College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Leadership in education MEd

in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development

Leadership is a growing academic discipline built on the premise that all of us can be leaders and can hone the skills of leadership to be more effective in our everyday lives. Applied to education, the study of leadership takes on new meaning and potential. Leadership in Education provides us with opportunities to shape and support young people’s growth and development. How can we make decisions that align with our shared vision and values? How can we design specialized professional development to improve teacher performance and build capacity? How can we set smart goals and create policies and practices to achieve them?

The MEd in Leadership in Education aims to supply you with the knowledge and skills to be able to answer these organizational questions. You will learn about group dynamics and collaboration, creating a culture of continuous improvement, how organizational policies shape behavior, and how schools and districts can change in order to adapt to new social, economic, and political environments.

Benefits

MEd students in Leadership in Education will have the ability to:

  • Assess needs and trends affecting school districts, and provide new ideas and effective solutions.
  • Plan and support organizational change initiatives.
  • Understand how business processes and organizational structure can be improved for efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Motivate and persuade others to address problems and work to find solutions.

Careers

This program prepares students for a wide range of careers, including:

  • Teacher leader
  • Instructional coach
  • School principal
  • Director of special education
  • Director of community education

Coursework

Required courses (16 credits minimum):

  • OLPD 5361—Project in Teacher Leadership (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5364—Context and Practice of Educational Leadership (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5374—Leadership for Professional Development (4 cr)
  • OLPD 5387—Leadership for Teaching and Learning (3 cr)
    OR CI 5155—Contemporary Approaches to Curriculum: Instruction and Assessment (3 cr)
  • OLPD 5501—Principles and Methods of Evaluation (3 cr)
    OR CI 5177—Practical Research (3 cr)

Electives (14 credits minimum):

14 or more credits of elective courses with advisor approval. Students often choose elective credits aligned with certificates in staff development, school technology, reading, and school administration.

Examples include:

  • Teaching and learning in a multicultural, pluralistic democracy
  • Planning interdisciplinary and thematic learning
  • Assessing student learning to differentiate instruction
  • Cross-cultural perspectives on leadership
  • Literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies
  • Professional development
  • School technology
  • Women in leadership

Transfer credits:

A maximum of nine graduate semester transfer credits may be applied to the M.Ed. program. Credits may include any combination of the following coursework:

  • Up to six graduate semester credits from fully accredited institutions other than the University of Minnesota.
  • Credits completed at the University of Minnesota before admission to the M.Ed. program

Transfer courses must be completed at the graduate level and approved by a faculty advisor and the college; a review of course syllabi is required. Contact the program coordinator for more information.

How to apply

    Application Deadlines

    Applications are due by July 1 for Fall semester start, November 1 for Spring semester start, and March 1 for Summer session start.

    Applications are not complete until ALL required materials and fees have been received. If anything is missing, your application may not be considered until the next review date the following year. It is strongly recommended to apply at least two weeks before any submission deadlines.

    Applications are processed by the Graduate School. A decision for admission notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department's admission committee and your transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by Graduate School officials.
     

    Admission Requirements

    Degree: Bachelor's degree

    GPA: Undergraduate 2.8

    GRE scores: Not required and should not be submitted, as they will not be considered. 

    TOEFL/IELTS Scores (Not required for U.S. students):
    TOEFL: Internet based = 79 or above (21 writing/19 reading)
    IELTS = 6.5

    Tuition and funding

    Tuition information: CEHD | OneStop

    Financial aid: CEHD | OneStop

    Readmission

    If a graduate student in an OLPD program has become inactive they must follow the readmission procedures.

    Whether you seek reactivation after accidentally being discontinued this term or want to return after a long absence these are the steps needed to re-apply.

    1. Complete the proper online readmission application.

      If you have been away from the program less than five years use the Express Readmission Application and email it to olpd@umn.edu. All others must submit the Online Application for Readmission
       
    2. Once received, the department will forward your application to the appropriate admissions committee. Readmission decisions are normally determined by the program’s admissions committee, not any one individual faculty member.

      Readmission is never guaranteed. Decisions for readmission are based on a review of previous progress toward degree completion, the proposed timeline for completion, the availability of faculty resources, and/or any additional application materials they may request from you. Individual programs/tracks reserve the right to readmit students under the current graduate program requirements, rules, and guidelines. They may also request an applicant to provide additional information prior to making a decision.
       
    3. Once the committee makes their recommendation, the department’s DGS will sign off on the decision and forward the result to the central Graduate Admissions Office for processing. Once processed, you will be notified of the decision.

    Individual department programs and tracks reserve the right to require readmitted students to retake coursework if they deem it appropriate. Readmitted students are also required to abide by current time-to-degree policies as determined by the University, which may differ from the policy in place when they first started the degree program.

    Individuals seeking readmission to the Ph.D., Ed.D., and M.A. program tracks in the former EDPA, WHRE, and WCFE majors can only reapply to the appropriate program track under the Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) major name.

    Detailed application instructions

    Click here to access the online application for admission.

    Required fields in the application for admission are: Personal Information, Application Information, Educational Background, Languages, Awards & Activities, Employment/Residence Information, Financial Support, Applicant Statements #1 & #2, Recommendation Letters (limit 2), and  Resume or CV.  All other fields or application materials are optional, but will be taken into consideration if submitted.  

    Fees: 
    Review information about application fees here.

    Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. Click here for more information about transcripts and credentials.

    GRE scores are not only not required, they are not considered for applications to this program.

    Statement #1, Personal Statement (required): Please provide a statement outlining your immediate educational and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field. If there is a particular faculty member with whom you wish to study, please give that person’s name and explain why you want to study with that person. You may also wish to include other information, such as any undergraduate research experience, internships, or other experiences you may have had to document your preparation for advanced study in your chosen field. If you are applying for the Ph.D.—CIDE/Leadership for
    Intercultural and International Education (LIIE) or the Ph.D—EPL/Executive cohort programs, indicate this in your statement as well. [Please do not exceed two pages.]

    Statement #2, Diversity Statement (required): Enrolling and graduating a diverse student body is central to the University of Minnesota’s mission. Please write a statement that identifies the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would contribute to your graduate program and to the education of fellow students at the University of Minnesota. You may wish to include examples that address your contribution to the diversity of the student body and illustrate your motivation to succeed by setting high standards for accomplishing intellectual and other goals, overcoming obstacles to achievement, and/or helping others to gain access to the resources necessary for success. [Please do not exceed one page.] 

    Statement #3: Extenuating Circumstances (optional): If your grades and/or test scores are not strong, and you would like to provide an explanation, please do so. [Limit 1200 characters.]

    Two letters of recommendation (required). The strongest recommendations typically come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate work. Other recommenders, such as employers, are also acceptable.

    English Language Test Scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) Click here for more information about TOEFL Scores

    Common Ground Consortium Fellowship: If you wish to be considered for a Common Ground Consortium fellowship for African-American students indicate this by uploading your statement in the "Program Supplementary Information -Upload #1" section. The statement should briefly address the following: Given that the UMN is a public land grant institution, it is imperative that CGC scholars can both benefit personally from their membership in the program as well as further the university’s founding mission to contribute to scholarship that benefits the local and greater communities. Please describe how your participation as a CGC scholar would do the following: (a) enhance your graduate student experience, (b) prepare you for your chosen career, and (c) benefit the public.

    Questions?

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