Educational Leadership Program

Leadership

Jo Nell Wood, Ed.D.,
Program Director

Overview

Saint Louis University's Educational Leadership Program prepares students to be effective leaders in educational settings. The program is grounded in evidence regarding excellence in leadership, integrating theory and practice, and is designed to meet students’ needs and professional aspirations. The vast majority of educational leadership students work in full-time positions while in the program.

About the Faculty

Faculty members are or have been practicing educational administrators, take a genuine interest in students, serve as strong role models of success and acquaint students with the challenges and joys of the profession. The faculty seek an appropriate balance between theory and practice, between action and reflection and between intellect and affect.

Faculty members in the Catholic education programs are or have been successfully practicing Catholic school leaders. The faculty takes a genuine interest in students, serve as strong role models of success and acquaint students with the challenges and joys of the profession and vocation.

EDL 3892 - Leadership and Service Seminar

Credit(s): 3 Credits

The Leadership and Service course explores the nature of leadership in an organizational setting from a range of perspectives and paradigms, as well as through an Ignatian lens. The course will engage students in service learning as well as a series of analytical exercises designed to help them understand themselves as a leader. The course challenges students to consider how one uses one's own gifts in a purpose-driven vocation in the service of others.

Prerequisite(s): CORE 1500*

* Concurrent enrollment allowed.

Attributes: UUC:Reflection-in-Action, UUC:Social & Behavioral Sci, UUC:Self in Contemplation

EDL 3910 - Internship in Orientation Leadership

Credit(s): 0-1 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This course is an experiential education internship with the SLU 101 Summer Orientation program for selected SLU 101 Leaders. It is open to all disciplines and provides students with theoretical and skill-based knowledge to apply in leadership positions including student development theory, group management, role modeling, and other related issues.

Attributes: UUC:Reflection-in-Action

EDL 3915 - Internship in Peer Instruction

Credit(s): 0-1 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This course serves as an internship for students selected as peer instructors for the UNIV 1010. This internship is designed to provide students with knowledge to apply to the classroom setting, including student development theory, classroom management and teaching techniques, paraprofessional role modeling, and other related issues.

Attributes: UUC:Reflection-in-Action

EDL 3930 - Special Topics

Credit(s): 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

EDL 3980 - Independent Study

Credit(s): 1 or 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

EDL 5000 - Educational Leadership Non-Certification Practicum

Credit(s): 0-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

The Leadership Practicum provides students an opportunity to explore practical applications of content and skills learned in their graduate programs to actual settings. Designed for students who are not seeking state certification as public school building or district administrators, this practicum provides flexible opportunities to experience leadership at an executive level in private K-12 education, higher education, business, or non-profit/social service sectors. (Offered Summer, Fall, and Spring)

EDL 5100 - Foundations of Ed Admin

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Required as a prerequisite to all other educational administration courses. An introduction to the field of educational administration for the Masters level student and those students new to educational administration. Topics include school organization, interpersonal communications, decision making, change and innovation. Offered fall and spring.

EDL 5150 - Special Dimensions of Ed Admin

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Roles of the principal and the institution will be explored with special emphasis given to the unique aspects of parochial schools. (Offered occasionally).

EDL 5190 - Building Level Administration and Community Relations

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course is designed to strengthen students' knowledge and skills as instructional leaders by identifying and researching current and emerging curricular issues. Students will learn to coordinate and synthesize curriculum development utilizing appropriate instruction designs, manage delivery and resources as they relate to curriculum, and utilize assessment results. Students will conduct and report results of a building level audit of curriculum supports and implementation.

EDL 5200 - School-Community Relations

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

A study of the nature, scope, principles, and practices of public relations including organization and administration.

EDL 5300 - School Law

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits

An introduction to legal sources and documents related to schools. Selected case studies will be used to examine legal issues related to school students, teachers and administrators.

