Ethics and Equity in Education  

The course explores how schools are used as a vehicle of the state to de-culturalize various communities of people throughout the country's history. Students will explore how schools can more appropriately promote respect for valuing diversity as a generative source of the country's vitality and its relationship to the global village. The role of educators is not only to act ethically in the many individual situations of their daily professional lives, but more importantly to see that the institutional structures and processes of the school system are themselves reflections of a system of justice and care.

Bilingualism, Second Language, and Literacy Development

Explores first and second language and literacy development of children raised bilingually as well as students acquiring a second language during pre-school, elementary, or secondary school years. Also addresses theories of first and second language acquisition, literacy development in the second language, and factors affecting second language and literacy learning. Participants will assess the development of one aspect of language or language skill of a bilingual individual and draw implications for instruction, parent involvement, and policy.

Education Law and Public Policy

This course addresses the political and legal aspects of the role of education in our democratic society. Provides an introductory survey of public policy issues and laws governing preschool, elementary, secondary, and higher education. Included are such topics as religious freedom, free speech, and due process; the liability of educational institutions and educators; the legal distinctions between private and public institutions; student and parent privacy rights; disability rights; and the promotion of educational equity among all groups regardless of gender, sexual orientation, language, race, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.

Philosophy of Education

This course follows the historical issues of universities as educational institutions, providing basis for discussion on crucial questions regarding the lives and personal growth of students and faculty alike. This course is organized in such a way as to enable us address and discuss the dialectics of freedom hidden under the process of education. The class investigates a number of conflicting positions about freedom in education and explores philosophical resources to help us to understand the nature of these issues more fully.

Controversies in Curriculum

Explores contemporary curriculum controversies in American education as well as the ways these are shaped by differing conceptions of teaching, learning, and the purposes of schooling and by the larger social, historical, political, and cultural contexts in which schooling occurs. The course assumes a broad and encompassing definition of curriculum and the aspects of instruction, assessment, and teacher preparation that have major implications for curriculum. Although the focus of the course is on curricular controversies in K-12 education, controversies related to the curriculum of early childhood education, adult learning, and higher education are also relevant.

Contemporary Issues: Discourse Analysis

 An advanced seminar exploring current topics and issues in curriculum and instruction. 

Theories of Leadership

This course is an introduction to and survey of major historical and contemporary theories of educational leadership. Through this course, you will learn about these different theories of leadership, each of which can be of use when researching or evaluating district-level dilemmas, problems, and critical incidents you will encounter in your sites of professional practice. One of the overarching objectives of this course is to help you enter into research-based conversations about educational leadership (as emerging researchers of educational leadership) by understanding how “major thinkers” have thought through the essential questions defining educational leadership as a field of study. The other overarching objective is to provide you the space to enhance your practical wisdom by thinking through how to enact a grounded theory of leadership in your site of professional practice.

Educational Change: The Communication of Innovations

This course focuses on the study of change theories and approaches, their application in educational reform, and their impact on teaching and learning. Students examine the history of educational change and consider the forces for and against change in schools and other educational organizations. Each student is expected to conduct a research study of an educational change initiative.

Assessment and Test Construction

This course addresses the major issues in educational assessment, with emphasis on the characteristics, administration, scoring, and interpretation of both formal and informal assessments, including, but not limited to, tests of achievement. All forms of assessment are examined including observation, portfolios, performance tasks, and paper-and-pencil tests, including standardized tests. Basic techniques of test construction, item writing, and analysis are included. Statewide testing programs are also examined.

Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality

This doctoral course explores the epistemological, methodological, and pedagogical uses of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality (CRT/Int), and Settler Colonialism, in the examination and deconstruction of institutionalized and race-based disparities and inequalities in societal institutions, including, but not limited to, K-12 education, higher education, psychology, and the law. Course texts and student work will utilize both academic and popular culture texts. The course assumes and builds upon a foundational knowledge of social theories, and the ways in which self, institution and society are connected.

