
Prerequisites: Synthesis presentation and portfolio, and admission to candidacy.
Students will prepare Chapter 1-3 for a dissertation proposal. The proposal will be defended with the doctoral committee. Successful completion is required for advancement to candidacy.
EDLD 8093: Dissertation III
Prerequisites: Synthesis presentation and portfolio, and admission to candidacy. Successful defense of dissertation proposal.
Students will prepare Chapter 1-5 for a dissertation proposal. The candidate will conduct research and complete the dissertation and refine chapters 1-3.
EDLD 8101, 8102, 8103: Dissertation IV
Prerequisites: Synthesis presentation and portfolio, and admission to candidacy. Successful defense of dissertation proposal.
Dissertation will be completed and defended. Students must maintain continuous enrollment from the time of advancement to candidacy and register for at least three credit hours each semester until successful dissertation defense, not to exceed three years of advancement to candidacy. Minimum number of dissertation credit hours is twelve.
Note: May be repeated for credit.