The Graduate Specialization in Education Policy and Social Sciences, which is administered by the Department of Educational Administration, trains doctoral students to conduct research on improving education systems through rigorous exploratory and efficacy methodologies.
The specialization is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the doctoral degree. The students program of study must be approved by the advisor for the specialization.
Admission
Students must declare intention to pursue the Graduate Specialization in Education Policy and Social Sciences prior to the start of the 3rd year in a Ph.D. program.
Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Education Policy and Social Sciences
Students must complete the following with a 3.5 grade-point average in courses across the specialization (18 credits):
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| 1. |
Both of the following courses (6 credits): |
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EAD |
932 |
Education Policy Implementation |
3 |
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EAD |
933 |
Evaluation of Education Policy Implementation |
3 |
| 2. |
One of the following courses (3 credits): |
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EAD |
907 |
Education Policy for Immigrant and English Language Learner Students |
3 |
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EAD |
925 |
Policy and Practice in Education |
3 |
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EAD |
926 |
School Finance and Operations |
3 |
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EAD |
948 |
Advanced Economics of Education |
3 |
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EAD |
949 |
Advanced Seminar in Education Policy |
3 |
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EAD |
967 |
Policy Development and Analysis in Postsecondary Education |
3 |
| 3. |
At least two of the following courses (6 credits): |
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EAD |
948 |
Advanced Economics of Education |
3 |
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EC |
835 |
Public Expenditures |
3 |
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EC |
880 |
Labor Economics I |
3 |
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EC |
881 |
Labor Economics II |
3 |
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PLS |
811 |
Proseminar in Policy Analysis |
3 |
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PLS |
820 |
Proseminar in American Politics |
3 |
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PLS |
821 |
State Government and Politics |
3 |
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PLS |
822 |
Urban Government and Politics |
3 |
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A course used to fulfill item 2. may not be used to fulfill item 3. |
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| 4. |
At least one of the following courses (3 credits): |
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EAD |
946B |
Econometric Analysis for Education Policy |
3 |
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EC |
821A |
Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics I |
3 |
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EC |
823 |
Applied Econometrics |
3 |
| 5. |
Submit a policy brief summarizing research findings on education policy evaluation or implementation. |
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| 6. |
Submit a dissertation that, in the judgment of the student’s dissertation committee, represents the integration of education policy and social sciences and the student’s primary field and includes research that is relevant to practical issues in United States education. |
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