Foundations of Language and Literacy Development

Provides students with a comprehensive overview of major theories and research in language and literacy including theories of instruction. Emphasis is placed on major reports on literacy instruction as well as critiques of those reports. Topics covered include: language acquisition, the role of language in literacy learning, emergent literacy, the role of phonics in early literacy learning, reading fluency, reading comprehension and critical literacy, discourse theory, multi-modal literacy, and adolescent literacy.

Introduction to Speech and Language Disorders

On the basis of the development of normal children, this course will explore dysfunctions of speech and language that interfere with normal communication and learning processes. The evaluation of language performance and the remediation of language deficits will also be stressed.

Cultural Processes, Social & Emotional Development

This course reviews the theoretical and empirical literatures pertinent to the study of emotional and social development across the life span. Perspectives derived from the disciplines of biology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and history are presented. The interrelations between social and affective processes, and their association with familial, societal, cultural, and historical context of development are discussed. Issues derived from social psychology, such as group processes, will also be discussed. Methodological problems present in these literatures and resultant conceptual and empirical challenges involved in developing a life span understanding of social and affective processes are reviewed.

Learning and Cognition

Discusses theories of learning and cognitive development, explores roles of biology and environment, and examines different interpretations of environment. Discusses whether learning and cognitive development are similar or different processes. Also examines the nature of intelligence, role of instruction in learning, nature of instruction, and how transfer of learning to new contexts is achieved. Practical applications of theory and research are discussed.

The Impact of Psychosocial Issues on Learning

Examines, from a holistic perspective, psychological and social issues that affect learning in children and adolescents. Discusses the role of risk and protective factors in the development of vulnerability and resilience. Highlights collaboration of educators with professionals involved in addressing psychological and social issues.

Immigrant and Refugee Issues

An overview of the prominent theories, major issues, and controversies in immigration policy is presented. While immigration has become a crucial concern of the American social welfare system as well as an issue of global urgency, immigration controls the fate of growing numbers of asylum seekers. The course will discuss the special needs and problems faced by immigrant and refugee clients and communities; adaptation and coping with a new culture; refugee experience; the impact of relocation on individuals, families, and communities; and a range of world view perspectives including acculturation and assimilation, biculturalism, marginality, and traditional ethnic identities.

Ethics and Equity in Education  

The course explores how schools are used as a vehicle of the state to de-culturalize various communities of people throughout the country's history. Students will explore how schools can more appropriately promote respect for valuing diversity as a generative source of the country's vitality and its relationship to the global village. The role of educators is not only to act ethically in the many individual situations of their daily professional lives, but more importantly to see that the institutional structures and processes of the school system are themselves reflections of a system of justice and care.

Bilingualism, Second Language, and Literacy Development

Explores first and second language and literacy development of children raised bilingually as well as students acquiring a second language during pre-school, elementary, or secondary school years. Also addresses theories of first and second language acquisition, literacy development in the second language, and factors affecting second language and literacy learning. Participants will assess the development of one aspect of language or language skill of a bilingual individual and draw implications for instruction, parent involvement, and policy.

Education Law and Public Policy

This course addresses the political and legal aspects of the role of education in our democratic society. Provides an introductory survey of public policy issues and laws governing preschool, elementary, secondary, and higher education. Included are such topics as religious freedom, free speech, and due process; the liability of educational institutions and educators; the legal distinctions between private and public institutions; student and parent privacy rights; disability rights; and the promotion of educational equity among all groups regardless of gender, sexual orientation, language, race, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.

Philosophy of Education

This course follows the historical issues of universities as educational institutions, providing basis for discussion on crucial questions regarding the lives and personal growth of students and faculty alike. This course is organized in such a way as to enable us address and discuss the dialectics of freedom hidden under the process of education. The class investigates a number of conflicting positions about freedom in education and explores philosophical resources to help us to understand the nature of these issues more fully.

Controversies in Curriculum

Explores contemporary curriculum controversies in American education as well as the ways these are shaped by differing conceptions of teaching, learning, and the purposes of schooling and by the larger social, historical, political, and cultural contexts in which schooling occurs. The course assumes a broad and encompassing definition of curriculum and the aspects of instruction, assessment, and teacher preparation that have major implications for curriculum. Although the focus of the course is on curricular controversies in K-12 education, controversies related to the curriculum of early childhood education, adult learning, and higher education are also relevant.

