Educational Leadership & Higher Education (ELHE)

Fulfilling our social justice mission, our Educational Leadership and Higher Education programs develop agents of cultural change—reflective practitioners committed to making schools more equitable.

Programs

Programs

Program match your criteria

Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Actively addresses social inequities and contributes to creating a more just society.
  • Multiple opportunities to engage in hands-on curriculum and praxis-focused research.
  • Choice of specialization: 
    • Educational Leadership, Policy & Educational Change
    • Language, Literacy, & Culture
    • Methods and Modes of Inquiry in Curriculum & Instruction 
    • Science, Mathematics, and Technology
    • Teaching, Curriculum, and the Politics of Schooling 

Designed to develop professionals who have the knowledge, intellectual disposition, professional skills, ethical sensibilities, and leadership potential to make a difference in the lives of all schoolchildren.

Researcher School Principal Teacher Leadership Professor Director of Curriculum Superintendent
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Curriculum-and-Instruction-PhD
Early Childhood Policy and Leadership Certificate

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Complete a three-course certificate in Early Childhood Policy and Leadership, including courses in the science of early childhood development; program and policy development and evaluation; and leadership, advocacy, and partnerships.
  • Participate in monthly seminars, targeting key issues related to early childhood research, practice, policy, advocacy, and leadership over the course of three semesters. 
  • Complete a three-month, paid summer internship in a local, national, or international setting to solidify skills in policy development and analysis, leadership, advocacy, or research translation in the early childhood field.
  • Translate learning from the internship and certificate courses by completing a capstone project, such as a policy brief, academic paper, or policy analysis.

 

Develop a deep understanding of the science of early childhood development and the policies and systems that intersect with young children and their families.

bc:schools/LSOE/Department/elhe
Educational Leadership & Policy specialization, Curriculum & Instruction, Ph.D.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Actively addresses social inequities and contributes to creating a more just society.
  • Multiple opportunities to engage in hands-on curriculum and praxis-focused research.
  • This specialization focuses on how educational leaders engage in policy and practice to support education reform and instructional improvement at the school, district, state, and federal levels.

Designed to develop professionals who have the knowledge, intellectual disposition, professional skills, ethical sensibilities, and leadership potential to make a difference in the lives of all school children. 

Researcher School Principal Teacher Leadership Professor Director of Curriculum Superintendent
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Curriculum-and-Instruction-PhD
Educational Leadership & Policy, M.Ed.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Draw on social-justice values and leadership strategies to boldly improve equitable opportunities for traditionally marginalized students.
  • Tailor your education and concentrate in Educational Policy Development or Social Justice Leadership.
  • Licensure track leading to school principal licensure.

 

 

 

Assume a leadership role in educational systems serving students, families, and communities.

School Principal Researcher Dean of Students Superintendent School Vice Principal
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Master-of-Education-MEd-in-Educational-Leadership-and-Policy
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Cohort model centered on collaborative learning, support, and creating a network of district-level leaders throughout Massachusetts.
  • Member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate.
  • Prepares future school leaders for public, Catholic, charter, and independent schools.

 

 

 

 

Designed for superintendents, this program is anchored in values of social justice, community, and school reform and results in superintendent licensure.

Educational Leadership
Superintendent School Leader School Administrator Vice Superintendent Deputy Superintendent
Educational Policy Development Certificate

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Learn how policies shape the cultural norms and day-to-day practices at both a micro level and a macro level. 
  • Program utilizes a lens of social justice and equity as a basis throughout the curriculum.

 

 

Develop the skills to use policy creatively and effectively to advance organizational goals and educational change. 

bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/edu-policy-dev
Higher Education, Executive Ed.D.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Online program with yearly week-long summer residencies, allowing candidates to maintain their career while working towards a doctorate.
  • Catholic Higher Education concentration available. 
  • Program culminates in a practice-based capstone project.

Develop the skills, mindsets, and technical knowledge to match the changing pace of higher education in this program designed for experienced professionals. 

Dean of Students Vice President for Enrollment Chief Diversity Officer Director of Global Initiatives Vice President of Advancement
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/higher-ed-edd
Higher Education, M.A.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

  • Choose one of four concentrations: 
    • Administration
    • Student Affairs
    • International Perspectives
    • Spirituality, Faith, and Formation.
  • Develop expertise in critical issues facing higher education.
  • Graduate assistantships are integral to the program as they provide valuable professional experience while reducing the financial burden on students.

Develop expertise in student affairs, administration, international higher education or Catholic universities in one of the first higher education graduate programs in the country.

