ELPA Courses

Course descriptions are listed in ascending order by course ID number.

Click here to access the online catalog, which is available through the Registrar's Office.

ELPA 5100/6100. Interpersonal Relations (6 credits) ---- A course integrating the various competencies of interpersonal relations into the school leader's repertoire. Student's skills in collecting and managing the flow of information, motivating others, becoming sensitive to human needs and concerns, and communicating effectively in both oral and written modalities will be refined within the context of course activities.

ELPA 5106/6106. Instructional Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring (3 credits) ---- This course is designed to introduce to the student basic strengths, rigor, benefits, ideologies, and assets involved in developing, adapting, and enforcing a system/school mentoring program as well as curriculum coaching endeavors. Students will learn skills and techniques necessary for service as a coach or a mentor in their grade levels, departments, and schools. Further, candidates will exhibit leadership skills and traits as they develop and facilitate learning communities in their schools.

ELPA 5108/6108. Leadership for Differentiating Classrooms (3 credits) ---- The course critically analyzes the current best research - based practices in pedagogy and assessment for learning and their subsequent implications on differentiated instruction practices in a classroom. In addition to constructing knowledge about the content, processes, and product of differentiated instruction, the student will integrate the concepts in instructional practices. Further students will explore how school leaders can facilitate the change process in their schools as they learn how to develop personalized instruction for diverse learners.

ELPA 5200/6200. Emerging Perspectives Influencing the School (6 credits) ---- Course will critically analyze philosophical and cultural issues reflective of the local, regional, national, and global social contexts of which the schools are a part. Students will learn legal and regulatory applications of school leadership. Budget planning, development, and implementation will be examined as a logical outgrowth of environmental context influencing schools.

ELPA 5300/6300. Professional Needs of Individuals and Groups (6 credits) ---- Course increases student knowledge of measurement and evaluation of school outcomes; student guidance and development; adult learner development and learning patterns; foundations of the field of continuing professional development.

ELPA 5400/6400. Developing Learners Through Instructional Leadership (6 credits) ---- Course will address skills and competencies necessary for formulating goals with individuals or groups; planning for organizational change; planning and scheduling resource allocation and utilization; planning, developing, and implementing instructional programs, and assessing school curricula within a changing environment.

ELPA 5500/6500. Implementation Strategies: Making It Happen (6 credits) ---- Course will approach problem resolution as logical outgrowth of problem analysis, judgment formulation, plan implementation, task delegation, and resource management. Students will learn how to facilitate sound decision-making within the entire school community.

ELPA 5560. Small Group Leadership (3 credits) ---- This course examines how group behavior affects organizational effectiveness, decision making, conflict resolution, and strategies for efficient group and task management. Through activities in this course, students will explore their leadership skills specifically related to groups and group social process. Emphasis will be placed on such topics as group decision-making, participation in groups, power and authority, and a variety of communication styles.

ELPA 5600/6600. Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution (6 credits) ---- Course will focus on relationships between public policy and education; recognizing policy issues; and relating policy initiatives to student welfare. Students will develop an understanding of the importance of sound planning in maintaining school, community, and media relations.

ELPA 5820. Higher Education in America (3 credits) ---- The course examines major trends, policies, issues, and challenges facing colleges and universities from a variety of perspectives, including historical, administrative, public policy, governance, and faculty. 

ELPA 5822. Legal Issues in Student Personnel (3 credits) ---- This course is designed to provide student personnel practitioners with a basic understanding of legal issues and principles they confront in their daily work. Legal issues and cases relevant for student affairs professionals including the responsibilities of administrators and educators to act within the law are addressed. 

ELPA 5830. Student Personnel Administration (3 credits) ---- Provides the foundation of student personnel work through an exploration of  the purpose, organization, and function of student personnel services and the role of these areas within the institution.

ELPA 6010. Leadership for Lifelong Learning (3 credits) ---- This seminar focuses on current practices in educational leadership as they relate to the organization and administration of educational programs serving diverse populations. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the educational leader in promoting the concept of lifelong learning in the organization and the politics of education.

ELPA 6020. Seminar in Educational Supervision (3 credits) ---- An examination of problems and issues in supervision. Emphasizes evolving concepts of supervision and strategies and practices of promoting instructional change.

