Courses
Course Schedule
The course schedule below should be used as an example. Contact your admission representative to discuss your specific course schedule. No part time option is available for this program.
Year 1
On-Campus Immersion: August 2022 (Date TBD)
As a student in the program, you are required to attend a two-day immersion on the USC University Park Campus. The immersion experience, which includes the orientation to the program, will provide the opportunity to meet your classmates and faculty members, develop the academic skills necessary for success in the program and explore a process for critical reflection. Travel and accommodations for the immersion are not included in the cost of the program.
Fall Semester
Foundations of Urban Education
Explore urban P-20 education through social, historical, and political lenses and learn how research and policy shape professional practice in Los Angeles and the United States.
Foundations of Leadership
Gain foundational knowledge about leadership theory and practice to support your development as a critically conscious leader who takes action to address inequities in urban contexts.
Spring Semester
Foundations in Learning
Facilitate learning in urban contexts by understanding how culture, identity, and power influence learners’ opportunities to learn.
Power, Diversity and Equity
Explore power, diversity and equity through the social, historical and political lenses as these constructs shape and impact education (P-20) research, policy and professional practice.
Summer Session
Leading for Instructional Improvement
Improve your instructional leadership capacity as a K-12 practitioner, addressing power and its impact on creating and perpetuating educational inequities for historically marginalized and minoritized children and adults.
Leadership Enactment
Acquire or deepen knowledge and skills related to acting as a critically conscious leaders who addresses existing educational inequities.
Year 2
Fall Semester
Education Policy and Politics
Apply economic theory to the study of education. Gain an understanding of the application of market theory to education, partnerships, allocation of resources and the examination of educational enterprises.
Research Methods 1
Explore the historically complex relationship between education research, education (in)equity and personal practice, and the possibilities of research to foster justice in education.
Spring Semester
Research Methods 2
Building on Research Methods 1, learn to implement a research design by conducting pilot studies to answer quantitative and qualitative research questions.
Dissertation in Practice 1
Complete a literature review, overview of methodology and other contextual writing for your dissertation in practice and prepare for the qualifying exam.
Summer Session
CHOOSE ONE COURSE
EDUC 720 OR EDUC 721
Leadership for Principals
Understand the role of the principal as an instructional leader with a focus on improving student achievement.
Leadership for Superintendents
Understand the role of the superintendent in establishing a focus on student achievement and holding school sites accountable. Learn how superintendents support student learning through leadership.
Dissertation in Practice 2
Finalize your literature review, overview of methodology and other contextual writing for the dissertation in practice and qualifying exam.
Year 3
Fall Semester
Resourcing Schools for Equity and Excellence
Apply economic theory to the study of education and market theory to education, partnerships, allocation of resources and the examination of educational enterprises.
Designing Organizations for Equity
Become familiar with organizational theory and design, behavioral science and human resources management and prepare to shape the culture of educational organizations based on the principles of equity and social justice.
Spring Semester
Dissertation in Practice 3, Data Analysis
Build your knowledge and skills for analyzing quantitative and qualitative data and reporting results and findings for your Dissertations in Practice.