Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy (School Leadership in Diverse Contexts Field))
Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy (School Leadership in Diverse Contexts Field) Overview
Are you ready to lead transformative change in elementary and secondary education?
The field in School Leadership in Diverse Contexts within the MEd program in Educational Leadership and Policy is an online, course-based professional master's field designed for aspiring or current educational leaders working in elementary or secondary schools or other educational settings for children and youth. This field will engage educational professionals in opportunities to critically analyze and understand the practices and issues involved in the administration and leadership of schools with diverse student populations.
All required courses in the School Leadership in Diverse Contexts field are offered online. This field is offered part-time only. Students interested in pursuing an in-person MEd (full-time or part-time) should consider the general (non-field) MEd in Educational Leadership and Policy.
The next intake for this field will be Fall 2025. The 2025 cohort begins September 2025 and normally lasts 10 sessions (until approximately December 2028).
For detailed information about the program, please consult the School of Graduate Studies Calendar
Are you interested in becoming a principal in Ontario? If you are interested in completing the Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) while enrolled in your M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Policy at OISE, doing so through OISE Continuing & Professional Learning will help you make the most of your experience and allow you to complete the programs faster. To learn more, please contact lhae.masters@utoronto.ca
At a Glance
Delivery Options
Online
Hybrid
Study Options
Part-time (10 sessions)
Program Requirement
Coursework
Funding and Tuition
For current information about tuition fees, funding, and financial support, visit Tuition & Financial Support.
Deadlines
Applications for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle are now Open. Apply Today !!
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Ready to join one of the world’s top universities? Take the next step in your academic journey and start your application to graduate studies at OISE.
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Why I Chose Leadership, Adult & Higher Education
Shahidul Islam (Master of Education 2020)
"If you are looking to analyze and address real-world problems in education, OISE is the place. At Leadership, Adult & Higher Education I developed my research skills and contributed to literature and policy that benefits schools and communities across the globe."
Admission Requirements
General Admission Requirements
Please visit the OISE Admissions website for detailed information about the application process, including general minimum admission requirements and supporting documents.
Program Specific Information
- Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.
- An appropriate bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in a relevant discipline with a grade equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B or better in the final year.
- Applicants must have the equivalent of 12 months of successful, relevant, professional experience.
- Transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended.
- Resumé that provides clear and complete information about the applicant's work or field experience related to their proposed studies.
- Answers to faculty admissions questions (applicants are to answer each question in an essay format). Please see questions in the next accordion.
- Two letters of reference. Whenever possible, one should be written by an educational professional for whom the applicant has worked. The second should be by a referee who can attest to the applicant's academic ability.
Applicants are to answer each question in an essay format.
- Please address the following (1200 words max):
- Describe your academic background, professional experiences, community service and other relevant experiences and accomplishments and how they relate to PK-12 Educational Leadership and Policy. If your academic background is not in education or a related social science field, you are encouraged to describe how your experiences have prepared you for the program.
- Describe your academic interests and how they align with the Educational Leadership and Policy program. Why is this program a good fit for you? Why are you a good fit for the program? You may wish to mention ELP courses that interest you. Review ELP courses.
- (optional) You are encouraged to speak to your academic and professional goals (after graduation) and how pursuing the MEd in Educational Leadership and Policy would advance these goals.
- (optional) The Educational Leadership and Policy program seeks to maintain a diverse, inclusive, and engaged learning community. You are encouraged to identify any ways that your identity (including--but not limited to--ancestry, culture, gender, race, religion, socio-economic status or other social identities) or life experience will contribute to this community.
- (optional) Is there any additional information you want to share with the Admissions Committee that will inform their review of your application?
- All required courses in the School Leadership in Diverse Contexts field are offered online. Students may choose to pursue this MEd field through one of two delivery modes, depending on their choice of elective courses: Online (students will be able to complete all their coursework and other program requirements online); or Hybrid (students will experience a mix of modes of engagement, with some of their coursework and other program requirements in-person and between one-third and two-thirds of their coursework online). Are you available for online or hybrid study? (select one)
- Yes, I am available for online study.