ELPA 6030. Instructional Leadership (3 credits) ---- An examination of major areas of curriculum study. Emphasizes current trends in curriculum development and implementation.

ELPA 6040. Writing for Professional Educators (3 credits) ---- Provides experiences for professional educators to differentiate and refine standard academic writing for publication. This course emphasizes style and citation as directed by the American Psychological Association, while guiding education professionals in individual writing development. 

ELPA 6050. Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in Higher Education (3 credits) ---- Examines the evolving missions of higher education institutions related to diversity and historical factors influencing access and equity in higher education. Major topics may include identities, culturally responsive pedagogy, power, privilege, bias, and oppression.

ELPA 6100. Interpersonal Relations (6 credits) ---- A course integrating the various competencies of interpersonal relations into the school leader’s repertoire. Student’s skills in collecting and managing the flow of information, motivating others, becoming sensitive to human needs and concerns, and communicating effectively in both oral and written modalities will be refined within the context of course activities.

ELPA 6106. Instructional Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring (3 credits) ---- This course is designed to introduce to the student basic strengths, rigor, benefits, ideologies, and assets involved in developing, adapting, and enforcing a system/school mentoring program as well as curriculum coaching endeavors. Students will learn skills and techniques necessary for service as a coach or a mentor in their grade levels, departments, and schools. Further, candidates will exhibit leadership skills and traits as they develop and facilitate learning communities in their schools.

ELPA 6108. Leadership for Differentiating Classrooms (3 credits) ---- The course critically analyzes the current best research - based practices in pedagogy and assessment for learning and their subsequent implications on differentiated instruction practices in a classroom. In addition to constructing knowledge about the content, processes, and product of differentiated instruction, the student will integrate the concepts in instructional practices. Further students will explore how school leaders can facilitate the change process in their schools as they learn how to develop personalized instruction for diverse learners.

ELPA 6200. Emerging Perspectives Influencing the School (6 credits) ---- Course will critically analyze philosophical and cultural issues reflective of the local, regional, national, and global social contexts of which the schools are a part. Students will learn legal and regulatory applications of school leadership. Budget planning, development, and implementation will be examined as a logical outgrowth of environmental context influencing schools.

ELPA 6220. Specialist Seminar (1 credit) ---- This seminar is one of the required leadership core courses. The course should not be taken before 30 credits of the educational specialist program have been completed. The course must be completed during the period of residency with the approval of the student's advanced graduate advisory committee chair. The seminar provides students with the opportunity to complete and present the results of their culminating project for the Ed.S. degree.

ELPA 6230. High-Impact Higher Education Instructional Practices (3 credits) ---- Emphasizes high-impact instructional practices and their application to the higher education environment. Students analyze curricular research studies, learning theories, and instructional practices, as well as engage in action research projects, applying concepts to relevant contexts.

ELPA 6300 . Professional Needs of Individuals and Groups (6 credits) ---- Course increases student knowledge of measurement and evaluation of school outcomes; student guidance and development; adult learner development and learning patterns; foundations of the field of continuing professional development.

ELPA 6400. Developing Learners Through Instructional Leadership (6 credits) ---- Course will address skills and competencies necessary for formulating goals with individuals or groups; planning for organizational change; planning and scheduling resource allocation and utilization; planning, developing, and implementing instructional programs, and assessing school curricula within a changing environment.

ELPA 6450. Leadership Studies (3 credits) ---- The purpose of this seminar is to develop a more in-depth understanding of theory and research related to the study of leadership. Although there will be a brief review of traditional theories from traditional approaches (trait, behavioral, etc.) through contemporary approaches (situational, transformational, symbolic, etc.), the focus of this class is on "cuttingedge" ideas. Students are strongly encouraged to explore nontraditional approaches to thinking about how leadership can be conceptualized, explored, and understood, as well as how to relate their ideas to current models. Emphasis will be given to student-initiated exploration of themes which underlie leadership.

ELPA 6451. Strategic Planning and School-Based Decision Making (3 credits) ---- An examination of the theory behind strategic planning and school-based management and an examination of the implementation of the concepts in America's schools.

