Gerald Tindal, Department Head
541-346-5171
102 Lorry I. Lokey Education Building
The curriculum leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in the Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership focuses on developing and implementing effective practices in education and social system settings.
Programs provide educational leaders, policymakers, and researchers with the skills needed to design and implement strategies that improve practices in educational organizations. Graduates are qualified for a variety of positions such as education system administrators, principals and superintendents, instructors and researchers in higher education and nonprofit settings, specialists in intervention development, implementation, and evaluation, and researchers in evaluation, management, leadership, and educational policy.
License Programs
Administrator License Preparation
541-346-2447
102 Lorry I. Lokey Education Building
Oregon requires administrators in public schools (vice principals, principals, assistant superintendents, superintendents, and other designated personnel) to hold administrative licenses. The University of Oregon offers planned programs of study leading to the preliminary and professional licenses for administrators and superintendents.
Preliminary Administrator License
The preliminary administrator licensure program prepares students for building and district administration. The preliminary administrator license may be issued to an applicant who completes the 26-credit program, earned a master’s degree from an accredited college or university, and provides documentation of at least three years of successful licensed experience. Admission to the program is limited and is based on the applicant’s academic work, recommendations, and professional goals. The program begins in June, and admission decisions are made in early spring. Candidates can earn a master of education (MEd) degree at the UO by taking additional course work and completing a master's project.
Professional Administrator License
This program prepares students for continuing building and program administration—preprimary through grade 12—and for school district office assignments, including superintendent positions. Students who complete the UO preliminary administrator licensure preparation program are automatically admitted to the professional administrator program upon completion of a professional administrator license application. Application can be made to the program if the applicant completed a preliminary administrator program at another institution. Applicants to the continuing program must
- have a master’s degree
- hold an Oregon preliminary administrator license
- submit a completed application
Faculty
Gina Biancarosa, associate professor (adolescent literacy, struggling readers, advanced statistical methods); Ann Swindells Chair in Education. BA, 1992, Boston College; EdM, 1999, EdD, 2006, Harvard. (2009)
Michael D. Bullis, Sommerville-Knight Professor (adolescent transition to adult roles, employment programs, decision-making). BPE, 1973, MS, 1978, Purdue; PhD, 1983, Oregon. (1995)
Dave DeGarmo, research associate professor (prevention science methodology, longitudinal analysis, fathers and parenting). BA, 1987, Lock Haven; MS, 1989, PhD, 1993, Akron. (2013).
Nancy Golden, professor of practice (leadership, equity, public policy). BS, 1973, Denver; MS, 1974, PhD, 1987, Oregon. (2015)
Keith Hollenbeck, senior lecturer (administrative leadership, school assessment, curriculum and instruction). BA, 1976, Humboldt State; MS, 1981, PhD, 1996, Oregon. (1996)
David Liebowitz, assistant professor (education policy analysis, educational inequity, school leadership). BA, 1999, Columbia; EdM, 2008, 2011, EdD, 2015, Harvard. (2018)
Kathleen M. Scalise, professor (quantitative measurement and assessment, instructional technology, computer-adaptive instructional materials). BA, 1982, MA, 2004, PhD, 2004, California, Berkeley. (2005)
Joanna Smith, senior lecturer (education policy, education reform, qualitative research methods). BA, 1996, Haverford College; graduate diploma in education, 1997, Melbourne; PhD, 2004, Southern California. (2013)
Joseph Stevens, professor (educational and psychological measurement and assessment, statistical and quantitative methods). BA, 1974, MA, 1976, PhD, 1983, Arizona. (2005)
Emily Tanner-Smith, associate professor (applied research methodology, meta-analysis, substance use and addiction). BS, 2003, Belmont; MA, 2007, PhD, 2009, Vanderbilt. (2017)
Gerald Tindal, Castle-McIntosh-Knight Professor of Education (measurement and assessment, disabilities, program evaluation). BA, 1975, PhD, 1982, Minnesota. (1984)
Ilana Umansky, assistant professor (education policy analysis, quasi-experimental methods and longitudinal data analysis, English learners and immigration). BA, 1998, Wesleyan; MEd, 2003, Harvard; MA, 2012, PhD, 2014, Stanford. (2014)
Mark Van Ryzin, lecturer (social influences on adolescent development). BS, 1991, Wisconsin, Madison; MA, 2006, PhD, 2008, Minnesota, Twin Cities. (2012)
Keith Zvoch, associate professor (quantitative methods, program evaluation, statistical modeling). BS, 1992, Pittsburgh; MA, 1995, PhD, 2001, New Mexico. (2007)
Emeriti
Max G. Abbott, professor emeritus. BS, 1949, MS, 1951, Utah State; PhD, 1960, Chicago. (1966)
Keith A. Acheson, professor emeritus. BS, 1948, MS, 1951, Lewis and Clark; EdD, 1964, Stanford. (1967)
Gerald K. Bogen, professor emeritus. BA, 1959, Western Washington; MS, 1961, DEd, 1963, Oregon. (1961)
David T. Conley, professor emeritus. BA, 1972, California, Berkeley; MA, 1983, PhD, 1986, Colorado, Boulder. (1989)
C. H. Edson, associate professor emeritus. BA, 1964, California, Berkeley; MA, 1970, Oregon; PhD, 1979, Stanford. (1973)
Robert D. Gilberts, professor emeritus. BS, 1950, Wisconsin State; MS, 1955, PhD, 1961, Wisconsin, Madison. (1970)
Arthur C. Hearn, professor emeritus. AB, 1934, MA, 1937, EdD, 1949, Stanford. (1950)
Martin J. Kaufman, professor emeritus. BA, 1964, MEd, 1965, William and Mary; PhD, 1970, Texas, Austin. (1992)
John E. Lallas, professor emeritus; executive dean emeritus. BA, 1947, Washington (Seattle); BA, 1952, Western Washington; EdD, 1956, Stanford. (1957)
Roy E. Lieuallen, chancellor emeritus, Oregon University System. BS, 1940, Pacific University; MS, 1947, Oregon; EdD, 1955, Stanford. (1961)
Philip K. Piele, professor emeritus. BA, 1957, Washington State; MS, 1963, PhD, 1968, Oregon. (1967)
Richard A. Schmuck, professor emeritus. BA, 1958, MA, 1959, PhD, 1962, Michigan. (1967)
The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.
