Spring 2004
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New POLS Program Creates Change Agents
Special Cosby on Campus Performance Ticket Offer for Alums
Credits

Spring 2004
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On November 11, the Stanford University School of Education (SUSE) faculty unanimously approved a new Social Sciences, Policy and Educational Practice master’s program entitled Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies (POLS). The program, scheduled to launch in fall 2004 with 15-20 students, emphasizes the organizational and policy context of education and the knowledge and skills leaders need to be effective in complex environments.

The goal of the program is to prepare students to act as successful participants, leaders, and change agents in a range of educating institutions, including conventional, charter, and private schools, non-profit organizations, businesses, colleges and universities and public sector agencies.

According to Associate Professor Debra Meyerson, “The program builds on the strengths and expertise of the SUSE faculty, and it responds to contemporary needs and opportunities in education. I think it will appeal to a broad range of students who have diverse career interests but a grounding in education.”

The program is targeted to the following types of students:
  • The recent graduate who would like to develop his/her knowledge in the area of policy development, implementation and analysis, and who is interested in working in district, state, or federal bodies involved in education or education policy;
  • The student who has worked or plans to work in an educationally-oriented business, non-profit, social service, or community-based organization, and who wants to develop a background in education and his/her capacity to act as an effective leader and agent of change in any of these contexts;
  • The educational entrepreneur who wants to start a charter school or occupy a leadership role in a traditional or non-traditional school or school system;
  • The holder of a bachelor’s degree who wishes to enter the field of higher education administration, who wishes to learn more about the field of higher education and to develop his/her skills as an effective organizational analyst and participant.