College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Graduate degrees and programs

in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development

Join our world-class community of over 400 graduate students! We offer more than 25 graduate-level programs—certificates, licensure, graduate minors, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees—across six distinct program tracks. All of our graduate students have options to take elective courses within other OLPD program tracks, and degree may invite faculty to join advising and exam committees as well. Find your perfect fit below:

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    PhD

    Doctor of philosophy

    Comparative and international development education

    This Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) track program prepares you to conduct research and provide sophisticated consultation into how schools and educational systems across the world reflect varied cultural, economic, and political contexts, and more.

    Leadership for intercultural and international education cohort

    This cohort-based doctorate program option for international educators and those interested in leadership in international/intercultural contexts, is oriented toward working professionals and is specifically designed to meet the needs of leaders working in highly diverse organizational settings.

    Education policy and leadership

    This Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) track program prepares you to conduct original research and provide expertise on how school systems work to serve all learners.

    Evaluation studies

    This Evaluation Studies (ES) track program equips you with the knowledge, experience, and resourcefulness needed to be a professional evaluator, evaluation researcher, or educator in a variety of settings.

    Higher education

    This Higher Education (HE) track program prepares you with a solid foundation in the history, philosophy, sociology, and organizational theory of higher education.

    Human resource development

    This Human Resource Development (HRD) track program prepares you to conduct research and provide sophisticated consultation into how workers acquire new knowledge and skills, relate to one another in complex social environments, and transition to management and leadership positions.

    MA

    Master of arts

    Comparative and international development education

    This Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE) track program is designed for students to gain a mastery of skills and knowledge in how cultural, economic, and political forces affect international and intercultural education.

    Education policy and leadership

    This Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) track program is about gaining a mastery of skills and knowledge in how politics, policies, and organizational cultures affect pre-K-12 education and development.

    Evaluation studies

    This Evaluation Studies (ES) track program prepares you with the professional experience and the theoretical knowledge for a career in program evaluation.

    Higher education

    This Higher Education (HE) track program prepares you with the professional experience and the theoretical knowledge for a career in working in and with higher education institutions and systems.

    Human resource development

    This Human Resource Development (HRD) track program will help you gain valuable industry experience, learn key models and strategies in training and development, and prepare to enter into a number of research-focused fields and careers.

    MEd

    Master of education

    Master’s in education (MEd) in educational leadership

    With a MEd in educational leadership, 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.

    Human resource development

    A Master's of Education in Human Resource Development (HRD) prepares you to lead training and development in organizations, assess when various development strategies are needed, and implement and evaluate solutions for organizational change.

    MLTD

    Masters of learning and talent development

    Learning and talent development

    The Master of Learning and Talent Development (MLTD) is an entirely online graduate degree that prepares you to lead training and development in organizations, assess when various development strategies are needed, and implement and evaluate solutions for organizational change.

    Minors

    Graduate minors

    International education

    A coordinated set of courses designed for students who wish to enter careers in research, consulting, administration, teaching, law, public health, public policy, or many other fields.

    Integrative leadership

    The premise of the Integrative Leadership Minor is that all professional and graduate students at the University of Minnesota have the potential to contribute meaningfully to collaborative efforts to address significant societal challenges.

    Program evaluation

    Program evaluation is an area of inquiry that uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to address questions of concern to policy makers, administrators, managers, and, in some cases, program participants.

    Sociocultural studies in education

    The Sociocultural Studies in Education (SCSE) Minor provides a multidisciplinary foundation for the study of social and cultural phenomena that shape educational ideologies and practices.

    Certificates

    Certificates

    Human resource development

    Learn how to identify gaps in skills, knowledge, and technology for organizational units, and be able to understand and recommend a variety of development approaches and options.

    K-12 administrative licensure

    The U of M Administrative Licensure program offers an individualized program to prepare aspiring administrators as K-12 Principals, Superintendents, Directors of Special Education, and Directors of Community Education.

    Professional development

    OLPD's certificate in professional development is designed to prepare leaders in education with specialized knowledge in designing, implementing, and evaluating professional learning opportunities for preK-12 educators and staff.

    Program evaluation

    Our certificate in program evaluation prepares you to lead program evaluation efforts. You will learn applied methods, techniques, and processes, and how evaluation fits into larger economic, social, and political contexts.

    Frequently Asked Questions by prospective graduate students

    We’re thrilled that you’re considering joining our community. Finding the right graduate program is a massive decision, and it’s completely normal to have a long list of questions. To help you navigate this phase of your journey, we’ve gathered answers to the most common inquiries we receive from students just like you. 

      What sets this program apart from others?

      Our graduate programs are truly unique because they are housed within the larger Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, home to a range of diverse programs, faculty, and students that is unmatched by any other University. Our graduate students can take courses, leverage faculty expertise, and collaborate with students in all other OLPD programs: comparative and international development education, education policy and leadership, evaluation studies, higher education, human resource development, adult education, and administrative licensure. If you have interest in a sub-field, it is very easy to build a concentration for yourself by taking courses in these other program areas and asking faculty in these programs to serve on your committees. 