Minor in Leadership and Administrative Skills
The minor in leadership and administrative skills (LEADS) allows students to major in any subject offered at the university while also minoring in leadership, providing them with a breadth of interdisciplinary options. Students gain mastery in leading and managing within social systems, preparing undergraduates to address the leadership challenges and opportunities found in their lives and careers. They learn the skills necessary to be proactive, effectively reframing debates, reorganizing coalitions, building center-out alliances, understanding and incorporating minority positions and beliefs into leadership perspectives, and collaborating for effective decision-making within constituencies.
The requirements for the minor consist of 12 core credits and 12 elective credits.
Minor Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 1 | 12 |
| Exploring Leadership | |
| Equity Leadership and Social Change | |
| Effective Leadership Decision-Making | |
| Program Evaluation for Future Leaders | |
| Examining Leadership Effectiveness | |
| Leading Change in Organizations | |
| 2 | 12 |
Application and Admission
Before applying to the minor program, students must be enrolled in or have already completed the first required core course, Exploring Leadership (EDLD 211), with a letter grade of at least B– or P. Students who are experiencing difficulty enrolling in the course due to scheduling may seek permission from the program advisor to waive this requirement; requests should be emailed to info@uoregon.College.
To declare the minor, students must complete the UO LEADS Minor Registration Form. Submissions are reviewed for admission to the minor at the beginning of each term.
Students interested in the minor may schedule advising appointments to discuss whether the program is appropriate for their goals and to plan a course of study by emailing info@uoregon.College.
The department offers master of arts (MA), master of science (MS), master of education (MEd), and doctor of education (DEd) degrees with a major in educational leadership. In addition, a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree is offered with a major in quantitative research methods in education.
Master’s Degrees
The Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership offers the master of arts (MA), master of science (MS) and master of education (MEd) degrees.
During the first term of graduate work, each student plans a program of study with the assistance of the student’s advisor.
The master's degrees in educational leadership focus on two areas of emphasis. Students select one of these areas when entering the degree program:
- Quantitative Research Methods in Education. Prepares those pursuing careers in educational research.
- Policy and Leadership. For those pursuing careers such as program coordinators or college advisors in central school administration, student support services, or staff and community relations.
Students should consult the Graduate School section of this catalog for general university admission and degree requirements.
Doctoral Degrees
The Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership offers two doctoral degrees—DEd and PhD. The program for the doctor of education (DEd) in educational leadership, which emphasizes the development of expertise in professional practice, is intended for individuals who want careers as administrators, staff developers, curriculum specialists, or positions at state and local offices. The program for the doctor of philosophy (PhD) in quantitative research methods in education emphasizes the development of expertise in educational research and statistical analysis, in educational organizations, in measurement and assessment, or as preparation for becoming a professor of education with a specialization in research.
The doctoral programs follow the general regulations governing graduate work at the university. Each PhD student plans a program with the guidance of a faculty advisor. In contrast, DEd students complete their program with a cohort and a fixed set of courses. This degree option may be completed concurrently with the administrator licensure program.
Doctoral Degree Requirements
A minimum of 81 graduate credits are required for the doctor of education (DEd) degree program; the doctor of philosophy (PhD) requires a minimum of 108 graduate credits. In both programs, at least 81 credits must be earned after admission to the program; 18 of these 81 credits are earned in Dissertation (EDLD 603). PhD students may request to transfer up to 21 graduate-level credits. The remaining required credits include courses in research methodology and electives.
Graduate Course Type | Course Type | PhD Credits | DEd Credits |
| Methods | 18 | 21 |
| Advanced quantitative research methods | 24 | 0 |
| Learning community | 24 | 0 |
| Interdisciplinary | 24 | 0 |
| Seminars and institutes | 0 | 6 |
| Writing and communication | 0 | 15 |
| Content, policy, leadership, equity | 0 | 21 |
| Dissertation | 18 | 18 |
| Total Minimum Credits | 108 | 81 |
For the PhD, a 21-credit maximum of transfer credit is allowed.
Residency
Three consecutive terms of full-time study (graduate credits) must be completed to meet graduate school residency requirements.
Application and Admission
The department follows general university policy in its admission procedures. Students who transfer to the university from other institutions must meet UO entrance requirements. Information about admission to graduate study is available from the department student services coordinator and on the College of Education’s website. Information about licensure and degree programs may be obtained from the director of graduate studies.
Graduate Specialization in Quantitative Research Methods
The graduate specialization in quantitative research methods is designed primarily for doctoral students who have chosen quantitative methods as their primary research tradition in the College of Education. Doctoral students in other colleges and programs may be eligible but should confirm with the sponsoring department, the Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership. The specialization is a rigorous training program in advanced quantitative research methods designed to prepare PhD students, with a competitive focus on quantitative research methods, for research and scholarship careers in education and the social sciences. Students take a minimum of 20 credits (five 4-credit courses) from among the department's advanced quantitative methods course offerings, building critical expertise in quantitative methodology including applied educational statistics and research design. The course requirements include a two-course sequence in at least one advanced quantitative method and three additional quantitative methods courses.
