Start your journey
Lead systemic change: improve schools and school districts for learners
The PhD in Education Policy and Leadership prepares scholars and practitioners to navigate the complex intersections of power, policy, and practice within PK-12 systems. We provide the empirical tools and theoretical frameworks necessary to analyze and improve educational structures from the inside out. To support your specific career trajectory, we offer two distinct pathways:
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Traditional on-campus path: A research-intensive, residential experience designed for students seeking full-time immersion in scholarly inquiry and preparation for tenure-track academic careers. (Admits annually).
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Executive cohort program: A flexible model tailored for mid-career educational leaders. Courses for this cohort are scheduled to meet every other week in longer individual sessions (total hours are the same), allowing students to maintain professional leadership roles while applying doctoral-level research to real-world district and system challenges. (Admits every other year).
Careers
- Tenure-track faculty and research directors at leading universities and colleges of education.
- Superintendents, chief academic officers, and executive directors of major urban and regional school districts.
- Senior analysts and advisors for state departments of education, federal agencies, and policy institutes.
- Strategic leaders for non-profits and foundations dedicated to systemic reform and educational excellence.
How to apply
Application deadlines
Traditional, on-campus PhD program
Admits students annually. Applications are due by December 1 for the subsequent Fall semester start.
- Fall semester start only.
- Applicants may only apply to one OLPD track.
- 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.
Executive cohort PhD program
Admits students every other year. Applications for the next cohort are due by March 1 for a Fall 2027 start.
- Fall semester start only.
- Applicants may only apply to one OLPD track.
- 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.
Degree: Bachelor's degree
GPA: 3.0 undergraduate
GRE: Do not submit GRE scores, as they will not be considered in the review process.
Teaching experience is not required for admission to this program.
TOEFL/IELTS Scores (Not required for U.S. students):
- TOEFL: Internet based = 79 or above (21 writing/19 reading)
- IELTS = 6.5
- Refer to this page for all English language proficiency requirements.
Required Fields
- Personal Information
- Application Information
- Educational Background
- Languages
- Employment/Residence Information
- Applicant Statements #1 & #2
- Recommendations Letters (limit 2)
- Resume or CV
Optional fields: All other fields or application materials are optional but will be taken into consideration if submitted.
Application Fee
U.S. citizen/permanent resident: $75.00; International: $95.00. Click here for more information about application fees.
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. The University will request official copies of this material if you are admitted. Click here for more information about transcripts and credentials.
GRE Scores
Do not submit GRE scores, as they will not be considered in the review process.
Applicant Statements
Complete Statements #1 & #2; Statement #3 is optional.
Statement #1: Personal Statement
Please provide a statement—do not exceed two pages—outlining why you are interested in this program and your immediate educational and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field. You may wish to include:
- How you expect this program will contribute to your professional development and career goals.
- How you anticipate applying the knowledge and skills you will gain from the program to your current or future working challenges and needs.
- How your professional experience can contribute to the collective learning of your fellow students in the program
Statement #2: Diversity
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. [Please do not exceed one page.]
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former supervisors, work peers, clients, or professors who can assess your academic and professional capabilities.
When you apply, the online application includes a section for you to list the contact information of the individual recommending you. They will receive an email from the application system with instructions on how to submit their letter. Please ask your recommendation providers to check spam/junk mail folders if they don't receive the message.
Request letters of recommendation early in the application process to allow enough time for your letter writers. Unsubmitted letters of recommendation are one of the most common delays during the application review process.
You may finish and submit your application before the recommenders submit your letters.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
International students who will have completed 16 semester credits (within the past 24 months) in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States before entering the University of Minnesota are exempt from the testing requirement but may be asked to take locally administered English tests after arrival on campus. Click here for more information about English language proficiency requirements.
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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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 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.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact our graduate admissions staff at olpd@umn.edu.
Tuition and funding
Tuition
Visit the University of Minnesota's One Stop tuition page for information on tuition. This program follows the guidelines listed under the "Graduate and professional" sub-heading. The general graduate tuition rate includes a 6-14 credit band for full-time registration. Each credit above or below the plateau is assessed on a per-credit basis.
Review the Cost of Attendance page as well as information about student fees assessed by the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
CEHD Fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, and grants for graduate students
As a graduate student in CEHD, you may be eligible for fellowships, grants, and scholarships from the University of Minnesota, from our college, and from your academic department. Get more information on funding opportunities!
University funding opportunities
Refer to the University of Minnesota Graduate School's funding page, specifically the page on fellowships for prospective / incoming students. Questions about University funding opportunities should be directed to the Graduate School —612.625.7579, or gsfellow@umn.edu.