ELPA 6452. Effective Organizationa Cultures (3 credits) ---- Students will study the elements that contribute to the development of effective organizations. The course will focus on the critical importance of leadership in creating organizational cultures and will stress the importance of developing a shared vision within the organization. Students will learn strategies for developing organizational cultures that promote reflection, action, and the continuous improvement of performance.

ELPA 6453. Ethics for Educational Leaders (3 credits) ---- The purpose of this seminar is to develop a more in-depth understanding of ethical theories and idea relevant to the educational leader. The course provides an opportunity for self-examination of personal views, beliefs and values and the impact of those thoughts on personal leadership development. The course provides a historical perspective to the development of ethical thought, the evolution of ethical thinking through the centuries, and consideration of current ethical decision-making and dilemmas for leader. the course qualifies as a guided elective in Educational leadership for doctoral students in all concentrations except the administrative endorsement.

ELPA 6454. Policy, Power, and Politics in Education (3 credits) ----This course critically examines the interrelationship of the formal and informal political and social forces that influence the development of federal, state, and local educational policy in the United States. Emphasis will be given to the development of individual strategies to influence educational policy within the democratic process.

ELPA 6460. Professional Issues in Higher Education (3 credits) ---- Focuses on professional issues of wellness, personal and professional growth, ethical principles and integrity in higher education practices.

ELPA 6500. Implementation Strategies: Making It Happen (6 credits) ---- Course will approach problem resolution as logical outgrowth of problem analysis, judgment formulation, plan implementation, task delegation, and resource management. Students will learn how to facilitate sound decision-making within the entire school community.

ELPA 6555. Reflective Practice I (3 credits) ---- This course involves fieldwork under the guidance of a mentor who has achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The mentor and student will collaboratively plan and implement a plan of professional development that will lead to the development of the NBPTS portfolio. Much of the collaborative work will occur in the school of the student, although periodic seminars will be held. A secondary focus of the course will be on the mentoring process and the essential elements in an effective mentor/student relationship.

ELPA 6556. Reflective Practice II (3 credits) ---- This course is a continuation of ELPA 6555, involves work under the guidance of a mentor who has achieved certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The mentor and student will continue to implement a plan of professional development that will lead to the development of the NBPTS portfolio. Much of the collaborative work will occur in the school of the student, although periodic seminars will be held. Students will present their portfolios to their colleagues and complete practice assessments that parallel the National Board Certification Process. Additional emphasis will be given to the role of mentoring in fostering school-based professional development.

ELPA 6560. Small Group Leadership (3 credits) ---- Through activities in this course students will explore their leadership skills specifically related to forming compatible, achieving groups capable of completing tasks to complement the organizational vision. Students will examine the classic and contemporary literature on topics affecting groups such as conflict, collaboration, negotiation, power issues, decision-making, compromise strategies, and team-building.

ELPA 6561. Organization Development (3 credits) ---- The principal purpose of this seminar is to show the process by which planned change occurs in educational organizations through the application of behavioral science knowledge. The focus of organizational development is on the ability of organization members to diagnose and solve their own problems. Organizational development addresses a broad range of topics, including the effects of change, the methods of organizational change, and the factors influencing organizational development success.

ELPA 6563. The Adult Learner (3 credits) ---- This course is designed to acquaint students with the development of adult learning and education in this country and the resulting social, political, and economic implications. Students analyze theory, research, and practice as a basis for improving the learning environments of formal and nonformal adult education programs.

ELPA 6580 - Capstone in Educational Leadership (3 credits) ---- Provides a culminating experience in higher education combining program knowledge and skills in a project based activity.

ELPA 6581. Internship in Educational Leadership (3 credits) ---- This course involves fieldwork under the direction of a practicing organizational leader. The supervising faculty member from the department serves as a liaison between the university and professionals at the placement site.

ELPA 6600. Shaping the Quality and Character of the Institution (6 credits) ---- Course will focus on relationships between public policy and education; recognizing policy issues; and relating policy initiatives to student welfare. Students will develop an understanding of the importance of sound planning in maintaining school, community, and media relations.