EDL 5450 - Managing the Building Level Curriculum

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course is designed to strengthen students¿ knowledge and skills as instructional leaders by identifying and researching current and emerging curricular issues. Students will learn to coordinate and synthesize curriculum development utilizing appropriate instruction designs, manage delivery and resources as they relate to curriculum, and utilize assessment results. Students will conduct and report results of a building level audit of curriculum supports and implementation.

EDL 5500 - Professional Seminar

Credit(s): 2 or 3 Credits

The purpose of this course is to integrate all MA Program Coursework by having students apply their learning through authentic experience and learning community formats.

Restrictions:

Enrollment is limited to students with a major in Educational Leadership.

EDL 5630 - The Principalship

Credit(s): 3 Credits

An overview of elementary, middle, and senior high school administration with an emphasis on the philosophy, organization, curricula and developmental needs of students and staff. Course will focus on solution of critical problems, change, innovation and interpersonal communication. (Offered every Fall).

EDL 5660 - Principalship II

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Principalship II provides an overview of the school principalship with an emphasis on the management of school operations in a manner that supports the school’s mission, vision, and values. Topics include scheduling, facilities operations, safety and security, transportation (buses, arrival, and departure), administration of extra-curricular programs and school activities, central office relations, recruiting and hiring faculty and staff, administration and management of services for special needs students, and managing technology. The course is designed to prepare principals to operate schools effectively and efficiently in a manner that propels student achievement and implements the mission of the school.

EDL 5730 - Building Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation

Credit(s): 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This course investigates how schools can support educator improvement as reflective professional practitioners through high quality professional development and how the system of evaluation can incorporate and integrate this type of development. Participants review and analyze the MO Evaluation System Model and practice conducting observations and providing feedback. This course addresses the knowledge base to prepare students to complete the ETS tasks 2 & 3. Offered annually.

EDL 5910 - Internship: Elementary Principal

Credit(s): 2-6 Credits

Students work under the direction of a successful elementary practicing administrator and thereby gain on-the-job experience in administration and supervision, aligned with the Missouri leader standards.

EDL 5911 - Internship: Secondary Principal

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Students work under the direction of a successful secondary practicing administrator and thereby gain on-the-job experience in administration and supervision, aligned with the Missouri leader standards.

EDL 5913 - Internship: Building Principal

Credit(s): 0-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This internship experience is to give prospective school leaders a realistic context to learn and practice the craft of school leadership not found in a formal university classroom. It allows interns to apply what they have learned in a real context. It allows them to assess their commitment and genuine interest in the profession. The internship experiences offered at Saint Louis University for administrative certification for building level administration (Principal) are designed to align with State of Missouri certification requirements. (Offered every semester)

EDL 5914 - Internship: Superintendent Internship

Credit(s): 0-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This internship experience is to give prospective school leaders a realistic context to learn and practice the craft of school leadership not found in a formal university classroom. It allows interns to apply what they have learned in a real context. It allow them to assess their commitment and genuine interest in the profession. The internship experiences offered at Saint Louis University for administrative certification for district level administration (Superintendent) are designed to align with State of Missouri certification requirements. (Offered every semester)

EDL 5930 - Special Topics

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

EDL 5950 - Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams

Credit(s): 0 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

EDL 5980 - Graduate Reading Course

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Prior permission of guiding professor.

EDL 6110 - School District Administration

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Organization and operation of city and suburban public school systems; school-community relations and school politics; basic principles, concepts issues; federal, state, and local relations in education; reality in school administration. (Offered every Fall semester)

EDL 6140 - The Politics of Education

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits

An overview of the politics of education with attention to local-state-federal relationships, teacher-administrator-school board relationships, policy development and analysis in schools, rural/suburban/urban school systems and problems, and the place of the school in society.

EDL 6190 - School, Community, and Politics

Credit(s): 3 Credits

This course is designed to introduce the doctoral level student to the principles and techniques of communications, public relations, community engagement, marketing, as well as the social, political, and ethical dimensions of school administration. (Offered occasionally)

EDL 6200 - Ethics of Ed Leadership

Credit(s): 3 Credits

Course centers on identifying, analyzing, and developing effective methods of confronting ethical issues in educational leadership. Case studies will be utilized to emphasize the interplay between theory and practice. (Offered annually.)

