College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

International education graduate minor

in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development

Expand your impact with a global perspective

The graduate minor in international education offers a rigorous foundation in the cultural, economic, and political forces shaping education worldwide. Designed to complement your primary field of study—whether in Public Policy, Public Health, Law, Sociology, or any of the Social Sciences—this minor equips you with the intercultural competencies and comparative frameworks necessary to lead in an increasingly interconnected global landscape.

By adding this minor to your degree, you will move beyond a domestic-only lens to investigate how educational systems interact with global development, human rights, and institutional change. 

  • Gain a distinct credential that signals your ability to navigate international policy and cross-cultural organizational dynamics, both domestically and abroad.

  • Diversify your methodology with comparative frameworks that allow you to analyze complex social issues through a global lens.
  • Join a community of world-class scholars and gain access to CIDE faculty who serve as mentors and committee members for your research.

Any student currently enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Minnesota is eligible to apply. We recommend connecting with a CIDE faculty member discuss how this minor can enhance your specific career and research goals.

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Coursework

Designed for busy graduate students, the minor requires 9 credits (Master’s) or 12 credits (Doctoral) that can often be tailored to align with your primary research interests.

  • Master’s Minor (9 credits): Includes one core foundational course and two elective courses chosen in consultation with your minor advisor.
  • Doctoral Minor (12 credits): Includes two core foundational courses and two elective courses.
  • Committee Integration: Students must identify one CIDE Graduate Faculty member to serve on their examination committee.

Overview

Coursework includes a minimum of 9 credits for master's students and 12 credits for doctoral students, typically completed in 4 years for full time students. Credits from required courses in a major program will not count towards the minor.

Required courses should be chosen as specified in each section below, additional credits can be chosen from any course in the lists below. There are no language requirements.

Core courses

One course required for M.A or M.Ed.; two courses required for Ph.D.; 8xxx courses intended for Ph.D. students.

  • OLPD 5103—Comparative Education (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5104—Strategies for International Development of Education Systems (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5121—Educational Reform in International Context (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5124—Critical Issues in International Education and Educational Exchange (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5132—Intercultural Education and Training: Theory and Application (3 cr)
  • OLPD 8101—International Education and Development (3 cr)
  • OLPD 8103—Comparative Education (3 cr)

Area-specific coursework

One course minimum for M.A., M.Ed., and Ph.D.

  • AFEE 5361—World Development Problems (3 cr)
  • CI 5145—Critical Pedagogy (3 cr)
  • CI 5651—Foundations of Second Languages and Cultures Education (3 cr)
  • CI 8150—Research Topics Curriculum & Instruction (1-6 cr)
  • CI 8645—Indigenous Language Revitalization and Activist Research Methods (3 cr)
  • CI 8650—Seminar: Special Topics in Second Languages and Cultures Research (1-3 cr)
  • EPSY 8403—Social/Cultural Contexts: Counseling and Skills (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5080—Special Topics: Organizational Leadership, Policy, & Development (1-3 cr)
  • OLPD 5121—Educational Reform in International Context (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5132—Intercultural Education and Training: Theory and Application (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5612—International Human Resource Development (3 cr)
  • OLPD 8087—Seminar: Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (1-3 cr)
  • OLPD 8101—International Education and Development (3 cr)
  • OLPD 8842—Comparative Systems in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (3 cr)
  • PA 5414—Child Human Rights: Work and Education (3 cr)

Questions?

We’re here to help. Simply complete this form and a member of our department will be in touch.

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