M.Ed. or Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership
What you can earn
Duration
Credits earned
Format
Time commitment
Upcoming deadline
Shape the future of education in the U.S.
The Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership (EdPOL) program empowers graduates to take action, driving educational equity. Our program addresses the pressing problems within educational practice, ensuring that learning opportunities are not just equal but equitable.
From early childhood through K-12 and the transitions into post-secondary education, we emphasize the need to eliminate disparities related to race, class, language, ability, and other social identities.
At EdPOL, you'll shape a personalized course of study with your advisor and engage with three core areas:
- Policy: Learn to make and evaluate education policies that drive change
- Organizations: Understand how schools and systems work
- Leadership: Develop skills to make real educational reform happen
NEW! EdPOL Specialization in Early Childhood Policy
EdPOL now offers a Specialization in Early Childhood Policy (ECP). With support from faculty members across the College of Education, students in the ECP Specialization take an interdisciplinary approach to early childhood policy with foundational coursework in policy design, advocacy, implementation and evaluation.
Curriculum
Overview
Ph.D. students collaborate closely with an advisor to curate a program that includes intermediate and advanced coursework that aligns with your specific passions.
M.Ed. students forge a learning path that maximizes the pursuit of your individual passions and professional goals. In addition to core course in each of the three strands (policy, organizations and leadership), master’s students also explore coursework in particular areas, such as:
- Economics and educational finance
- Education accountability
- Educational equity and disparities
- Educator labor markets and effectiveness
- Family and community leadership
- Leadership for equitable systems
- Policy implementation
- Politics of education
- School and system improvement and redesign
Courses
Students in the M.Ed. program follow this course sequence:
- Core requirements (15 credits minimum)
- EDLPS 565: Race, Equity, and Leading Educational Change (3)
- EDLPS 560: Policy and Policymaking in Education (3)
- EDLPS 550: The Dynamics of Educational Organizations (4)
- One to two other courses from leadership, policy or organizations
- Supporting coursework (12 credits minimum)
Topical focus coursework from anywhere in College or University that relates to your primary interests and builds a broad foundation of expertise.
- One or two of the following foundational courses (3-6)
- EDLPS 520
- EDLPS 521
- EDLPS 522
- EDLPS 530
- EDLPS 538
- EDLPS 539
- EDLPS 540
- Two electives related to your primary interests (6)
- One or two of the following foundational courses (3-6)
- Methodological foundations (6 credits minimum)
This requirement supports your data literacy and use in educational systems. You will select at least two courses to fulfill this requirement. Pre-Ph.D. master's degree students can substitute entry level research methods courses.
- Degree project or internship (9 credits minimum)
The program culminates in a choice of a final project: thesis or project
A thesis is a good option if you are pursuing a Ph.D. in the future. As for the other option, previous graduates have pursue projects like:
- How Communities of Color Influence Educational Policy: Can ESSA be a Vehicle for Change?
- Principals as Leaders of Teacher Learning: Challenges & Possibilities
- Expanding Notions of Student Achievement: Exploring alternative approaches to measuring student growth
- Collaborative Betterment vs. Collaborative Empowerment: Head Start’s Potential to Engage Parents and Community in Education Reform
- Supporting Refugee Students’ Transition into America’s School System
- Developing Youth and Adult Leadership across Educational Contexts: Community-based Organization and Charter School Contexts
- Washington School and System Improvement Networks that Turn Around consistently underperforming schools
- Factors that Predict Student Dropout in K-12 Public Schools
- Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) for Teachers
Students may also undertake a field-based internship to integrate their academic and practice-based learning or a project of their own design.
Fieldwork
Ph.D. students are expected to participate in a research apprenticeship for a minimum of two school years, or six quarters. Depending on the type and stage of research project, this apprenticeship could include:
- Opportunities to participate in research design (and perhaps grant writing)
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Writing manuscripts/reports based on findings
- Presenting findings to stakeholders and/or research meetings
- Participating in research team meetings
You can meet this requirement through a research assistantship, by receiving course credit for participating in the work, or volunteering on a project. Students are encouraged to participate in a research project led by an EdPOL faculty, although this is not mandatory.
Admission requirements and process
Materials
- Degree from an accredited institution
- A bachelor's degree is required for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program
- A master's degree is required for the doctorate program
- Your degree can be in-process at the time of your application but must be completed before the program starts.
- Unofficial transcript(s) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Include one from each institution from which you've earned a degree and one from every institution you have attended in the previous 5 years.
