Courses
Upon acceptance into the doctoral program in Educational Administration,
you will receive a letter identifying your advisor (see list of advisors
below). Please contact your advisor via email for assistance with course
selection.
Dr. Arredondo-Rucinski
drucinski@bamaed.ua.edu
Dr. Dave Dagley
ddagley@bamaed.ua.edu
Dr. Roxanne Mitchell
rmitchell@bamaed.ua.edu
Dr. Rose Mary Newton
rnewton@bamaed.ua.edu
Dr. John Tarter
ctarter@bamaed.ua.edu
Dr. Philip Westbrook
pwestbrook@bamaed.ua.edu
Students in this program typically take some combination of the primary courses in Educational Administration listed below. In consultation with their program of study committee, students may also substitute or take additional courses in Instructional Leadership.
AEL 608 Educational Finance: Theory and Practice. Three hours.
A study of litigation, legislation, and implementation of public-school
finance programs in the 50 states. Concentrates on four aspects of equity:
resource equity, input equity, output equity, and tax equity.
AEL 610 Personnel Administration: Theory and Practice. Three
hours.
A comprehensive analysis of personnel functions in educational administration,
including dimensions of personnel needs, fulfillment of those needs,
and the maintenance and improvement of personnel services.
AEL 611 Superintendency and the Leadership Team. Three hours.
An inquiry—utilizing the perspectives of effective delegation
and participation—into the nature of the superintendency and the
development of a leadership team.
AEL 612 Instructional Supervision and Mentoring: Theory and
Practice. Three hours. Prerequisite: AEL 552 or permission of the instructor.
A comprehensive critical examination of advanced philosophy, theory,
and research of instructional supervision, including an interdisciplinary
focus on forces impinging upon instruction. Implications of these findings
for individual and group development and the improvement of instruction
and the instructional environment are emphasized.
AEL 616 Operational and Strategic Planning: Theory and Practice.
Three hours.
A focus on the major strategies and tactics of long-term and short-term
planning for education and other organizations. Integration of various
planning functions is stressed. The course includes 6 hours of field
experience.
AEL 618 Advanced Educational Law. Three hours. Prerequisite:
AEL 600 or permission of the instructor.
Emphasizes original legal research by the student. After reviewing general
principles of educational law, each student selects a topic for intense
research. With the instructor's assistance, each student will prepare
a publishable article on some area of educational law. Proper use of
legal notations, forms, and research methods is stressed.
AEL 619 Politics of Education. Three hours.
Prerequisite: Advanced graduate standing.
Study of politics as it relates to educational decision making, with
emphasis on political theory, history of politics in education, and
the legislative process. Offered once during the academic year.
AEL 624 Practicum in Educational Leadership. Six hours (three
hours of credit for each of two consecutive semesters).
Prerequisite: Completion of all AEL required courses.
Directed opportunities to use educational leadership knowledge and skills
to design projects and solve problems. Students develop a field-based
project that includes the identification and analysis of a local school
or district problem and the implementation and evaluation of a solution
to the identified problem.
AEL 649 Advanced Research. Variable credit.
Directed research activities related to educational leadership topics.
Enrollment is subject to program regulations and permission of the student's
program committee. Credit is based on the nature and degree of student
involvement.
AEL 650 Organizational Theory. Three hours (core course for
Ph.D./Ed.D. in educational administration).
An exploration of the relationship among concepts, generalizations,
and theoretical models found in the behavioral and social sciences.
The application of these to administrative practice in educational settings
is addressed.
AEL 661 Major Issues and Trends. Three hours.
An advanced analysis of current issues and trends impacting educational
organizations and the leaders of those organizations.
AEL 666 Educational Facilities Planning and Utilization. Three
hours.
Emphasis on the practical applications of planning building programs
for school districts. Includes bond issues, educational specifications,
architectural specifics, and construction.
AEL 671 Survey of Instructional Supervision. Three hours.
Prerequisite: AEL 612 or permission of the instructor.
A critical examination, interpretation, and evaluation of significant
current and classical writings in the field of instructional supervision
with particular emphasis on research findings, the emergence of instructional
trends and issues across the literature, and applications for effective
leadership of instructional supervision.
AEL 682 Leadership and Organizations: Theory and Applications.
Three hours (core course for Ph.D./Ed.D. in educational administration).
Prerequisite: AEL 602 or permission of the instructor.
An examination of historical and contemporary theories, models, concepts,
and practices for effective and efficient approaches to leadership within
organizations and how these apply to educational settings.
AEL 683 Contemporary Political and Economic Issues in Education.
Three hours (core course for Ph.D./Ed.D. in educational administration).
An exploration of contemporary economic and political dimensions of
education and their relationships to leadership. Includes issues related
to issues of democracy, governance, power, equity, and choice.
AEL 694 Clinical Research Project Dissertation. Variable credit.
Twelve semester hours (Ed.D.) or 24 semester hours (Ph.D.) required.
Research for and preparation of Ed.D. clinical research project dissertation
designed to address a policy or problem of practice. Student must maintain
continuous enrollment for a minimum of 3 semester hours per semester
until dissertation is completed. Enrollment is subject to program regulations
and permission of the student's dissertation committee.
AEL 696 Seminar in Administration and Planning. Three hours.
An advanced seminar for students to explore, discuss, and interpret
contemporary curriculum practice and research in leadership for administration
and planning. Provides students with opportunities for critical inquiry
into an area of specialized need and interest.
AEL 698 Dissertation Seminar in Educational Leadership. One
hour.
Prerequisite: Admission to doctoral study.
Analysis and discussion of current research topics, effective research
approaches, and exemplary research practices and programs related to
educational leadership. Outlines expectations for graduate work, explores
possible areas of investigation for doctoral dissertations, examines
research designs and proposals, and provides opportunities for refinement
of student manuscripts prior to formal presentation. A minimum total
of 3 semester hours of credit is required.
AEL 699 Dissertation Research. Variable credit.
Twelve semester hours (Ed.D.) or 24 semester hours (Ph.D.) required.
Directed dissertation research in the area of educational leadership.
Student must maintain continuous enrollment for a minimum of 3 semester
hours per semester until the dissertation is completed. Enrollment is
subject to program regulations and permission of the student's dissertation
committee.