APPLIED LEADERSHIP FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING

PREREQUISITES | ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS | DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | FACULTY
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Master’s Degree in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning recognizes the valuable contributions of experienced educators and their ability to engage in professional development within a community of learners. With this understanding as its foundation, the program provides experienced educators with the opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills and be recognized as leaders within their profession.

This 30-credit program, which can be completed within two calendar years, includes a 21-credit core requirement as well as a nine-credit area of emphasis. As part of the core requirement, degree candidates will be required to conduct a classroom-based inquiry project (thesis). The core curriculum is based on the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The standards that undergird this program are the following:

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning.*
• Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.*
• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.*
• Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.*
• Teachers are members of learning communities.*
• Teachers understand system theory and how to initiate and sustain meaningful change.
• Teachers are knowledgeable about historical and contemporary educational reform efforts.
*NBPTS standards

The Applied Leadership degree is unique in many respects. It is a truly advanced degree program that does not include teacher certification. It recognizes the expertise of experienced educators working within a community of professional learners. Most importantly, this program will prepare educators to conduct classroom-based research and to use their knowledge of research to make data-based decisions in order to improve student learning.

The Master’s Degree is an integral part of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Institute for Learning Partnership. The Institute brings together the extensive resources of the University, regional school districts, area businesses, and community leadership to improve the quality of education for all learners. In addition to working with the experienced faculty in education, participants in the Master’s Degree program have opportunities to work with faculty across a variety of academic disciplines, as well as participate in regional and local professional initiatives.

The program is designed as a part-time program for educators who are actively employed in educational settings (e.g., K-16 classroom settings and/or business and industry training). Courses are offered on the weekends and during the summer. Students are admitted to the program each fall semester in cohorts with a maximum of 20. This small class size enables degree candidates to have close contact with the program’s faculty and promotes the development of a sense of community over the course of the program.

Prerequisites
Minimum admission requirements are:
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• Two years of successful teaching experience.
• A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (gpa).

Admission Requirements
Each applicant’s prior academic work and experience will be evaluated prior to admission. Applicants are expected to have college-level writing, oral communications, and computer skills. Students who show exceptional promise but lack the minimal prerequisites may be admitted provisionally. Applicants are not required to take the GRE for admission.

The application process requires completion of a UW-Green Bay Graduate Application form; letter of interest; three letters of recommendation; official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate); brief curriculum vitae; verification of teaching license(s) and/or certification(s); and an interview to ensure that there is an appropriate match between the goals of the program and each applicant’s professional development needs.

Degree Requirements
The requirements for the Master of Science in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning consist of successfully completing a 21-credit core requirement and a nine-credit area of emphasis.

Students must maintain at least a B average to remain in the program and to graduate. A grade of C or better is required for course work to be counted toward graduation.

Students must file a Graduate Program Plan before completing eight graduate credits in the program. An adviser must be consulted before the plan is filed.

Core Requirement, 21 credits
Core courses:
A 15-credit set of core courses form the foundation for the degree. All students must complete the following four courses:
TCH LRNG 701 Reflective Inquiry, 4 cr.
TCH LRNG 702 Approaches to Educational Inquiry, 4 cr.
TCH LRNG 703 Contemporary Issues and Historical Contexts, 4 cr.
TCH LRNG 704 Applied Educational Leadership, 3 cr.

Inquiry project (thesis):
TCH LRNG 799 Thesis, 6 cr.
Each individual in the program is required to complete a thesis related to an educational, school, or classroom-based line of inquiry. Participants engage in activities relevant to the development, interpretation and dissemination of their thesis research under the direct guidance of a graduate faculty adviser. In addition to the required faculty, professionals from outside the University may also serve on thesis committees.

Students usually enroll for two credits of thesis support during the summer of their first year. The additional four credits will be distributed over the fall, spring and summer of their second academic year.

Area of Emphasis, 9 credits
Each student selects an area of emphasis consisting of at least nine graduate credits. These credits may be completed at UW-Green Bay or at another institution or setting. It may be possible to establish a personal area of emphasis fitted to the career interests of the student. Such programs must conform to MSAL guidelines and be filed as a Graduate Program Plan approved by the student’s academic adviser, program chair, and the associate dean for graduate studies and research.

Program requirements change from time to time. New graduate courses are added and others are dropped. This catalog describes the program requirements at the time of publication. Consult an adviser for any changes since publication.

Faculty
Bircher, Karen, Lecturer, Education. B.A. (1971) Case Western Reserve University; M.A. (1983) University of Colorado, Denver.
Fields of interest: reading/writing connection, reader response, whole language theory, composition.
Coates, James R., Associate Professor, Education. B.S. (1972) University of Maryland Eastern; M.A. (1982), Ph.D. (1991) University of Maryland College Park.
Fields of interest: American sports history, with a concentration in African-American sport history.
Cusano, Janice, Assistant Professor, Education (Music). B.M. (1985) Westminster Choir College; M.M. (1987) Southern Methodist.
Fields of interest: history of education, educational philosophy, teacher training, teacher assessment, early childhood music.
Davis, Gregory, Professor, Mathematics. B.S. (1981) University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; M.A. (1985), Ph.D. (1987) Northwestern University.
Fields of interest: dynamical systems, mathematical modeling of ecological systems, cliff swallow-house sparrow species dynamics.
Fencl, Heidi S., Assistant Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences (Physics). B.S. (1984) Nebraska Wesleyan; M.S. (1986) Univ. of Nebraska; Ph.D. (1992) Ohio State.
Fields of interest: science education, physics, astrophysics.
Kaufman, Timothy, Assistant Professor, Education and Program Chair, Graduate Program in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning. B.A. (1986) Elmhurst College; M.S. (1988) Southern Illinois University; Ph.D. (1994) Loyola University.
Fields of interest: literacy, school reform, serving the needs of “at-risk” and learners with learning disabilities.
Laughlin, Margaret A., Professor, Education (Social Science). B.A. (1959), M.A. (1964) California State, Sacramento; Ed.D. (1978) Southern California.
Fields of interest: social studies, international/comparative education, global/multicultural education, curriculum, foundations, research, standards and assessment.
Stokes, Sandra, Professor, Education. B.A. (1969) Bridgeport; M.A. (1973) Fairfield; Ph.D. (1989) Kent State.
Fields of interest: special education/reading, family resource centers, and family literacy, best practices and curriculum/assessment.
Tabers-Kwak, Linda, Assistant Professor, Education. B.A. (1976) Barat College; M.A. (1993) University of South Florida; M.A. (1994) Northeastern Illinois University; Ph.D. (2000) Loyola University.
Fields of interest: leadership, writing portfolios/writing centers, school-community relations, interdisciplinary studies, and curriculum integration.
Thron, Joan, Associate Professor, Education. B.A. (1959) Emory; M.A. (1973), Ph.D (1994) UW-Madison.
Fields of interest: making connections among reading, speaking and listening.