- Your transcripts must include your name, coursework and degree (if completed)
- If you are offered admission, the UW Graduate School will request an official transcript from your most recent degree earned
The UW Graduate School requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or 3.0 for your most recent 90 graded quarter credits (60 semester credits). However, we review your application holistically. If your GPA is below 3.0, contact us at edinfo@uw.edu for advice on how to strengthen your overall application by connecting with a Graduate Admissions Advisor.
- Three letters of recommendation for Doctoral, two letters for Masters
During the online application process, you will be given instructions for adding your recommenders and getting their letters submitted electronically.
- Resume/Vita
A current academic and professional resume or vita is required. In addition to educational degrees and professional experience, you should include a listing of all relevant awards, publications, presentations or other achievements that will help us evaluate your application.
- Statement of Purpose
- 1-2 pages for M.Ed.
- 3-5 pages for Ph.D.
Admissions committees use your statement of purpose, along with other evidence, to determine whether your goals are well-matched with our programs. Your statement should address goals, relevant experience, future plans and how the desired specific program meets your needs. Be sure to include personal experiences that have prepared you for the challenge of graduate school, topics like:
- Scholarly interests
- Career goals
- Your match for the program
- Faculty interests
- Personal History Statement (Optional)
While optional, you can add to your application by submitting a personal history statement with each application. This statement should address your intellectual growth and development, inclusive of and beyond your academic goals. Speak to topics like:
- Educational, cultural and economic opportunities and disadvantages you've experienced
- Ways these experiences affected the development of your special interests, career plans and future goals.
Statements should be no longer than two pages long. And while there are no standard formatting requirements, we encourage double-spaced text with a legible font.
- Writing sample (Doctoral only)
Doctoral candidates must submit one sample of scholarly writing (e.g., course papers, articles, essays). The sample should demonstrate how well you can analyze or synthesize and critically reflect on information. The writing sample must have been written by you alone.
If you have no appropriate examples of scholarly writing, we urge you to consider preparing a medium-length (10-12 page) critical essay review of a book that you feel is central to your interests in education. The writing sample will be uploaded in your online application. Faculty will only review one writing sample.
Submitting
- Gather all required documents
- Visit the Graduate School website
- Log into your account or create a new profile if you are a first-time applicant
- Complete all steps in application process and upload your documents
- Pay the nonrefundable $85 application fee
- You may request a fee waiver during the application process
- Submit your application
Next Steps
International
We value and welcoming applications from international students! If you are applying from outside the United States, there are additional requirements and application materials.
- Prior degree requirements
- At minimum, you must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree (a four-year degree from an institution of recognized standing)
- Evaluation of your degree will be based on:
- The national system of education in the foreign country
- The type of institution
- The field of study and level of studies completed
- Transcripts
- International transcripts must be submitted in the original language.
- Your transcript should include date of graduation and title of the awarded academic degree
- If your transcript is not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation
- You do not need to have your transcript evaluated for the degree by an agency
- English language proficiency
Per UW Graduate School policy, you must submit a demonstration of English language proficiency if your native language is not English and you did not earn a degree in one of the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Canada
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Trinidad and Tobago
The following tests are accepted if the test was taken fewer than two years ago:
- TOEFL
- Minimum score: 80
- Recommended score: 92+
- The UW's 4-digit code is 4854
- IELTS
- You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
- University of Washington All Campuses, Organisation ID 365, Undergrad & Graduate Admis, Box 355850, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States of America
- Minimum score: 6.5
- Recommended score: 7.0+
- School information for submission:
University of Washington, All Campuses
Undergraduate & Graduate Admission
Box 355850
Seattle, WA 98195
- You must request from the center where you took the test that your scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system (E-TRF) to the following address:
- Duolingo
- Minimum score: 105
- Recommended score: 120+
- Follow the instructions on the Duolingo website to submit your scores
- Financial ability
If apply and are offered admission to UW, you will need to submit a statement of financial ability.
Costs and funding
Estimated Costs
We are a tuition-based program. Estimated tuition rates are based on your residency:
- Washington state residents: $19,584 per year
- Out-of-state students: $35,352 per year
Estimates are subject to change and may differ due to course load and summer quarter enrollment. Estimates include building fees, technology fees, U-Pass, etc. Additional program-specific fees are not included in this estimate.
View the UW tuition dashboard →
Visit the Office of Planning & Budgeting →
Funding & Scholarships
Federal financial aid is available for students. Visit the UW Financial Aid website for information and resources. The College of Education also provides scholarship and other funding opportunities.
