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Department of Educational Leadership

Merle Farrier, Program Director, Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership knowledge base emphasizes the realities of the workplace, blending practical tasks with the conceptual models of effective leadership. The model uses leadership assessment and problem-based learning throughout nine curricular strands: change/future, leadership, research community, communication, assessment/program evaluation, management, diversity, curriculum, and professionalism/socialization. Students at both degree levels experience integrated coursework, performance-based assessment, and exit interviews on completion of the degree programs.

Programs: The M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D. are offered in education administration and supervision. Information regarding specific requirements and program options is available from the School of Education. For more information, please refer to The University of Montana Graduate Programs and Admissions Catalog.  Graduate programs are accredited by NCATE and CACREP.

Admission to Educational Leadership: The Program Admissions Committee has established policies and standards for admission which include the GRE (verbal and quantitative); three letters of recommendation (one from an immediate supervisor); official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework; qualifying examination; and interviews (doctoral). Contact the Department for details.

Certification Requirements: Education Leadership degree programs lead to certification at the Class III level.

Courses

U =  for undergraduate credit only, UG =  for undergraduate or graduate credit, G =  for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.  Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.

Educational Leadership (EDLD)

U 295 Special Topics in Educational Leadership 3 cr. Offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr.  (R-9) Offered intermittently.  Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 502 Philosophy of Education 3 cr. Offered spring and summer odd-numbered years.  Same as C&I 502. Major philosophical schools of thought and leading proponents of each.  Concepts of society, the educative process, and the role of education.

G 504 History of American Education 3 cr. Offered spring and summer odd-numbered years.  Same as C&I 504. Exploration of the ideas, individuals, and events that have influenced the curriculum, pedagogy, and operation of the American public school, from colonial America to the present time.

G 512 Educational Futures 3 cr. Offered summer even-numbered years and autumn odd -numbered years.  Predicting and projecting the near and more distant future of education.  The changing place and nature of education and leadership in tomorrow's society.

G 519 Measurement and Analysis of Educational Data 3 cr.  Offered summer and autumn.  Prereq., graduate standing.  Explanation and practice in measurement and statistical analysis of educational data.  Preparation in measurement and statistical analysis for educational research.

G 520 Educational Research 3 cr.  Offered every term.  Same as C&I and HHP 520. An understanding of basic quantitative and qualitative research methodology and terminology, particularly as they are used in studies presented in the professional literature.

G 540 Higher Education Finance 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years.  Prereq., EDLD 550 and consent of department.  Overview of how colleges and universities make financial and budgetary decisions; current trends in state and federal policy related to finance; contemporary problems in finance of education.

G 542 The College Student 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years.  Prereq., EDLD 550 and consent of department.  Survey of today’s college student including discussion of demographics, student development theories, learning theories, and contemporary issues on college campuses related to college students.

G 544 The College Curriculum 3 cr. Offered spring.  Prereq., EDLD 550 and consent of department.  Historical and contemporary development of college and university curriculum.  Includes overview of pedagogical strategies, assessment, evaluation, and curricular change.

G 546 Federal and State Higher Education Policy 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years.  Prereq., EDLD 550 and consent of department.  Overview of policies at the local, state, and national levels that affect the conduct of higher education; current trends in higher education policy; changes in educational policy; how policies affect different institutional types.

G 550 Foundations of Educational Leadership 3 cr. Offered autumn and summer.  Prereq., C&I 551 or consent of instr. Basic functions of K-12 administration and supervision and how contemporary views have evolved; models of leadership style and practice compared; responsibilities and relationships of school boards and chief school officers.

G 551 Foundations of Curriculum Leadership 3 cr.  Offered autumn and summer.  Prereq., elementary or secondary teaching experience or consent of instr. The history and theoretical bases of current K-12 curriculum and instructional leadership.

G 552 The Supervision and Evaluation of Public School Educators 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years, spring and summer.  Prereq., EDLD 550. Conflicting views and models of supervision; supervision in relation to administration and evaluation. Development of instruments for the formative and summative evaluation of teaching and their use in simulated cases.