ELPA 6720. Supervisory Techniques (3 credits) ---- A basic course for special and general supervisors and supervising principals with emphasis on a multidimensional approach to supervision. Related application of theory to practice. 

ELPA 6810. Theories of Administration (3 credits) ---- Includes the history and development of major administrative theories. Emphasizes the use of these theories in administering an organization.

ELPA 6820. Law for Organizational Leaders (3 credits) ---- Includes history of legal provisions for public education in the United States and school legislation in Tennessee. In a seminar setting, the class identifies and analyzes trends in legislation, case law, precedent, and interpretation as these factors influence and are influenced by the changing role of education in modern life. Emphasizes, but is not limited to, the school law of Tennessee and neighboring states.

ELPA 6830. School Housing and Transportation (3 credits) ---- Emphasis on planning, financing, and utilizing the school plant. Consideration is given to forms and surfaces, flexibility, machines and furniture, and equipment. Operation and administration of transportation are included.

ELPA 6841. School Finance and Business Methods (3 credits) ---- Federal, state, and local financing of schools; equalization of education opportunity; sources of school revenue; school budgets; and business methods of accounting are included.

ELPA 6861. Human Resource Management (3 credits) ---- Course deals with human resource problems of staff and students from the administrator’s point of view: records, test score use, assignment, recruitment, professional negotiations, insurance, fringe benefits, guidance programs, etc.

ELPA 6870. Field Research in Educational Leadership (3 credits) ---- Students will take an active part in the collection and analysis of research data of importance to educational leaders. Students will also take an active part in the writing of research reports and dissemination of findings. Students should check with the instructor prior to enrolling in this course.

ELPA 6872. Technology Applications for Educational Leaders (3 credits) ---- The course is designed to provide the student with state-of-the-art knowledge of computer technology related to administration, research, statistics, peripheral interfaces, personal productivity, and basic programming in administration and management.

ELPA 6901. Independent Study in Educational Administration (1-3 credits) ---- This course provides for independent study under the direction of an appropriate faculty member. Significant research required.

ELPA 6902. Independent Study in Educational Supervision (1-3 credits) ---- This course provides for independent study under the direction of an appropriate faculty member. Significant research required.

ELPA 6903. Independent Study in Curriculum Development (1-3 credits) ---- This course provides for independent study under the direction of an appropriate faculty member. Significant research required.

ELPA 6908. Independent Study in the Administration of Higher Education (1-3 credits) ---- This course provides for independent study under the direction of an appropriate faculty member. Significant research required.

ELPA 6951. Seminar in Research Analysis and Interpretation (3 credits) ---- This seminar provides a forum for discussion of current research relevant to educational leaders. Students will learn the principles of research interpretation through an examination of the current literature and will concurrently learn to conduct appropriate analyses of research data using computer technology.

ELPA 6952. Action Research (3 credits) ---- This course introduces the methods and concepts of action research. Action research is presented as a reflective process used by practicing classroom teachers to identify and solve problems of importance in the classroom. Action research is approached as a professional development activity that allows teachers to discover the complexities in teaching and offers suggestions for improving learning.

ELPA 6953. Policy Analysis (3 credits) ---- The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the process by which policy is formulated, analyzed, implemented, and evaluated. The focus will be on such actions as undertaken by policy analysts in and out of government. The methodological issues and techniques used to accommodate the major social, economic political, and behavioral aspects of policy analysis in an organizational context will be discussed.

ELPA 6954. Program Evaluation (3 credits) ---- Introduces the activities associated with development, implementation, and evaluation of educational and other programs. 

ELPA 6955. Grant and Proposal Development (3 credits) ---- This course examines the possibilities for additional funding through grant development. Students use newsletters, foundation and government publications, as well as the Internet, to locate sources of funding. Interviews are conducted with persons who have had previous success in receiving grant funding. The course also emphasizes refinement of writing skills, development of an organizational vision, goal-setting, political realities, and public relations techniques. Budget development with software options as well as audit protocol will also be explored. Presentation and team-building skills are another critical dimension to successful grant funding and implementation.

ELPA 7110. Community Colleges in the United States (3 credits) ---- This course emphasizes the history, philosophy, and contemporary nature of community colleges in terms of organization and administration, students, faculty, curriculum and instruction, finance, and issues and trends.