- Yes, I am available for hybrid study.
- No, I am available for in-person study only. Please consider applying to the general MEd (non-field) in Educational Leadership and Policy.
Program Information
Coursework
Students must successfully complete a total of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
- LHA1004H Research Literacy in Educational Leadership and Policy, to be taken at the beginning of the program.
- LHA1040H Introduction to Educational Leadership and Policy: Policy, Leadership, Change, and Diversity, to be taken at the beginning of the program.
- LHA1042H Educational Leadership and Diversity.
- 3.5 other FCEs, of which at least 1.5 FCEs must be from the Educational Leadership and Policy program, normally at the 1000 level or 5000 special topics level. Educational Leadership and Policy program course codes typically have a "0" in the second digit, for example "LHA10XX" and "LHA50XX." The following courses also count as Educational Leadership and Policy program courses: EDP3045H, EDP3145H, JOI3043H, JOI3048H, and JOI3049H. Students are encouraged to focus in the areas of Leadership and Social Diversity; and may also choose to explore courses in the areas of Policy and Change. Explore ELP courses
To see past cohort schedules visit ELP Cohort Requirements and Schedules
2025 Cohort Schedule
| Session | Course |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Introduction to Educational Leadership and Policy (LHA1040H, online) |
| Winter 2026 | Research Literacy in Educational Leadership and Policy (LHA1004H, online) |
| Spring/Summer 2026 | Elective course |
| Fall 2026 | Social and Policy Contexts of Schooling (LHA1041H, online) |
| Winter 2027 | Educational Leadership and Diversity (LHA1042H, online) |
| Spring/Summer 2027 | Elective course |
| Fall 2027 | School Program Development and Implementation (LHA1016H, online) |
| Winter 2028 | Issues in Policy, Leadership, Change and Social Diversity in Schools (LHA1050H, online) |
| Spring/Summer 2028 | Elective Course |
| Fall 2028 | Elective Course |
Note: Part-time students (such as online cohort students) can take no more than 1 half-course in the ‘spring/summer term’ (i.e., one in the May/June session OR one in the July/August session). If you wish to take more than 1 half-course, you will need to contact the Registrar’s Office to change your status to full-time for the summer.
There is no thesis or major research paper requirement; students wishing to go on to doctoral work should discuss their options with the Program Coordinator.
See a complete list of all courses offered in the Educational Leadership & Policy program.
See course offerings for the current term: please visit OISE’s Course Enrolment website.
Collaborative specializations provide graduate students enrolled in participating degree programs with an additional multidisciplinary experience as they complete their home degree program. Please note that all collaborative specializations are offered in-person only, and students should only apply to a collaborative specialization if they are available to take the required courses in person.
Learn more about the collaborative specializations offered to students in this program:
Faculty in the Educational Leadership & Policy program have multi-disciplinary teaching and research expertise in a wide range of fields.
Our faculty's expertise includes, but is not limited to:
- Change facilitation and transformative pedagogies
- Educational policy and social inequality
- Large-scale data analysis
- Special education policy
- Politics of decentralization, privatization and accountability reforms
- Online education; technology, surveillance, and society
- School-level leadership in comparative context
- Decolonizing, critical, and anti-oppressive educational leadership
- Gender in education
- Education for refugees and in emergencies
- International organizations and educational change
- Human rights and the rights of the child
If you are interested in completing the Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) while enrolled in your MEd in Educational Leadership and Policy at OISE, doing so through OISE Continuing & Professional Learning will help you make the most of your experience and allow you to complete the programs faster. To learn more, please contact lhae.masters@utoronto.ca
Questions about the MEd Field in School Leadership in Diverse Contexts?
Administrative questions about admission to future MEd cohorts:
Email: lhae.admissions@utoronto.ca
Administrative questions for current MEd students:
Email: lhae.masters@utoronto.ca
Academic questions for current or prospective students:
Dr. Karen Acton karen.acton@utoronto.ca
Ready to join one of the world’s top universities?
Take the next step in your academic journey and start your application to graduate studies at OISE.
