Courses and Sequence

GE 801

Curriculum Development and Instruction

This advanced course concentrates on how curriculum is developed and implemented in organizational settings. The course is based on theoretical research, current societal issues, and school-based needs for accountability-based education with specific strategies to foster learning, interventions, personalization and mastery of the curriculum. The students will analyze current curriculum standards and educational reform movements.

GE 803

School Policy Analysis

This course focuses on current educational and societal policy issues. Students will investigate historical and legal aspects of educational issues as well as the political principles of contemporary education. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of educational policy, students will analyze the consequences and challenges in collecting policy information, incorporating various research methods, and implementing technology. Students will employ various resources to develop an extensive appreciation of the role of the educational leader in the American political and policy arena.

GE 805

Organizational Behavior and Educational Administration

This course focuses on the theoretical and practical implications of organizational behavior from a sociological perspective. Students will study organizational concepts such as diversity in the educational workplace, motivation and individual differences in organizations, group dynamics and decision-making, cooperation, teamwork, management, professional development and quality improvement programs.

GE 807

Statistics I

This course analyzes and applies descriptive and inferential statistics, elements of probability that support statistical theory, and theoretical distributions. Students will apply statistics to critical educational issues that require measurement, analysis, and decision making for organizational improvement. The students will also be required to design, conduct, and report a study that demonstrates their statistical skills.

GE 809

Research Design and Methods

This course will actively engage in the development and implementation of a draft of the formal research proposal. They will be required to complete the research process by utilizing both a quantitative and qualitative approach toward their respective research topic. All required components of the research proposal outline must be included, as described in the American Psychological Association Manual current edition.

GE 811

Qualitative Research

Design

This course is designed to develop proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and reporting qualitative data, using a variety of qualitative tools including ethnography, research interviews, content analysis, case studies, phenomenological studies and participant observation. Prerequisite: GE 809

GE 824

Innovative Strategies in Educational Administration

This course focuses on innovative strategies in educational leadership in modern society and its impact on organizational efficacy and institutional change. Students will research and analyze the historical, cultural, sociological, philosophical and theoretical perspectives in the leadership process.

GE 825

Ethical Foundations and Social Responsibility

This course concentrates on the responsibilities of the educational leader as an ethical exemplar, leader and educator. Students will examine a variety of current ethical educational issues and develop effective moral decision-making skills.

GE 826

Analysis and Interpretation of Assessment Data

This course will prepare teacher leaders and administrators to analyze, manage, interpret and make decisions based on the data that is commonplace in America's schools.

GE 829

Technology to Improve Curriculum Design

This course focuses on the role of the educational leader in utilizing emerging technologies to achieve and enhance school reform. This course will enable students to plan for the integration of emerging technologies into the design of the curriculum, instruction, research and assessment. Students will study contemporary technology issues and implications in the use of information and multimedia technologies in teaching and learning, communications and management. Students will research legal and ethical considerations in the planning, funding, professional development needs and evaluation related to the use of educational technology.

GE 831

Accountability: Resource Allocation and Financial Challenges

This course provides students with federal and state directives on school finance and educational equity. Economic principles and national income measures related to public education will be discussed. Students will investigate sources of revenue, expenditures, and fiscal problems, including federal, state, and local aid, taxation, planning, debt management, income, investments, and cost forecasting. Students will examine the budget process and comprehensive annual reports used by school districts in New Jersey. The role of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in school finance will be explored.

GE 833

Emerging Legal and Moral Issues Facing Executive School Administrators

This course covers school laws, legal principles, and critical issues pertaining to education in the United States and New Jersey. Students will explore constitutional and statutory laws, regulations, and landmark court decisions affecting policy and practice. Special topics such as search and seizure, disabilities, religion, speech, due process, and equal protection under the law will be discussed. Students will research and analyze actual case studies to ensure a problem-based approach experience.

GE 835

Personnel Administration and Public Sector Bargaining

This course provides students the opportunity to assess and evaluate their organization's personnel evaluation system, analyze developmental needs, develop an improvement plan and incorporate a model to enhanced professional growth. Students will analyze, synthesize and evaluate critical factors affecting human relations, effective grouping of employees and power sources and politics in an organization. Personnel administrative functions discussed include human resource needs, personnel security matters, collective bargaining negotiations, affirmative action, recruitment, selection, tenure, termination and legal parameters. Case study, lecture, and group interaction will be employed to promote and improve management's awareness of personnel issues.

GE 839

Statistics II

This course applies both quantitative and qualitative methods and analysis implemented in this course as a direct extension of Statistics I. Students will expand previous knowledge for analysis, interpretation and decision-making in quantitative research to be used in education leadership and school improvement models. Students will use statistical software to aid in their research using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Prerequisites GE 807.

GE 841

Selected Topics in Educational Administration in Elementary and Secondary Schools

This course provides students with the opportunity to reflect upon their role as an educational leader and expand upon their Professional Growth Plan (PGP). Through the use of cutting-edge research, various case studies, debate panel discussions, group interaction, and role-playing, students will acquire the skills and apply effective methods to solve contemporary problems encountered by educational leaders. Students will analyze and assess the results of specific research projects covering critical areas of leadership and management.

GE 871

Dissertation Seminar I

The course will guide and assist in the development of the dissertation proposal, writing dissertation chapters, design, data analysis, preparing articles for publication, developing research proposals for professional conferences and other professional arenas. Emphasis will be placed on individual student work with their Mentor and Dissertation Committee members.

GE 873

Dissertation Seminar II

In this course, doctoral students work individually with their Mentor and Dissertation Committee members on the completion of their dissertation. To be deemed acceptable, the dissertation must be evidence that the student has pursued a program of relevant educational knowledge in the field of educational leadership in a higher education or K-12 school system setting. Students must maintain continuous enrollment in this course until they have successfully completed and defended their dissertation. Students must have their dissertation proposal approved by the Doctoral Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects prior to registering for this course. Prerequisite: GE 871

GE 881

Advanced Independent Study

For doctoral students wishing to work with their mentor to study topics related to their dissertation.