G 554 School Law 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years, spring and summer.  Prereq., EDLD 550. Key Montana and national legislation regarding public education. Landmark cases of the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal, regional, and state courts as they affect the operation of public schools and the rights of school board members, administrators, teachers, students, and parents.

G 556 The Finance of Public Education 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years, spring and summer.  Prereq., EDLD 550. Revenue sources for K-12 public schools; proper expenditures; Montana's foundation program and related legislation; major court cases and how they have affected ways of funding schools; developing effective school and district budgets.

G 559 School Public Relations for the Principal 3 cr.  Offered autumn even-numbered years, spring and summer.  Investigation of the appropriate leadership and management roles of the modern school principal as they relate to public relations.  Understanding of political theory as it relates to developing and maintaining relationships with internal and external publics.

G 567 K-12 Leadership 3 cr.  Offered autumn odd-numbered years, spring, and summer.  Examination of the roles responsibilities, and relationships of educators relative to management and leadership considerations at all levels of the educational organization (elementary, middle, secondary, and central office).

G 568 K-12 Curriculum 3 cr.  Offered autumn even-numbered years, spring and summer.  Major aspects of curriculum related to the duties and responsibilities of school administrators.  Issues related to the development, review and evaluation o curriculum.  Exploration of issues related to selected instructional models and practices; school improvement.

G 570 Instructional Technology Foundations 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered.  Same as C&I 570.  General introduction to the field, theory, and profession of instructional technology.  Definition of instructional technology; history of the field.

G 571 Planning, Preparing, and Assessing Educational Technology Media 3 cr. Offered spring odd-numbered years.  Same as C&I 571.  Principles and practices of instructional design for integration of educational technology.  Emphasis on role of technology in contemporary teaching/learning/assessing theory and practice, including learning styles and multiple intelligences.

G 580 Distance Learning Theory and Implementation 3 cr. Offered summer odd-numbered years.  Same as C&I 580.  Introduction to distance learning models and exploration of satellite and computer-mediated course development, implementation, and evaluation.

G 581 Planning and Management for Technology in Education 3 cr.  Offered autumn odd-numbered years.  Same as C&I 581. Creating, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating technology plans for educational institutions, including budgets, facilities, and hardware planning.

G 582 Educational Technology: Trends and Issues 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years.  Same as C&I 582.  Exploration of trends and issues in the use of educational technology in a variety of settings.

G 583 Strategic Planning for Technology 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years, spring and summer.  Same as C&I 583. Leadership and strategic planning processes for technology integration within schools.

G 584 Authentic Application in Instructional Design for Technology 3 cr.  Offered summer even-numbered years.   Same as C&I 584. Development of practical competencies in such components of instructional technology as development, production, materials evaluation, and project management and implementation.

G 585 Fieldwork in Educational Administration and Supervision 2-3 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq., EDLD 560 or 565. Fieldwork at the school level (when the student is not completing an internship), with the cooperation of the principal and under the guidance of a University of Montana professor.

G 594 Seminar Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently.  Prereq., consent of instr. Group analysis of problems in specific areas of education.

G  595 Special Topics Variable cr.  (R-9) Offered intermittently.  Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently.  Prereq., consent of instr.

G 597 Research Variable cr. (R-10) Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., consent of instr.

G 598 Internship Variable cr. (R-10) Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., consent of instr.

G 599 Professional Paper Variable cr. (R-9) Offered intermittently. 

G 618 Educational Statistics 3 cr.  Offered spring.  Prereq., C&I or HHP 486 or equiv. or consent of instr. Same as C&I 618. Advanced statistical methods and use of the mainframe computer and microcomputer for data analysis.  Use of a recognized statistical package for research applications.

G 620 Qualitative Research 3 cr.  Offered autumn.  Prereq., EDLD 520 or 618 or equiv. Same as C&I 620. In-depth review of qualitative research methods, designs, and approaches.  The development of a research proposal.