Contemporary Issues: Discourse Analysis

An advanced seminar exploring current topics and issues in curriculum and instruction. 

Theories of Leadership

This course is an introduction to and survey of major historical and contemporary theories of educational leadership. Through this course, you will learn about these different theories of leadership, each of which can be of use when researching or evaluating district-level dilemmas, problems, and critical incidents you will encounter in your sites of professional practice. One of the overarching objectives of this course is to help you enter into research-based conversations about educational leadership (as emerging researchers of educational leadership) by understanding how “major thinkers” have thought through the essential questions defining educational leadership as a field of study. The other overarching objective is to provide you the space to enhance your practical wisdom by thinking through how to enact a grounded theory of leadership in your site of professional practice.

Educational Change: The Communication of Innovations

This course focuses on the study of change theories and approaches, their application in educational reform, and their impact on teaching and learning. Students examine the history of educational change and consider the forces for and against change in schools and other educational organizations. Each student is expected to conduct a research study of an educational change initiative.

Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality

This doctoral course explores the epistemological, methodological, and pedagogical uses of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality (CRT/Int), and Settler Colonialism, in the examination and deconstruction of institutionalized and race-based disparities and inequalities in societal institutions, including, but not limited to, K-12 education, higher education, psychology, and the law. Course texts and student work will utilize both academic and popular culture texts. The course assumes and builds upon a foundational knowledge of social theories, and the ways in which self, institution and society are connected.

Understanding Learning Disabilities & Education

This course is intended to provide educators with current information about learning disabilities that is relevant to daily practice.  In this era of inclusion, all educators can expect to work with/for students who have learning disabilities. Topics addressed will include bio/neurological-, social-, and systems- theories and knowledge about the origins and nature of learning disabilities, development across the lifespan, characteristics of individuals with learning disabilities, and approaches to service delivery and teaching.

Human Rights Interdisciplinary Seminar

The study of human rights defies disciplinary boundaries. This seminar, sponsored by the Center for Human Rights and International Justice (CHRIJ), provides a rare space to examine human rights from an interdisciplinary perspective. The seminar brings together faculty affiliated with the Center, students from across the university, visiting scholars, and guest speakers to examine issues of human rights and international justice. The seminar will begin with an overview and brief historical review of human rights instruments and then explore a series of complexities for those seeking to engage in human rights scholarship, advocacy, and activism. We seek to engage critically with human rights discourse and actions as they intersect with gender, culture/ethnicity, race, class, and other categorizations.

Diversity in Higher Education: Race, Class & Gender

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to examine the theoretical scholarship and empirical research on race, class, and gender in American higher education. The course readings are interdisciplinary in nature and require students to identify research claims and their relationship to higher education practice and policy in the U.S. We explore such issues as admissions and affirmative action policy, sexual harassment, access, and financial aid practices.

Topics in the Psychology of Women

Explores current theory and research on the psychology of women and implications of this work for psychologists and educators. The first half of course examines and critiques major themes that have emerged in the field over the last three decades and considers ways in which the field of psychology of women has influenced conceptualizations of development, psychopathology, and intervention. The second half considers some of the psychological underpinnings of a set of social and political issues commonly faced by women. The course is designed for developmental and counseling psychology graduate students.

Gender Issues in Higher Education

Topics include the history of women in higher education, gender and student development, gender and learning, the campus and classroom climate for women, women's studies and feminist pedagogy, women in post-secondary administration and teaching, and the interrelation of race, class, sexuality, and gender. Contemporary theory, research, and critical issues will be considered as they apply to diverse groups of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, administrators, and student affairs practitioners.

Participatory Action Research: Gender, Race, and Power

This graduate seminar introduces students to theoretical and practical issues in the design and implementation of community- and school-based participatory and action research, including a review of theories and practices that have contributed to community-based knowledge construction and social change policies and processes. Ethnographic, narrative, oral history, and visual methodologies are additional resources for understanding and representing the individual and collective stories co-constructed through the research process. Students participate in a community-based collaborative undoing racism workshop and have opportunities for ongoing collaborative work on a site. We reflect collaboratively and contextually on multiple and complex constructions of "gender," "race," and social class in and through these research processes.