College Student Affairs College Admissions Diversity and Inclusion Higher Education Leadership Institutional Advancement International Programs
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Master-of-Arts-MA-in-Higher-Education
Higher Education, M.A. & Business Administration, M.B.A.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Field experiences allows students to apply their skills in educational management. 
  • Coursework happens concurrently so students can maximize the connection between the two programs. 

Emerge from this dual degree program ready to share your skills with universities and policy-making organizations in financial management, resource planning, and technology management.

 

Director of Finance and Administration University Controller Vice Provost of Budget and Planning Dean of Administration and Resource Management Chief Information and Technology Officer
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Dual-in-Higher-Education-and-Business-Administration
Higher Education, Ph.D.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Coursework engages with important issues facing higher education from a multi-disciplinary perspective (history, sociology, philosophy, psychology, economic and political science).
  • Boston College's Center for International Higher Education provides a significant global focus to the Higher Education program. 

Prepare for a career in teaching or research in the field of higher education with a focus on equity and social justice.

College President Education Attorney Vice President of Enrollment Management Professor Dean of Colleges
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Doctor-of-Philosophy-PhD-in-Higher-Education
International Higher Education Certificate

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Offered through BC's renowned Center for International Higher Education.

Deepen your understanding of global higher education models and critical issues impacting higher education around the world.

bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Certificate-in-International-Higher-Education
International Higher Education with Universidad de Guadalajara, M.A.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Students in the dual degree program must complete one semester of coursework in-person at the Boston College campus, in addition to one year of coursework in-person at the University of Guadalajara. 
  • Students must be bilingual (English/Spanish) in order to apply.

The Dual Degree M.A. in International Higher Education offers bilingual students (Spanish/English) the opportunity to combine courses offered as part of the Boston College M.A. in Higher Education with courses offered as part of the M.A. in International Higher Education at the Universidad de Guadalajara (UdG) in Mexico.

International Services Specialist Study Abroad Advisor Admission Counselor International Educational Policy Analyst
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Master-of-Arts-MA-in-Higher-Education
Law, J.D. & Education, M.A. or M.Ed.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

 

  • Access to field experiences that incorporates educational advocacy.
  • Option to pursue one of three education master's programs: Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction.

Use legal and educational expertise to become an advocate for social justice and promote quality education for all.

Education Law and Civil Litigation State and Federal Court Clerks Researchers Policy Analyst Board of Directors (ie. local school districts, community colleges etc.)
bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/Dual-in-Law-and-Education
Social Justice Leadership Certificate

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

  • Students develop and enact their own theory of change to apply in practice.
  • A Reflection on Leadership course prepares students for values-based school leadership where a respect for diversity is cultivated throughout their organization.

 

 

Boldly advance equity in schools and enact a systemic response to confront the barriers students face. 

bc:schools/LSOE/academics/programs/social-justice-lead

Ed.D. vs Ph.D.

Ed.D. in Higher Education

For mid-career practitioners interested in cultivating agile and socially just leadership.

  • A part-time program taking 3 years to complete
  • 100% online with 1-week summer residencies
  • Around 15 members in each cohort
  • Executive Doctorate Dossier
     

Ph.D. in Higher Education

For research-focused training on social justice issues in higher education.

  • A full-time program taking 4-5 years to complete (part-time option available)
  • In-person
  • Small cohort (~3 members per year)
  • Independent research-based Dissertation

Faculty

Internationally recognized faculty integrate interdisciplinary theory with the most current evidence-based practices.

Faculty Accepting Doctoral Students

Retired Faculty


ELHE on the Road

Our faculty and community take research to the next level by actively engaging in committees, contributing to groundbreaking research and innovation, and delivering impactful presentations at conferences around the world. Here are some examples of our faculty and graduate students in action this year.

Research

Careers

Fulfilling our social justice mission, our programs develop agents of cultural change—reflective practitioners committed to making schools more equitable.

Harvard Unversity, Dean of Students

University of Houston, Director of Assessment and Planning

Salve Regina University, President

uAspire, Senior Director of Program Design

Kyung Hee University, Policy Analyst

University of Miami, Director of Enrollment Marketing and Operations

University of Connecticut, Assistant Professor

Merrimack College, Associate Professor

Elms College, President

News

    Apply a Global Lens to Higher Ed

    The 14-course Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education features faculty and guest lecturers from around the world, online coursework integrated with summer residences in Boston and Dublin. 

    Learn More

    Department

    ELHE

    Contact

      gsoe@dos5.net
      617-552-4214

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