Ed. S. and Ed. D. in Teaching and Learning: Curriculum, Advocacy and Policy: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career

Students attend classes in the National College of Education at NLU’s National College of Education in Illinois. National Louis University offers an Ed. S. and Ed. D. in Teaching and Learning. This program majors in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy. This program is for experienced educators and serves as a Doctoral degree for those who want to influence curriculum and policy at the system level, rather than in a single classroom or building. The program is for the Scholar/Practitioner and provides the researcher with top-tier research training while allowing them to apply their new skills in real-life Advocacy situations. Several universities across the country offer this sort of program.

Through coursework, students gain the skills necessary to be scholars, enabling them to critically examine the curriculum in relation to the school and the broader society. Studies explore various issues dealing with curriculum and teaching. Through social inquiry, issues of social justice are examined by studying the curriculum. In addition, students explore the intersection of theory and practice within the dynamics of curriculum praxis or the ongoing process of designing, implementing, and rethinking the curriculum in relation to real classroom sites.

As National Louis University’s National College of Education continues to grow to meet the needs of an evolving educational environment, several new doctoral majors in Teaching and Learning are being developed. Currently, there are five majors in various stages of development. Other majors being developed are Disability and Equity in Education, Reading, Language and Literacy, and Linguistic Diversity and Equity. These majors can be pursued as single majors or as double majors in conjunction with the major already being pursued in Teaching and Learning.

Why Pursue an Ed.S. or Ed.D. in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy?

Pursuing the Ed.S. or Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning: Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy is ideal for experienced teachers and administrators who are also curriculum specialists and want to be able to make a difference in schools and in school districts by influencing the design and implementation of curriculum and by being involved in education policy at a school, district, or state level. Many curriculum specialists, administrators, and teachers in school settings have identified curriculum gaps that remain unmet and want to conduct formal research to study these gaps and find ways to teach all students well within existing curricula.

For individuals who wish to serve a greater number of students and schools than is possible in a single classroom or school, the Teaching and Learning: Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy major can prepare individuals to serve as curriculum specialists at the district level, as policy advocates at government agencies and non-profit organizations, or as professionals at think-tanks and advocacy organizations focused on education policy.

Formalizing existing advocacy work also draws students to this major. Students currently pushing for more inclusive curriculum materials, raising issues of equity within existing structures (e.g., school board meetings), or mentoring teachers towards more culturally responsive practices in their buildings can explore ways to formalize and thereby increase the impact of their current work through structured research in a doctoral study of this nature.

Key Questions About This Degree

What's the difference between the Ed. S. and Ed. D. options?

The Ed.S. (Education Specialist) degree is a graduate-level professional degree awarded in addition to a master’s degree. It is typically considered to be less than a doctoral degree. Usually, it involves less research and a shorter culminating project (such as a report, a series of papers, or a practicum) than an Ed.D. degree. Some individuals choose to complete the Ed.S. degree and then continue to the Ed.D. for reasons such as increased research opportunities, greater applicability to their professional work, and/or personal interest in additional academic study.

Can I combine this major with another specialization?

National Louis University offers several majors within the shared doctoral structure at NLU's National College of Education. Each of these specializations is offered within a shared framework of foundational and research coursework and can therefore be pursued as a single major or as part of a double major with another specialization.

What kind of research or dissertation is typical?

Many dissertation projects in this major are real curriculum or policy problems, and so the research is often applied in nature, and the scholar-practitioner model of research is highly valued. Examples of current research projects include: an examination of how well a district’s curriculum reflects the student body; an investigation of how a particular education policy affects issues of equity in certain educational settings; or an analysis of current programs and practices that promote equity and enable all students to reach high levels of academic achievement.

Do I need a background in policy to apply?

No, typically applicants for a policy-focused program of study will not have formal experience in policy, but instead will have a background of practice in the space of education in some form or another — i.e., teacher, curriculum specialist, or school administrator, etc. — and have decided to formally study the Space of Curriculum to aid their practice in the School/Setting/Space in which they work as educators.

How long does the program take?

When calculating how long it will take to finish a program like this, there are a few factors to consider, including completing the Ed.S. degree prior to entering the Ed.D. program or completing a single major in addition to the major in Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy. The typical completion time for doctoral-level studies is 3-6 years. We take this into account when scheduling required courses for working educators.

Career Outcomes

In Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy doctoral programs, graduates take on roles of curriculum specialists, school and district administrators, and even school board members. In addition to these school-based roles, graduates can also find work as educators and advocates in academic, government, think tank, policy, and community-based organizations focused on education.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, instructional coordinator and postsecondary education administrator roles, both closely related to many career paths in this field, are projected to see continued demand over the coming decade. Current projections and wage data are available through the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators.

Occupational Outlook Handbook, Instructional Coordinators.

Because of the unique blend of knowledge in curriculum and policy/advocacy, graduates of this degree will be well-equipped to translate their research into publicly shareable recommendations. They will be able to serve as testifiers before school boards or legislative committees, write policy briefs for advocacy organizations, and lead audits of school districts’ curricula to identify areas where more work is needed to create a more equitable learning environment for all students.

Curriculum, Advocacy, and Policy at National Louis University

National Louis University's National College of Education offers a major in Curriculum, Advocacy and Policy as part of the university’s Ed.S. and Ed.D. degrees in Teaching and Learning. The program is designed to prepare a high-level group of scholar-practitioners to lead and advocate for change across a variety of settings and to create more equitable policies and practices within educational settings.