This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.valdosta.edu.

Dr. C. Keith Waugh, Head
Suite 2000, Communication Arts and Curriculum Building

The mission of the Department of Leadership,Technology, and Workforce Development is to develop practitioners and researchers who are knowledgeable and skilled in improving schools and other learning organizations. To accomplish its mission, the department offers programs in curriculum and instruction at the doctoral level; leadership at the doctoral level, educational leadership at the specialist and master’s levels; and instructional technology at the specialist and master’s levels. The department also offers a variety of certifications and endorsement programs. All programs have distance education components and are strongly supported by research courses offered within the department.

The Curriculum and Instruction major (Ed. D.) provides interrelated courses and guided experiences to develop student understanding of effective instructional systems and application of theoretical foundations in curriculum and instruction. Course work requires doctoral candidates to research, design, develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate innovative educational practices in a variety of learning environments and academic disciplines. The program offers concentrations for both non P-12 educators and P-12 educators (GaPSC level 6/7 certificate).

The Leadership major (Ed. D.) seeks to develop doctoral candidates who are effective, ethical, and diverse leaders seeking to maximize achievement in schools and other organizations. Skill applications serve as the connection between the knowledge and inquiry skills developed in the core curriculum and research courses and the increasingly complex world of restructured practice and school or organizational improvement. The program offers concentrations for both non P-12 educators and P-12 educators (GaPSC level 6/7 certificate).

Programs offered in educational leadership lead to an Education Specialist degree (Ed. S.) in educational leadership (performance-based building- or system-level GaPSC PL-6 certificate options), and to a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) with a major in educational leadership (higher education leadership or P-12 school leadership) and/or GaPSC level 5 certification options. The department also offers a GaPSC PL-6/7 certification program in performance-based building- or system-level educational leadership. The educational leadership programs provide quality instruction, research, and service to prospective and practicing educational leaders. In particular, the Master of Education degree programs are designed to provide candidates with the basic knowledge, skills, and values to perform competently at entry-level leadership roles in higher education and student affairs. Candidates who complete the Education Specialist degree will be equipped with advanced knowledge and skills to perform competently as professionals in educational leadership. The doctoral program is intended to prepare candidates to assume active leadership roles in a variety of organizations. All programs emphasize ethical decision-making and leadership for change.

The instructional technology program is offered at the master’s and specialist levels. The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree program accepts qualified graduates from all disciplines and has three concentrations: library media (GaPSC S-5 certificate), P-12 technology applications (GaPSC S-5 certificate), and technology application. The library media concentration prepares candidates to be school media specialists. The technology applications concentrations prepare candidates to be technology coordinators or instructional developers in a variety of contexts: business, industry, government, military service, health fields, and schools.

The Education Specialist (Ed. S.) with a major in instructional technology emphasizes leadership development and applied research skills in instructional technology practice and prepares candidates to meet present and future technological challenges within an educational organization. The program accepts qualified graduates from all disciplines and has three concentrations: library media (GaPSC S-5 certificate), P-12 technology applications (GaPSC S-5 certificate), and technology application. The library media concentration prepares candidates to be school media specialists. The technology applications concentrations prepare candidates to be technology coordinators or instructional developers in a variety of contexts: business, industry, government, military service, health fields, and schools.