      Do you offer funding / financial assistance?

      While our department and the University of Minnesota Graduate School do provide funding for a small subset of incoming doctoral students, these awards are very competitive and most incoming graduate students do not receive funding. Applicants to OLPD programs are automatically considered for funding opportunities. 

      To learn more, review the University of Minnesota Graduate School's funding page, specifically the page on fellowships for prospective / incoming students. If you are an international student, take time to review the website for the UMN Interdisciplinary Center for the study of Global Change and UMN International Student and Scholar Services.

      Do I need to demonstrate English language proficiency?

      Details and requirements regarding English language proficiency, including criteria for exemptions, can be found on this webpage hosted by the University of Minnesota Graduate School.

      Can I complete this program on a part-time basis / while maintaining full-time employment?

      Yes, many of our graduate students maintain full-time employment and/or take courses on a part time basis. University rules do require that all students register for something every Fall and Spring to maintain active student status.

      Most in-person OLPD graduate courses are scheduled to meet once each week from 4:40-7:20pm, which typically enables students to work during the day. A small number of our courses each term are scheduled during the day or online, but our students have historically not had trouble working around this, either by taking other courses or temporarily modifying their work schedule. 

      May I receive a waiver of the application fee?

      Sorry, the University of Minnesota Graduate School does not offer application fee waivers, reductions, or refunds. The Big Ten Academic Alliance Fee Waiver Program offers a limited number of application fee waivers to domestic applicants only. See this site for details.

      What opportunities are there for graduate assistantships?

      We have a limited number of assistantships to offer within our department which cover either quarter-time or half-time tuition. Demand for these far exceeds the supply, however—nearly all are awarded to continuing doctoral students. 

      There are, however, many opportunities for students in our graduate programs to obtain assistantships and employment within other departments and colleges across the University, and many of our graduate students fund their studies this way. Utilize the Graduate Assistant Employment Office to find assistantships that you are eligible for and application requirements, and visit the University student job search page to search and apply for open positions in other departments and offices at the University of Minnesota. 

      When will my classes meet?

      Most in-person OLPD graduate courses (not all) are scheduled to meet once each week from 4:40-7:20pm, which typically enables students to work during the day. A few of our graduate programs (the PhD executive cohort program in education policy and leadership, the leadership for intercultural and international education PhD program, the master of learning and talent development program, and the K-12 administrative licensure program) maintain alternative course meeting schedules to accommodate their students.

        How much does this program cost?

        Tuition varies by program and all current rates are detailed on this page, maintained by University Student Services (see information below for details on where on that page to look). Fees are detailed on this page, and overall cost of attendance is estimated here, with information about residency requirements and reciprocity agreements the University of Minnesota has in place.

        Our MA and PhD programs follow the “general graduate tuition rate” listed under the “Graduate and Professional” heading, which includes a 6-14 credit band for full-time registration. The LIIE cohort PhD program in the CIDE track does not draw distinctions between residents and non-residents (all LIIE cohort students pay the "resident" rate).

        Our MEd and graduate certificate programs follow the rates under “College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)” for “Masters in Education and post-baccalaureate certificate programs,” which charges a per-credit rate unless students fall into a 12-24 credit band.

        Our MLTD program follows a flat per-credit rate under “College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)” for “Master of Learning and Talent Development.” This is a fully-online program, so no distinction is drawn between residents and non-residents.

        What are some scholarships I could apply for?

        The University of Minnesota Graduate School offers some competitive fellowships and scholarships for continuing students, which you can learn about here. For more information about funding your graduate studies, start by reviewing this page, maintained by the Graduate School.

        Should I apply if my GPA doesn’t meet the minimum requirements?

        Our graduate programs take a holistic approach towards admissions which means that no one factor alone will automatically deny an application. Although all of our programs are competitive, many factors are considered during the admissions process including, but not limited to, an applicant's stated academic background, goals, test scores (if required), and professional experiences (if any). If there is any part of your record you feel is not representative of your other qualifications, there is an optional essay question within the online application where you can address those issues if you would like. Many applicants do take advantage of the opportunity.

        Should I find a University of Minnesota faculty member to advise me / support my application before applying?

        No, this is not required. Our admissions committees assign advisors to all admitted students taking into consideration student interests and faculty advising loads. 

        Can I choose my advisor in advance?

        Our graduate programs use a standard application template. You can request an advisor in your application, but it is not necessary to secure an advisor’s commitment before the application process. Students are admitted as cohorts into program areas, and advising decisions are made based on student requests and advisor capacity—we do our best to honor student requests, but a student can be admitted and assigned to a different advisor. This allows us to admit our top students into cohorts and balance our faculty members' advisee load.

        When will the University’s application system begin accepting applications for my term of interest?

        Applications typically open by early September each year for programs admitting for the following academic year (e.g., for Fall 2027, the applications will open in September 2026, with application deadlines of December 1, 2026 for PhD programs and February 1, 2027 for MA programs).

        Questions?

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