University of Maryland
Graduate Catalog Fall 2009

Education: Policy Studies (EDPS)

Faculty

Acting Chair
Hultgren, Francine H.,

Professor
Finkelstein, Barbara J., Hultgren, Francine H., Malen, Betty L., Selden, Steven,

Professor Emeritus
Splaine, John E.,

Associate Professor
Croninger, Robert G., Herschbach, Dennis R., Rice, Jennifer K.,

Abstract

The Department of Education Policy Studies (EDPS) in the College of Education promotes critical and discipline-based studies of education policies and practices; encourages thoughtful and responsive explorations of education and related social issues; and fosters innovative and collaborative efforts to inform education policy at all levels of government.

Graduates pursue professional roles in university teaching and research, fill policy and leadership positions in public and private educational institutions, and work as specialists and advocates in governmental and non-governmental agencies.

The Department offers graduate programs of study leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. Although EDPS is primarily a graduate program, it also offers a series of undergraduate courses that fulfill specific University and College requirements. Examples include: EDPL 201, Education in Contemporary Society, an elective course approved to meet the campus diversity requirement; EDPL 210, Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on Education, a course that meets the university general core requirement in the social sciences; and EDPL 301, Social Foundations of Education, a required course for education majors.

Our three areas of specialization (Curriculum Theory and Development, Socio-cultural Foundatons of Education, and Education Policy) offer graduate students an intellectually engaging arrary of courses to develop programs tailored to their interests and faculty expertise. When completing applications for admission to graduate study, you must indicate the specific program area to which you are seeking admission.

  1. Curriculum Theory and Development provides grounding in a broad range of theoretical perspectives that guide the work of curriculum deliberation, policymaking, and practice in schools, colleges, and other organizations.
  2. Socio-cultural Foundations of Education provides an opportunity to develop a multidisciplinary program that examines education issues from the perspectives of economics, history, philosophy, political science, cultural studies, anthropology, and sociology.
  3. Education Policy provides an opportunity to examine the processes of policymaking, implementation, and evaluation, from multiple perspectives, particularly as they are related to enduring social and education issues.
The faculty in the Department of Education Policy Studies bring the disciplines of ecomomics, political science, history, philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, and curriculum theory to the study of education. They are committed to the preparation of professionals who are able to apply a range of theories and disciplinary perspectives to the enterprise of education in governmental and non-governmental agencies.

Admissions Information

To be recommended for full admission to a doctoral or master's program, a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 is required. A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.5 is required for doctoral programs. Of the three scores on the Graduate Record Examination (verbal, quantitative, analytic), at least one should be at the 70th percentile or higher for PhD applicants (50th percentile or higher for master's applicants) and none should be under the 50th percentile for PhD applicants. If the Miller Analogies Test is used, the score should be at least at the 70th percentile for PhD applicants (50th percentile for master's applicants). Students who do not meet one of these requirements, but show other evidence of outstanding potential, may be considered for provisional admission. Admission of qualified applicants is based on their competitive ranking to limit enrollments to available faculty resources.

Application Deadlines

 

Fall

Spring
Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines


Complete applications must be received by November 15 .


Complete applications must be received by April 15 .

 


International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.   

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31
 

Application Requirements

  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended
  • Statement of Goals, Research Interests and Experiences
  • Scholarly writing sample for all doctoral applicants
  • GRE or Miller Analogy Test
It is strongly recommended that prospective students talk with program coordinators and faculty, and visit the Department and classes, to help determine if the Department's programs are appropriate to their academic interests and professional goals

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.)
The Department offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree at the Master's level. The M.A. degree requires 30 credits beyond a Bachelor's level degree. Beyond the successful completion of coursework, students must also complete six hours of comprehensive examination and a seminar paper or thesis. In addition, the Department currently offers a Master of Arts degree in conjunction with the faculty in Jewish Studies. Students interested in this cross-departmental option should discuss it with your faculty advisor. All degree programs have expectations that the student demonstrate high standards of scholarship and the ability to engage in independent research. Students must either write and defend a thesis, or complete at least one seminar paper (non-thesis option). The College of Education requires that all master's candidates take the research course EDMS 645.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Ph.D. degree requires 90 credits beyond a Bachelor's level degree, some of which may be satisfied by prior study. In addition to major and elective courses, this includes 12 to 18 credits in research methods and 12 credits of dissertation research. After students have completed most of their course work, the equivalent of 12 hours of comprehensive examination is required. The comprehensive exam may take a variety of forms, such as take-home conceptual essays, literature reviews, or research papers. Your faculty advisor will help you develop a program of study that will help you fulfill your degree requirements, both coursework and examinations, that are consistent with University guidelines. The Doctoral program integrates theory, research, and practice, and students are expected to demonstrate high standards of scholarship and the ability to engage in independent research.

Facilities and Special Resources

Faculty and students in the Department work closely with area schools, colleges, universities, associations and other education-related organizations. Extensive resources in the Washington, D.C., area, including embassies and other international organizations, provide exceptional opportunities for internships and field experiences, research, and materials to enhance formal course experiences. Associated with the Department are the Center for Education Policy and Leadership (CEPAL) and the International Center for Transcultural Education.

Financial Assistance

The Department has a very limited number of merit-based fellowships and graduate assistantships available to students. Fellowships are awarded to doctoral students in February only for the following fall semester. Assistantships are also awarded in the spring for the following fall semester, but occasionally an assistantship may become available at another time of year. Both fellowships and assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. It is unrealistic to expect that all applicants who apply for financial aid will receive such assistance even if they are recommended for admission to the Graduate School. It is to the student's advantage to submit a complete application package well before the published application deadline if they intend to be considered for a fellowship, assistantship, or other form of financial aid. It is a requirement that a student be admitted as a condition of eligibility. International students' applications are not considered complete and may not be reviewed by the Department until they have received International Education Services (IES) clearance which can take additional time. If you need information about IES clearance visit the IES website at www.umd.edu/ies.

Contact Information

To receive current information about the Department, please go to the EDPS web site: http://www.education.umd.edu/EDPS. To download an applicant guide or department brochures, look under "Resources for Students" in the main menu. For additional information, contact the Department at: 301-405-3570.

Department of Education Policy Studies
Room 2110 Benjamin Building, University of Maryland,
College Park
MD  20742
Telephone: 301-405-3570
Fax: 301-405-3573
www.education.umd.edu/EDPS

current URL: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/printable.cfm?CODE=753

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