CEHD funding opportunities
Refer to CEHD funding opportunities. Questions about college and department-level funding for this program should be directed to OLPD graduate admissions staff at olpd@umn.edu.
Financial aid
Financial aid for your graduate program works a little differently than financial aid at the undergraduate level. It’s important to know the differences and explore your options. Check out this One Stop link for more information on eligibility, required steps, and timelines.
Request information
If you simply have a question and would like someone to reach back out with information, please complete our request information form. Your information will not be shared outside our department.
What our students say
Coursework
Both pathways engage with the critical drivers of educational change through four specialized lenses:
- Systems thinking: Investigate the interdependent structures of organizational systems to lead complex learning environments and foster sustainable improvement.
- Politics of education: Analyze the role of power, communication, and decision-making in shaping educational mandates and community engagement.
- Policy analysis: Evaluate the social, political, and economic implications of policies on student populations to build more effective and equitable school systems.
- Organizational culture: Examine the theories and practices that drive institutional development, school change, and effective system-wide leadership.
This program consists of 72 credits (48 credits of coursework + 24 thesis credits) completed in 3-5 years for full time students. For a full list of requirements, visit the University of Minnesota program catalog and select "Education Policy and Leadership" under "Requirements" > "Program Sub-Plan Requirements."
The traditional PhD program is structured differently from the hybrid cohort program.
The traditional PhD program allows for more course topic flexibility than the executive cohort option. Courses meet on weekdays.
Departmental core (16 credits)
Professional socialization seminar
- OLPD 8011—Doctoral Research Seminar I (1 cr) [Take Fall term of first year]
Research courses
- OLPD 8015—Inquiry Strategies in Educational and Organizational Research (3 cr) [Take Spring term of first year]
- Quantitative methods course (3 cr, select with approval of advisor)
- Qualitative methods course (3 cr, select with approval of advisor)
- Additional methods courses (6 cr; select with approval of advisor)
Program core (18 credits)
- OLPD 5001—Formal Organizations in Education (3 cr) or OLPD 5011—Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice (3 cr) or OLPD 5607—Organization Development (3 cr) [Take OLPD 5001 if offered; take OLPD 5011 or OLPD 5607 if 5001 is not offered.]
- OLPD 5346—Politics of Education (3 cr)
- OLPD 8020—Leadership: From Theory to Reflective Practice (3 cr)
- OLPD 8104—Innovative Systems Thinking in Education and Culture (3 cr)
- OLPD 8302—Educational Policy Perspectives (3 cr)
- Electives (3 cr minimum; with approval by advisor)
Additional coursework (12 or more credits)
Minimum of 12 credits required. These credits can be used to meet the requirement that a minimum of 12 credits be taken outside the EPL track or for a minor. Students who have successfully completed enrollment in the Minnesota Principals Academy may use transfer credits to fulfill this requirement.
Thesis credits (24 credits)
All Ph.D. students are required to register for 24 semester thesis credits after completing the preliminary oral exam. The 24 credits must be taken over two or more terms.
- OLPD 8888—Thesis Credits: Doctoral
The executive cohort PhD program consists of 70 credits completed in 3-5 years for full time students. 48 of these credits consist of coursework examining system leadership and focusing on:
- Systems thinking and the interdependent structures of organizational systems
- Theory and practice of leading complex learning systems
- Organizational culture and change
- Analysis of education policy and practices and their influence on student learning
- Politics of decision making and communication
- Public engagement and cross-sector partnerships
- Global innovations in educational leadership and school effectiveness
- Evaluation of program effectiveness
- Analysis and application of research
Students also take courses in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed/complementary research methods. For the culminating Ph.D. dissertation, students identify a researchable problem, process, or topic of interest, carry out original research, and disseminate findings to relevant audiences.
Faculty
Partner with world-class faculty dedicated to building more effective educational systems. You will collaborate with scholars like Peter Demerath on the anthropology of school improvement, David Quinn on educational inequality and teacher racial attitudes, and Nicola Alexander on school finance and the societal implications of policy. Our program also features expertise in community-engaged leadership from Darrius Stanley, the politics of educational justice from Nathaniel Stewart, and the intersection of policy and racial equity from Aditi Rajendran. Our mentorship model treats you as a junior colleague, offering opportunities to collaborate on original research and contribute to national policy dialogues.
Contact
We’re here to help. Simply complete this form and a member of our department will be in touch. Your information will not be shared outside of our department.