G 625 Quantitative Research  3 cr. Offered spring.  Prereq., EDLD 520 and C&I 486 or equiv. and coreq., EDLD 618.  Same as C&I 625.  Principles and technique of quantitative research in educational settings.  Students prepare a draft of a research proposal and experience an abbreviated dissertation proposal defense.

G 653 School Personnel Administration 3 cr. Offered autumn even-numbered years, summer odd-numbered years.  Prereq., EDLD 550. Administration of classified and certificated school employees; personnel-related laws, functions, and decisions; unions, bargaining contracts, grievances, etc.

G 656 The Economics of Public Education 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years, summer even-numbered years.  Prereq., EDLD 556. School finance from a national perspective; alternative budgeting and school-revenue models; equity considerations.

G 657 Facilities Planning and Other School Business Functions 3 cr. Offered summer and spring odd-numbered years.  Prereq., EDLD 550. Working with architects, school personnel, and others on educationally and financially sound plans for new and remodeled facilities; the school business official's responsibilities regarding buildings and grounds, maintenance and custodial services, transportation, food services, and the administration of classified personnel.

G 658 School Public Relations–Superintendents 3 cr. Offered spring and summer even-numbered years.  Enhancing site- and district-level internal and external relations; conducting needs assessments, inservice workshops, and funding campaigns; improving administrators' writing, listening, and speaking skills; composing press releases and newsletters; working with the media.

G 660 Adult and Continuing Education 3 cr. Offered spring.  Adult learning theory and the special needs and motivations of adult learners in postsecondary institutions; principles and practices of administering postsecondary continuing education programs.

G 662 History of Higher Education 3 cr. Offered autumn odd-numbered years.  Survey of the historical roots of higher education from world and comparative perspectives; examination of the historic and contemporary missions, organizational structures, governance, and administration of various types of postsecondary and higher education institutions in America and abroad.

G 664 The Community College 3 cr.  Offered intermittently.  The organization and administration of American postsecondary education in two-year collegiate institutions; current trends in governance, finance, curriculum, faculty and students.

G 667 The American College Professor 3 cr.  Offered autumn odd-numbered years.  Investigation of the prevailing curriculum and instruction in American undergraduate and graduate education and consideration of reform reports.

G 668 College and University Administration 3 cr. Offered spring even-numbered years.  Prereq.,  EDLD 667 or consent of instr. Administration of college and university programs, departments, and schools; the roles of program director or coordinator, department chairperson, dean, vice president, provost, president, chancellor, and commissioner.

G 674 Internship in College Teaching 1 cr. Offered intermittently.  Prereq. or coreq., EDLD 667 and consent of instr.  Provides an opportunity for guided and supervised teaching at the college level and assistance to the aspiring college teacher in meeting the needs of a diverse student population; assistance provided in methods of teaching at the college level, theories of learning, use of technology, and evaluation and assessment techniques.

G 676 Internship in Higher Education Administration 1-3 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.  Prereq., EDLD 668 and consent of instr.  Supervised and guided work in an administrative unit/department at the college/university level.

G 694 Advanced Seminar: Educational Administration and Supervision Variable cr.(R-9) Offered intermittently.

G 697 Advanced Research in Educational Administration and Supervision Variable cr. (R-9) Offered autumn and spring.

G 699 Professional Seminar/Dissertation  Variable cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently.

Faculty

Professors

• Roberta D. Evans, Ed.D., The University of Nevada, Reno, 1988
• Catherine Jenni, Ph.D., Saybrook Institute, 1990 (Chair)
• John C. Lundt, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1988
• Donald L. Robson, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1976
• Conrad Wesley Snyder, Jr., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1970
• Rita Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 1989
• L. Dean Sorenson, Ph.D., Washington State University, 1984

Associate Professors

• William P. McCaw, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1999
• John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 1986

Assistant Professors

• Merle Farrier, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1998 (Program Director, Educational Leadership)
• Aida Hutz, Ed.D., Northern Arizona University, 2003