Department of Educational Studies
The Department of Educational Studies at The University of Toledo is dedicated to the advanced study of education through graduate programs that examine learning, leadership, policy and the social foundations of educational practice. The department prepares scholars, practitioners and educational leaders to address complex challenges across educational settings while contributing to the improvement of schools, colleges, universities and their communities.
Through its graduate programs in Educational Administration, Educational Psychology, Higher Education Administration and Foundations of Education, the department offers an interdisciplinary perspective on education that bridges research, theory and practice. Faculty and students engage in the study of human learning and development, educational leadership and organizational change, higher education systems and administration, and the historical, philosophical, sociological and cultural dimensions of education.
The department emphasizes rigorous scholarship, evidence-based decision making, ethical leadership and social responsibility. Students develop the analytical, research and professional competencies necessary to lead educational organizations, advance educational knowledge and promote equitable and effective learning environments. The Department of Educational Studies hosts several research and outreach centers including the Center for Education in Mass Violence and Suicide, the Center for Nonviolence and Democratic Education, the Herb Innovation Center and the John H. Russel Center.
The department's mission is to prepare and develop educational leaders and scholars to be agents of transformation on all levels of educational systems. Our graduate programs are geared towards working professionals: they are student-centered, inquiry-based and praxis-oriented (integrating theory and practice).
Graduate programs
The Department of Educational Studies offers the following graduate programs:
Educational administration and supervision
The Educational Administration and Supervision program (EDAS) develops effective and dynamic leaders for the field of PreK-12 education—leaders who are collaborative, resourceful and creative problem solvers. The program is designed for the working professional, allowing flexibility in course attendance. Coursework is delivered online; the curriculum is hands-on, leadership-focused, created and led by experienced practitioner faculty. EDAS students can earn their master's degree while simultaneously also completing requirements for an initial Ohio administrator license.
M.Ed. (100% online): Master of Education in Administration and Supervision
Certificate (100% online): Principal Licensure Graduate Certificate
Educational Psychology
The Ph.D. program in Educational Psychology is devoted to the study of the psychological dimensions of education, teaching, learning and human development. This research-intensive program prepares graduates as scholars and practitioners to lead in academic, clinical and organizational settings. Graduates of the program find employment in university teaching and research, government agencies, and business enterprises.
Ph.D. (100% online): Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology
Foundations of Education
The Foundations of Education program offers both M.A. Degrees and Ph.D. Degrees. Additionally, the program offers an online certificate in peace pedagogy. The strength of the faculty and thus the current organizing focus of these concentrations is social justice. We seek to critically examine the multidimensional nature of justice and education in a way that explores the basic assumptions, policies, and practices of our educational institutions in order to contribute to the creation of a more just, peaceful, and democratic society and world. We believe that at the core of an education for democracy and justice is the capacity for critical reflection. Reflection is a process of examination and analysis that is significantly informed by an understanding of the phenomena that underlie and contextualize educational ideas, practices and problems. We seek to understand education as it is shaped by social, cultural, and ideological forces in order to enhance the reflective practice and thus decision making of educators, leaders, and scholars.
M.Ed.: Master of Education in Educational Theory and Social Foundations
Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy in Foundations of Education
Certificate (100% online): Graduate Certificate in Peace and Justice Studies
Higher Education
The University of Toledo’s Higher Education program prepares graduates for rewarding careers in college and university leadership and teaching. Designed for aspiring professionals in all areas of higher education, this program blends real-world experience with a strong foundation in administration, student programming and institutional policy. Graduates work in many positions across diverse institutional settings including colleges, universities, community colleges, technical and trade schools, and educational organizations and associations across the country.
The Higher Education program is home to the John H. Russel Center for Educational Leadership, which promotes the development of higher education leaders and supports the research activity of all students in the program. An academic journal, Studying the History of Higher Education, anchors the core research focus of the program and provides publishing opportunities for its community of scholars.
M.Ed. (100% online): Master of Higher Education
Ph.D. (100% online): Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education
Certificate (100% online): Higher Education Administration Graduate Certificate
Undergraduate Minor
Peace Studies
Peace Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study and learning process designed to develop the capacity of global citizens to critically understand and transform all forms of violence and the patterns of thought that justify and support them in order to contribute to the creation of a more just and peaceful world through processes of peace building. Peace building is based upon transformative change processes that address the underlying root causes of violence and conflict. Violence is the core problematic that the field addresses, and it is broadly defined in terms of the conceptions of direct violence, structural violence and cultural violence.
Global goals of peace building can be, for example, conflict resolution in war zones, improving mothers’ health, decreasing illiteracy, providing education for all, safeguarding sustainability, and celebrating diversity. This understanding provides a powerful complementary perspective to any major field of study.
