Department of
Educational Leadership
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
115 Armstrong Hall
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
Phone: (507) 389-1116
Fax: (507) 389-5863
Students choose three seminar courses in the Educational Leadership Department, which will constitute the core requirement. Some courses which could serve as a core include, but are not limited to:
ExEd 644(3) Seminar: Philosophy and Theory of Experiential Education
ExEd 644(3) Seminar: Experience and Nature
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Trends and Issues in Experiential Education
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Experiential Education and School Reform
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Controversial Issues in Experiential Education
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Research Problems in Experiential Education
EdLd 644(3) Seminar: Leadership Studies
EdLd 644(3) Seminar: Ethics and Leadership
EdLd 647(3) Seminar: Organizational & Systems Change
Choose any combination of the following Experiential Education courses in consultation with an advisor. EXED 603,604,634,635,and 677 require learning contracts.
ExEd 603 – Experience and Education (3 credits)
ExEd 604 – Development of Experiential Education (3 credits)
ExEd 634 – Practicum (1–6 credits)
ExEd 635 – Internship (1–4 credits)
ExEd 677 – Individual Study (1–3 credits)
ExEd 694 – Alternate Plan Paper (1–3 credits)
EdLd 688 – Project Demonstration (1–3 credits)
EdLd 699 – Thesis (3–6 credits)
Choose any 500/600 level elective courses in Experiential Education, Educational
Leadership, or Educational Leadership (K–12). You may also take courses outside the Educational
Leadership department to fulfill your electives.
One course must be a graduate level research methods course.
Total credits 34
ExEd 644(3) Seminar: Philosophy and Theory of Experiential Education: This course examines the writings of historical and current thinkers who have made contributions to the field of e xperiential education. The philosophical underpinnings of Plato and Dewey, as well as more current experiential education literature will be discussed and examined.
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Experience and Nature: This seminar examines the phenomenology of the human experience of the natural world. It starts with concepts derived from William F. Unsoeld's analysis of wilderness and the sacred and proceeds utilizing sources such as the Rudolph Otto, The Bible, Annie Dillard, Sigurd Olson, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and selected articles from the Journal of Environmental Ethics.
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Trends and Issues in Experiential Education: This course offers opportunities for in–depth investigation into past and current trends associated with the approach to learning known as experiential education, and further provides for experimentation with leadership challenges and other relevant issues specific to practice.
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Experiential Education and School Reform: Current and historical school reform initiatives discussed by Dewey, Newell, Levine, and Campbell will provide examples of how schools have implemented experiential learning throughout their entire curriculums. Learners will apply information by developing programs and or curriculums useful to their specific interests.
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Controversial Issues in Experiential Education: This course offers discussion, debate, and examination of controversial topics prevalent in experiential education in general and adventure education in particular.
ExEd 645(3) Seminar: Research Problems in Experiential Education: This course offers a comprehensive survey and critical evaluation of the body of research that exists in the field of experiential education.
EdLd 652(3) Seminar: Leadership Studies: This course examines current writings in the field of educational leadership. It emphasizes a combination of theory and practice where learners apply theory through leadership presentations.
EdLd 651(3) Seminar: Ethics and Leadership: The complexities of the ethical dimension of leadership are examined utilizing theoretical ethics (Aristotle, Epictetus, Machiavelli, Hume, Kant, J.S.Mill, Sartre), case studies, student generated cases, movie and video examples, and ending with a lengthy case study on the ethical leadership of Martin Luther King.
EdLd 647(3) Seminar: Organizational & Systems Change: The change process, organizational theory, change and reform in schools, and experiential teaching and learning will be analyzed and utilized in this course.
ExEd 603(3) Experience and Education: An independent project–based course intended to immerse beginning graduate students into a 45–hour direct experience upon which they will complete a project and reflect on their own personal growth and learning.
ExEd 604(3) Development of Experiential Education: An independent project–based course whereby the student will design and/or facilitate an extensive learning experience for others. Designing and facilitation combined should total 45 hours.
ExEd 634(1–6) Practicum: A field experience that will further the learning of the student in Experiential Education. This course can be repeated in the degree plan of study.
ExEd 635(1–4) Internship: A field experience which typically entails working with a specific person or organization. This course can be repeated in the degree plan of study.
ExEd 677(1–3) Individual Study: A field–based course typically used for independent research or projects. This course can be repeated in the degree plan of study.
ExEd 694(1–3) Alternate Plan Paper: This course is used for students who did not complete their APP during their research class and for students who did or are planning to take their research course through another university or department, thereby completing the APP independently.
EdLd 688(1–3) Project Demonstration: The intent of Project Demonstration is to provide students with an opportunity to design and develop a creative project. This may be designed as an independent course in consultation with your advisor. This course may replace, or be in addition to an APP or thesis.