Contemporary Social Theory

This seminar is a graduate level introduction to contemporary social theory. It concerns the historical context and development of a wide variety of perspectives used by social theorists to make sense of multiple social worlds. It also concerns the ways in which social theories are themselves sociologically constructed. Theoretical frameworks addressed include: functionalism and cybernetics; symbolic interactionism and pragmatism; exchange, behavioral, and conflict perspectives; feminism; Marxism; phenomenology and ethnomethodology; critical race theory; queer theory; structuralism and poststructuralism; as well as postcolonial and postmodern theories of the subject and power.

Leadership for Social Justice: District Focus

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of leadership for social justice at the school and district level. Definitions, approaches, and controversies in this emerging field will be examined. Readings, films, class discussions, and case studies related to the topics of race, ethnicity, culture, language, gender, social class, religion, sexual orientation, and disability will focus on how these issues affect educators, students and their families in today's K-12 schools. In particular, students will learn about leadership which is culturally and linguistically responsive; strengthens parent-community-school relationships; and formulates diversity policies to promote educational equity for students from diverse groups.

Ethics and Equity in Education  

The course explores how schools are used as a vehicle of the state to de-culturalize various communities of people throughout the country's history. Students will explore how schools can more appropriately promote respect for valuing diversity as a generative source of the country's vitality and its relationship to the global village. The role of educators is not only to act ethically in the many individual situations of their daily professional lives, but more importantly to see that the institutional structures and processes of the school system are themselves reflections of a system of justice and care.

Bilingualism, Second Language, and Literacy Development

Explores first and second language and literacy development of children raised bilingually as well as students acquiring a second language during pre-school, elementary, or secondary school years. Also addresses theories of first and second language acquisition, literacy development in the second language, and factors affecting second language and literacy learning. Participants will assess the development of one aspect of language or language skill of a bilingual individual and draw implications for instruction, parent involvement, and policy.

Education Law and Public Policy

This course addresses the political and legal aspects of the role of education in our democratic society. Provides an introductory survey of public policy issues and laws governing preschool, elementary, secondary, and higher education. Included are such topics as religious freedom, free speech, and due process; the liability of educational institutions and educators; the legal distinctions between private and public institutions; student and parent privacy rights; disability rights; and the promotion of educational equity among all groups regardless of gender, sexual orientation, language, race, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.

Philosophy of Education

This course follows the historical issues of universities as educational institutions, providing basis for discussion on crucial questions regarding the lives and personal growth of students and faculty alike. This course is organized in such a way as to enable us address and discuss the dialectics of freedom hidden under the process of education. The class investigates a number of conflicting positions about freedom in education and explores philosophical resources to help us to understand the nature of these issues more fully.

Controversies in Curriculum

Explores contemporary curriculum controversies in American education as well as the ways these are shaped by differing conceptions of teaching, learning, and the purposes of schooling and by the larger social, historical, political, and cultural contexts in which schooling occurs. The course assumes a broad and encompassing definition of curriculum and the aspects of instruction, assessment, and teacher preparation that have major implications for curriculum. Although the focus of the course is on curricular controversies in K-12 education, controversies related to the curriculum of early childhood education, adult learning, and higher education are also relevant.

Contemporary Issues: Discourse Analysis

An advanced seminar exploring current topics and issues in curriculum and instruction. 

Theories of Leadership

This course is an introduction to and survey of major historical and contemporary theories of educational leadership. Through this course, you will learn about these different theories of leadership, each of which can be of use when researching or evaluating district-level dilemmas, problems, and critical incidents you will encounter in your sites of professional practice. One of the overarching objectives of this course is to help you enter into research-based conversations about educational leadership (as emerging researchers of educational leadership) by understanding how “major thinkers” have thought through the essential questions defining educational leadership as a field of study. The other overarching objective is to provide you the space to enhance your practical wisdom by thinking through how to enact a grounded theory of leadership in your site of professional practice.

