Learning Outcomes

Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning specialization
College Teaching and Learning specialization
Higher Education and Adult Learning specialization
Higher Education Leadership specialization
Reading and Literacy Leadership specialization
Special Education specialization
Teacher Leadership specialization

Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the current literature and trends in education.
2. Demonstrate the reflective teaching and learning skills needed by a professional in the field of education.
3. Evaluate, synthesize, and interpret educational research. (consumer of research)
4. Utilize effective communication skills in presenting academic research so as to elicit social change.
5. Demonstrate leadership via effective communication and use of technology.
6. Demonstrate leadership through effective communication about educational issues/topics to popular audiences in written work, speech, and through using technology.
7. Utilize effective communication skills in presenting academic research so as to elicit social change.
8. Show awareness of global interrelationships and affirm diversity in their own work about teaching and learning.
9. Be familiar with scholarship in the field of education that is sensitive to global interrelationships and affirms diversity.
10. Collaborate with a range of stakeholders in education and/or learning organizations in order to effect positive social change.
11. Demonstrate active commitment to social change.

College Teaching and Learning Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Create effective learning environments using research-based teaching strategies that engage and support diverse learners
2. Design course plans, curricula, and learning activities that enable diverse learners to meet desired learning goals
3. Apply the skills needed to assess and provide feedback on learner performance in ways that support learning and development.
4. Articulate the process for development of a continuous improvement plan to impact teaching through scholarly inquiry and reflection
5. Independently conduct, evaluate, and apply research in making, implementing, and evaluating educational decisions.
6. Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate technologies to support learning in a variety of educational contexts.
7. Create effective learning environments using research-based teaching strategies that engage and support diverse learners
8. Design course plans, curricula, and learning activities that enable diverse learners to meet desired learning goals
9. Collaborate within and across departments and institutions to promote individual and societal advancement in a global context

Higher Education and Adult Learning Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the current literature and trends in higher education and/or adult learning.
2. Demonstrate the reflective teaching and learning skills needed by a professional in higher education and/or adult learning.
3. Utilize effective communication skills in presenting academic research so as to elicit social change.
4. Identify and propose a solution to educational problem(s). (designing/developing research)
5. Implement appropriate solution(s) to educational problem(s) and apply research strategies for evaluation. (producing /reflecting research)
6. Demonstrate leadership via effective communication and use of technology.
7. Demonstrate leadership through effective communication about higher education and/or adult learning to popular audiences in written work, speech, and through using technology.
8. Show awareness of global interrelationships and affirm diversity in their own work about higher education and/or adult learning.
9. Be familiar with scholarship in higher education and/or adult learning that is sensitive to global interrelationships and affirms diversity.
10. Collaborate with a range of stakeholders in higher education and/or in adult learning organizations in order to effect positive social change.
11. Demonstrate active commitment to social change.

Higher Education Leadership Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Employ leadership and management strategies that drive and sustain a diverse learning organization.
2. Independently conduct, evaluate, and apply research in making and implementing strategic decisions.
3. Create entrepreneurial and innovative solutions that anticipate and address real-world problems.
4. Proactively collaborate, negotiate, and advocate in ways that honor the needs and interests of all stakeholders.
5. Find, deploy, allocate, and manage resources to achieve learning-centered priorities in an ethical, legally compliant, and fiscally responsible manner.
6. Collaborate within and across organizations to promote individual and societal advancement in a global context.

Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Analyze the components of literacy in the 21st century including influences from the socio-political landscape, social media, technological innovations, and influences from Common Core standards.
2. Develop graduate level scholarly skills (use of resources, scholarly writing, and critical thinking).
3. Demonstrate the ability to develop a plan to gain stakeholder support for improvement of literacy programming at the systematic level drawing on professional standards as well as leadership and change theories.
4. Critically evaluate existing research studies in the area of reading and literacy.
5. Analyze the challenges diverse learners face and the systems that enable these learners to achieve literacy success.
6. Demonstrate the ability to make appropriate literacy programming decisions based on information about literacy assessments used at the national, state, and local levels.
7. Demonstrate the appropriate use of research methods through the process of producing a research project.
8. Demonstrate the skills necessary to develop a literacy environment that enhances student learning and supports professional development for teachers.
9. Integrate concepts of positive social change in leadership, assessment, professional development, literacy curriculum, and literacy instruction activities.

Special Education Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of key concepts through scholarly writing and project completion, for legal and ethical policy that supports high quality education for individuals with exceptional learning needs.
2. Demonstrate mastery of key concepts through scholarly writing and project completion, to serve in a leadership capacity by creating procedures that respect all individuals and positive and productive work environments.
3. Demonstrate mastery of key concepts through scholarly writing and project completion, for the use of evidence-based practices for instructional programs at the school and system levels.
4. Demonstrate mastery of key concepts through scholarly writing and project completion, and the use of educational research to improve instructional and intervention techniques and materials.
5. Demonstrate the importance of an environment that supports instructional improvement by engaging in and developing a scholarly response to a local educational problem in a doctoral project study informed by a critical review of related, relevant research and theoretical frameworks, data collection and analysis, and resulting in a project or product that will ameliorate the problem.
6. Demonstrate mastery of key concepts through scholarly writing and project completion, of the legal rights of students, families, and personnel.
7. Plan, present, and evaluate professional development that focuses on effective practice, including expertise to support student access to learning through effective teaching strategies, curriculum standards, and assistive technology.
8. Demonstrate mastery of key concepts, through scholarly writing and project completion, the importance of collaboration in special education, and the integration of services for individuals with exceptionalities.

Teacher Leadership Specialization

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the current literature and trends in education.
2. Demonstrate the reflective teaching and learning skills needed by a professional in the field of education.
3. Utilize effective communication skills in presenting academic research so as to elicit social change.
4. Identify and propose a solution to educational problem(s). (designing/developing research)
5. Demonstrate leadership via effective communication and use of technology.
6. Demonstrate leadership through effective communication about educational issues/topics to popular audiences in written work, speech, and through using technology.
7. Utilize effective communication skills in presenting academic research so as to elicit social change.
8. Show awareness of global interrelationships and affirm diversity in their own work about teaching and learning.
9. Be familiar with scholarship in the field of education that is sensitive to global interrelationships and affirms diversity.
10. Collaborate with a range of stakeholders in education and/or learning organizations in order to effect positive social change.
11. Demonstrate active commitment to social change.

For assistance in deciding which online degree specialization fits your goals,request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.