PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULAR FRAMEWORK

The MPA-EPLC program‘s philosophy and vision is based on exemplary leadership pedagogy.  In developing our concentration, we worked to apply general foundational principles of public administration to public education, while providing students with opportunities to engage in practical, real-life and project based experiences that allow for them to understand the unique dynamics of schools and education and allowing for them to individually reframe what they view as exemplary leadership.

Across the country, schools leaders are facing tremendous challenges in leading 21st Century schools. The role of the school leader is no longer to simply oversee the delivery of student instruction and serve as a building manager. Their role now relies on leading student learning, setting an all-embracing vision for their constituents, and effectively maneuvering through the complex process of aligning issues of compliance with standards for excellence.  Therefore, the program applies general foundational principles of public administration to public education, while providing students with opportunities to engage in practical, real-life and project based experiences that allow for them to understand the unique dynamics of schools and education and allowing for them to individually reframe what they view as exemplary leadership.

The EPLC, as part of the Department of Public Policy & Administration at Rutgers–Camden, is guided by three sets of standards:

1. The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) standards
   
   
2. The New Jersey Professional Standards for School Leaders
   
   
3. The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) standards

CURRICULUM

The master of public administration degree requires all students to:

1. Satisfactorily complete 42 credits of course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0; and,
   
   
2. Satisfactorily complete a Capstone Course.  The 42 credits of course work are divided as follows: Six (6) Core of Common Knowledge courses (18 credits); Five (5) Specialized Educational Policy and Leadership courses, inclusive of the capstone course (15 credits); and  Internship and/or Specialized Elective courses (9 credits).  

The core courses ensure that every student masters the major skills required of all successful administrators in the public and non-profit sectors.  These include knowledge of how law affects policy options, how organizational structures shape organizational behavior, basic theoretical perspective and analytical methods for policy analysis to determine what works and how, generic methods of economics and public management, plus specific skills in public budgeting and finance, information technology and public data bases, and research methods.  The EPLC courses focus on executive leadership and communication, human resource management, supervision of instruction, as well as a summary capstone course on education policy and leadership.  The specialized courses for the EPLC include a variety of electives, internships, and seminars including courses on entrepreneurship and innovation, continuous improvement, deep learning, and curriculum leadership skills. These types of hands-on experiences and projcet based coursework facilitate exposure to real life issues and provide for a learning environment where aspiring principals can make the connections between school leadership and management, and student achievement.