Educational Change: The Communication of Innovations

This course focuses on the study of change theories and approaches, their application in educational reform, and their impact on teaching and learning. Students examine the history of educational change and consider the forces for and against change in schools and other educational organizations. Each student is expected to conduct a research study of an educational change initiative.

Assessment and Test Construction

This course addresses the major issues in educational assessment, with emphasis on the characteristics, administration, scoring, and interpretation of both formal and informal assessments, including, but not limited to, tests of achievement. All forms of assessment are examined including observation, portfolios, performance tasks, and paper-and-pencil tests, including standardized tests. Basic techniques of test construction, item writing, and analysis are included. Statewide testing programs are also examined.

Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality

This doctoral course explores the epistemological, methodological, and pedagogical uses of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality (CRT/Int), and Settler Colonialism, in the examination and deconstruction of institutionalized and race-based disparities and inequalities in societal institutions, including, but not limited to, K-12 education, higher education, psychology, and the law. Course texts and student work will utilize both academic and popular culture texts. The course assumes and builds upon a foundational knowledge of social theories, and the ways in which self, institution and society are connected.

Understanding Learning Disabilities & Education

This course is intended to provide educators with current information about learning disabilities that is relevant to daily practice.  In this era of inclusion, all educators can expect to work with/for students who have learning disabilities. Topics addressed will include bio/neurological-, social-, and systems- theories and knowledge about the origins and nature of learning disabilities, development across the lifespan, characteristics of individuals with learning disabilities, and approaches to service delivery and teaching.

Leadership for Social Justice: District Focus

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of leadership for social justice at the school and district level. Definitions, approaches, and controversies in this emerging field will be examined. Readings, films, class discussions, and case studies related to the topics of race, ethnicity, culture, language, gender, social class, religion, sexual orientation, and disability will focus on how these issues affect educators, students and their families in today's K-12 schools. In particular, students will learn about leadership which is culturally and linguistically responsive; strengthens parent-community-school relationships; and formulates diversity policies to promote educational equity for students from diverse groups.

Evaluation Practice and Methods

This course introduces the process of conducting evaluations from beginning to end. Evaluation is a form of applied social science research focused on systematically assessing the value--merit, worth, or significance--of interventions. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to evaluation, this course draws on scholarly articles and examples from multiple fields including education, public health, social services, and international development and addressing evaluation at various scales including program, organizational, and systems-level evaluations. By the end of the course, students will gain knowledge of how to carry out evaluations; apply this knowledge to develop evaluation plans for real-world interventions; and gain skills to critique existing evaluations supporting their development as informed, critical consumers of evaluations.

Evaluation Theory and Research 

Evaluation as a professional practice and academic discipline is characterized by variation in perspectives on what evaluation is and how it should be practiced. This course introduces students to evaluation theory, key debates, and research on evaluation in order to develop students as critical, responsible evaluators and evaluation scholars.

Ethics and Equity in Education  

The course explores how schools are used as a vehicle of the state to de-culturalize various communities of people throughout the country's history. Students will explore how schools can more appropriately promote respect for valuing diversity as a generative source of the country's vitality and its relationship to the global village. The role of educators is not only to act ethically in the many individual situations of their daily professional lives, but more importantly to see that the institutional structures and processes of the school system are themselves reflections of a system of justice and care.

Bilingualism, Second Language, and Literacy Development

Explores first and second language and literacy development of children raised bilingually as well as students acquiring a second language during pre-school, elementary, or secondary school years. Also addresses theories of first and second language acquisition, literacy development in the second language, and factors affecting second language and literacy learning. Participants will assess the development of one aspect of language or language skill of a bilingual individual and draw implications for instruction, parent involvement, and policy.

Education Law and Public Policy

This course addresses the political and legal aspects of the role of education in our democratic society. Provides an introductory survey of public policy issues and laws governing preschool, elementary, secondary, and higher education. Included are such topics as religious freedom, free speech, and due process; the liability of educational institutions and educators; the legal distinctions between private and public institutions; student and parent privacy rights; disability rights; and the promotion of educational equity among all groups regardless of gender, sexual orientation, language, race, religion, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.

