About the EDPL program

Marquette's educational policy and leadership program, in cooperation with other university's colleges, schools and programs, prepares graduate students to assume leadership roles in areas of study provided by its programs and specializations. Our program is committed to the development of practitioners and researchers as agents of critical inquiry and social justice. This is accomplished through systematic focus on social, cultural, philosophical and historical contexts of education.

Goals and outcomes of the program

The goal of our graduate programs is to engage the professional educator (teacher or other human-service organization leader) in extended critical reflection on principles, practices and rationales of human service leadership in contemporary society. Specifically, the program seeks to develop educational and human-service leaders with expertise in historical, philosophical and sociological foundations of educational policy issues. Our programs are designed to accommodate the working professional, and content is composed to reflect diversity in student backgrounds, interests and professional objectives.

Program options

At Marquette, students can pursue doctoral work in educational policy and leadership. Master's-level students may choose from educational leadership (M.Ed) with pathway to DPI licensure in either principal and/or director of instruction, educational policy and foundations (M.A./thesis track), or student affairs in higher education (M.Ed.), or specialization in elementary education (M.Ed.), secondary education (M.Ed.) or STEM teaching (M.Ed.).

Program requirements

Students may also pursue various types of state certification (e.g., teaching, principalship, director of instruction). Students seeking an advanced degree and certification/licensure must meet Graduate School admission requirements and Office of Teacher Education requirements.