Educational Policy

Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

Participating Degree Programs

Adult Education and Community Development — MA, MEd, PhD
Curriculum and Pedagogy — MA, MEd, PhD
Developmental Psychology and Education — MA, MEd, PhD
Educational Leadership and Policy — MA, MEd, EdD, PhD
Higher Education — MA, MEd, EdD, PhD
Language and Literacies Education — MA, MEd, PhD
Social Justice Education — MA, MEd, EdD, PhD

Overview

The Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy serves students interested in developing an understanding of the factors associated with educational policy development and implementation, with particular emphasis on developing theoretical and practical strategies for improving educational processes. The collaborative specialization's intellectual objectives include providing students with exposure to cross-field and cross-disciplinary approaches to educational problem framing and problem solving in order to broaden the possibilities for innovative and effective policy analysis; helping students understand how to apply theoretical concepts to particular social and educational problems in particular settings; and understanding the broader social, institutional, and policy contexts within which educational policy processes occur. There are two required courses and an annual lecture series.

Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation "Completed Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy" on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: www.oise.utoronto.ca/lhae/Programs/Collaborative_Specializations/Educational_Policy.html

Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy
Ontario institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto
252 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6
Canada

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must apply to and be accepted by both their home program and the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy.

• In addition to corresponding to all home program requirements, the applicant shall submit a sample of writing, no longer than three pages, that includes:

  • Relevant personal and/or professional experiences, a career plan, and motivation in seeking admission to the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy.

  • An indication of specific courses of interest.

  • For thesis students, a brief outline of a proposed research project.

  • For thesis students, indication of preference of supervisor.

• Applicants who are interested in applying to the collaborative specialization at the time of their initial application to their home graduate program should indicate this on their application and advise referees that letters of support will be used in application for both the home program and the collaborative specialization.

• Students who develop an interest in admission to the collaborative specialization after they have been admitted to their home program may also apply during their course of study. Please direct inquiries to the address listed above.

Specialization Requirements

• All master's students in the collaborative specialization:

  • Take the core half course EDP3045H Educational Policy and Program Evaluation (0.5 FCE).

  • Attend the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy Seminar Series over two consecutive sessions. Collaborative Educational Policy Seminars occur once a month; attendance is required.

  • Are encouraged, but not required, to enrol in an elective half course in the area of educational policy selected from the list of electives below.

  • Take the remaining courses for the fulfillment of the degree requirements of the home program.

  • Enrolled in home programs requiring a master's research project or thesis will be required to incorporate educational policy issues in their research; a member of the collaborative specialization core faculty will serve as supervisor or committee member.

• MEd program:

  • The total number of courses required for graduation will equal 6, 8, or 10.

  • Course-only MEd students must take two electives from the list below.

• MA program:

  • The total number of courses required for graduation will equal 6 or 8.

Admission Requirements

• Students interested in participating in the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy at the doctoral level must apply to and be accepted by both their home program and the collaborative specialization.

• In addition to corresponding to all home program requirements, the application shall include a sample of writing, no longer than three pages, that includes:

  • Relevant personal and/or professional experiences, a career plan, and motivation in seeking admission to the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy.

  • An indication of specific courses of interest.

  • A brief outline of proposed research project.

  • Indication of preference of supervisor.

• Applicants who are interested in applying to the collaborative specialization at the time of their initial application to their home graduate program should indicate this on their application and advise referees that letters of support will be used in application for both the home program and the collaborative specialization.

• Students who develop an interest in admission to the collaborative specialization after they have been admitted to their home program may also apply during their course of study. Please direct inquiries to the address listed above.

Specialization Requirements

• All doctoral students in the collaborative specialization:

  • Take the core half course (0.5 full-course equivalent [FCE]) EDP3045H Educational Policy and Program Evaluation, if not already taken.

  • Take the core half course (0.5 FCE) EDP3145H Advanced Issues in Educational Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation.

  • Attend the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy Seminar Series over two consecutive sessions. Collaborative Educational Policy Seminars occur once a month; attendance is required.

  • Are encouraged, but not required, to consider one or more elective half courses in the area of educational policy selected from the list of electives below. The remaining half courses will be those required for the fulfillment of the degree requirements of the home program.

  • Are required to complete a thesis which incorporates issues of educational policy. A member of the collaborative specialization core faculty will serve as supervisor or committee member.

• The total number of courses required for graduation for both the EdD and PhD will equal eight, depending on the requirements of the student's home program.

Not all courses are offered each year. Visit the Collaborative Specialization in Educational Policy (CSEP) website for current course offerings.

Master's-Level Core Course

Master's-Level Electives

Doctoral-Level Core Courses

Doctoral-Level Electives

* Special topics courses: Only the special topics course titles listed on the CSEP website can be counted toward CSEP program requirements in the current year. Please confirm current year courses with the CSEP program administrator.