Philosophy of Education

This course follows the historical issues of universities as educational institutions, providing basis for discussion on crucial questions regarding the lives and personal growth of students and faculty alike. This course is organized in such a way as to enable us address and discuss the dialectics of freedom hidden under the process of education. The class investigates a number of conflicting positions about freedom in education and explores philosophical resources to help us to understand the nature of these issues more fully.

Controversies in Curriculum

Explores contemporary curriculum controversies in American education as well as the ways these are shaped by differing conceptions of teaching, learning, and the purposes of schooling and by the larger social, historical, political, and cultural contexts in which schooling occurs. The course assumes a broad and encompassing definition of curriculum and the aspects of instruction, assessment, and teacher preparation that have major implications for curriculum. Although the focus of the course is on curricular controversies in K-12 education, controversies related to the curriculum of early childhood education, adult learning, and higher education are also relevant.

Contemporary Issues: Discourse Analysis

An advanced seminar exploring current topics and issues in curriculum and instruction. 

Theories of Leadership

This course is an introduction to and survey of major historical and contemporary theories of educational leadership. Through this course, you will learn about these different theories of leadership, each of which can be of use when researching or evaluating district-level dilemmas, problems, and critical incidents you will encounter in your sites of professional practice. One of the overarching objectives of this course is to help you enter into research-based conversations about educational leadership (as emerging researchers of educational leadership) by understanding how “major thinkers” have thought through the essential questions defining educational leadership as a field of study. The other overarching objective is to provide you the space to enhance your practical wisdom by thinking through how to enact a grounded theory of leadership in your site of professional practice.

Educational Change: The Communication of Innovations

This course focuses on the study of change theories and approaches, their application in educational reform, and their impact on teaching and learning. Students examine the history of educational change and consider the forces for and against change in schools and other educational organizations. Each student is expected to conduct a research study of an educational change initiative.

Assessment and Test Construction

This course addresses the major issues in educational assessment, with emphasis on the characteristics, administration, scoring, and interpretation of both formal and informal assessments, including, but not limited to, tests of achievement. All forms of assessment are examined including observation, portfolios, performance tasks, and paper-and-pencil tests, including standardized tests. Basic techniques of test construction, item writing, and analysis are included. Statewide testing programs are also examined.

Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality

This doctoral course explores the epistemological, methodological, and pedagogical uses of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality (CRT/Int), and Settler Colonialism, in the examination and deconstruction of institutionalized and race-based disparities and inequalities in societal institutions, including, but not limited to, K-12 education, higher education, psychology, and the law. Course texts and student work will utilize both academic and popular culture texts. The course assumes and builds upon a foundational knowledge of social theories, and the ways in which self, institution and society are connected.

Understanding Learning Disabilities & Education

This course is intended to provide educators with current information about learning disabilities that is relevant to daily practice.  In this era of inclusion, all educators can expect to work with/for students who have learning disabilities. Topics addressed will include bio/neurological-, social-, and systems- theories and knowledge about the origins and nature of learning disabilities, development across the lifespan, characteristics of individuals with learning disabilities, and approaches to service delivery and teaching.

Computer Applications for Educators

Explores the role of emerging technologies in the context of schools. Course is theoretically grounded in the Project-Based Learning literature. Assignments are hands-on, with emphasis placed on producing tangible artifacts that will serve a practical need. Specifically, students will develop PowerPoint presentations to evaluate educational software and web-based curricular materials. Also, each student will develop a website featuring his or her teaching portfolio. Course appropriate for all computer skill levels.

Mathematical Problem Solving 4-12

Examines complex issues, trends, and research regarding alternative approaches for teaching mathematical problem solving. Topics include the nature of mathematical inquiry; models for collaborative grouping; methods and materials for cultivating problem solving, reasoning, and communication processes; methods of assessing mathematical problem solving; and the impact of Vygotskian Psychology on the teaching and learning of mathematical problem solving.