EDL 6300 - Advanced School Law

Credit(s): 2 or 3 Credits

Detailed examination of Missouri school laws, legal research, analysis of selected cases. (Offered every Fall semester.)

EDL 6390 - Gateway Leadership Institute

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits (Repeatable up to 6 credits)

This course examines the concepts of instructional leadership. Each year different national and local experts in the field convene to present and discuss educational issues focused on improving teaching, learning, and leading.

EDL 6400 - Sem: Human Resources Admin

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits

An introduction to the basic principles and practices of public school human resource administration. Topics will include motivation, leadership, recruitment, selection, induction, orientation, staff development, salary administration, collective bargaining, evaluation, and supervision. (Offered every spring semester.)

EDL 6450 - Managing the District Level Curriculum

Credit(s): 3 Credits

The course examines the concepts of curriculum leadership and applies these concepts to the process of curriculum management and improvement. It is designed to strengthen students knowledge and skills as district instructional leaders by investigating current and emerging curricular issues. Students will audit a districts curriculum as it relates to written curriculum, implementation, practices, policies, personnel, finance, and facilities. This systematic review will provide a district wide curriculum understanding. The course requires active, thoughtful, and analytical thinking on the part of the student in order to synthesize and integrate the material into a working knowledge base.

EDL 6470 - School Facilities

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits

Problems concerning predictions of enrollment; projection of educational programs; educational specifications of buildings; site location, size acquisition; architectural and construction contracts; lay and professional staff committees; bonding, staffing and equipping buildings. (Offered annually.)

EDL 6500 - School Finance

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits

Principles of taxation, developing school finance formulas, and role of federal, state, and local governments in financing education. (Offered every Fall semester.)

EDL 6510 - Seminar: Advanced Religious Education

Credit(s): 3 Credits

An advanced seminar for those with adequate work in philosophical and psychological foundations dealing with curricular or administrational aspects of program leadership. Specific topics of concern will vary from semester to semester.

EDL 6690 - School Business Administration

Credit(s): 2-3 Credits

Role of the business manager; fiscal planning models; needs assessment; budget planning and administration; accounting; auditing; personnel functions of the business office; property management. (Offered every Fall semester.)

EDL 6730 - District Level Professional Development and Teacher Evaluation

Credit(s): 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

This course considers the importance and difficulty of motivating educators to seek life long personal improvement as reflective professional practitioners through high quality professional development and how the system of evaluation can incorporate and integrate this type of development. Strategies of adult motivation and techniques of adult behavioral change are studied. Current systems of staff evaluation are analyzed and specific evaluative techniques and methods are practiced using the MO New Evaluation System Model. Offered annually.

EDL 6930 - Special Topics

Credit(s): 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

EDL 6950 - Special Study for Written Comprehensive Exams

Credit(s): 0 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

EDL 6960 - Project Guidance

Credit(s): 0-6 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Prerequsites: EDR 5000; EDR 5100; EDR 5500.

Prerequisite(s): (EDR 5000 with a grade of C or higher or SLU Ed Research Methods with a minimum score of S); (EDR 5100 with a grade of C or higher, SLU Ed Statistics with a minimum score of S, or EDR 6100 with a grade of C or higher); EDR 5500 with a grade of C or higher

EDL 6970 - Research Topics

Credit(s): 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Discussion of theories of research and the process of hypothesis development.

Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students in a Doctor of Education degree.

EDL 6971 - Research Topics for EdD

Credit(s): 3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Discussion of theories of research and the process of hypothesis development. Same as EDL 6970, but for Ed.D. students.

EDL 6980 - Graduate Reading Course

Credit(s): 1-3 Credits (Repeatable for credit)

Prior permission of major professor required.

EDL 6990 - Dissertation Research

Credit(s): 0-6 Credits (Repeatable for credit)