ELPA 7120. History of American Higher Education (3 credits) ---- A survey of American Higher Education from its origins to the present. The focus of this course is the study of two- and four-year public and private postsecondary institutions in America. Topics may include (but are not limited to): administrative structure, access, athletics, governance, funding, politics, curriculum, philanthropy, sponsored research, student life. 

ELPA 7220. Supervising Community College Curriculum Planning (3 credits) ---- A study of program planning at the community college level; includes a study of the relationship between secondary curriculum and community college curriculum; considers trends in curriculum development of reform, materials of instruction, and supervision at the community college level.

ELPA 7810. Educational Statistics (3 credits) ---- This course emphasizes statistics for use in educational research: measures of central tendency, variation, rank, and correlation; the normal curve and probability; testing differences between means; analysis of variance; and nonparametric procedures.

ELPA 7811. Quantitative Research (3 credits) ---- This course builds on the foundations of research and statistics and introduces multivariate statistical techniques commonly used in educational research. It develops skills in parametric and nonparametric analysis, survey design and scale construction, database development and management, and the use of statistical analysis packages.

ELPA 7812. Qualitative Research (3 credits) ---- This course provides an introduction to the qualitative research process. Qualitative research is examined in this course through 1) reading 2) personal reflection, and 3) inquiry activities. The basic concepts and methods of qualitative research are studied through collaborative, constructivist activities. The qualitative research process is presented as a series of ongoing and overlapping activities. Topics include the identification of the assumptions that support the qualitative research, the identification of research questions, the use of theory in the research process, participant selection, methods of data collection, data analysis strategies and tools (including the use of microcomputers), and the reporting of results.

ELPA 7813. Research in Educational Leadership (3 credits) ---- This course is designed to strengthen knowledge and skills necessary to conduct, understand, evaluate, and utilize advanced research in the field of educational leadership. It provides a forum for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they begin working on their dissertation prospectus.

ELPA 7814. Advanced Qualitative Research (3 credits) ---- This course is designed to build on the introductory knowledge of ELPA 7812, Qualitative Research, with an in-depth examination of the five traditions of qualitative inquiry; those traditions are biography, ethnography, phenomenology, case study, and grounded theory.

ELPA 7820. Administration of Higher Education (3 credits) ---- This course emphasizes the administration, financial support, staffing, community relations, and program development in higher education; includes objectives and trends in American higher education, organizational patterns, and community colleges.

ELPA 7822. Higher Education Law (3 credits) ---- This course provides an examination of the legal issues that impact and influence American higher education. The objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of the subject areas of law most relevant to higher education and to introduce students to methods of legal analysis and decision-making. The course will emphasize the legal environment of postsecondary institutions, legal processes, analysis, and problems incurred in the administration of colleges and universities. 

ELPA 7823. Higher Education Finance (3 credits) ---- This course provides students with an overview of the financial management of two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Students learn about the financial reporting, budgeting, and asset management processes for higher education institutions. Additionally, students examine contemporary funding issues for public and private postsecondary institutions. 

ELPA 7825. Academic Writing for Dissertation Research (3 credits) ---- This course builds on the foundations of research and introduces students to formal academic writing for dissertation research. Students will develop a research proposal that includes: an introduction, a literature review, and a method or research design section. 

ELPA 7960. Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 credits) ---- By arrangement with student's graduate committee.

ELPA 7990. Readings and Research (1-3 credits) ---- This is a course that is required of all students who have completed the number of credits of Dissertation (7960) specified in their program of study but have not completed the dissertation and MUST be taken each semester (three credits) until the thesis is approved. Additionally, students who are not enrolled in other course work but require the use of university facilities and/or faculty guidance for studies, research, or preparation of a prospectus, thesis, or dissertation MUST enroll for three credits of Readings and Research. Variable credits (1-3) of Readings and Research may also be used, as approved by the student's advisory committee in conjunction with other course work, to receive credit for such activities as preparation of designated papers or development of research and scholarly skills that would not be appropriately covered by other types of independent study. Grading of Readings and Research will be either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.