Course Syllabus
Download the file: Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Purpose
The course focuses on issues of school leadership that especially address professional ethics ethical decision making, the relationship between law and ethics, and administrative praxis. Other topics include administration characteristics and responsibilities including effective schools. The course also addresses issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion as multicultural aspects of schooling in the U.S.
Program Area Mission
The mission of the Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision (EACS) Program Area is to promote critical inquiry that addresses important issues relating to teaching, learning, and leadership in order that service and collaboration among colleagues and the professional communities may be enhanced.
Relationship to Program Area Philosophy
This course is intended to extend and broaden discourse into the complex nature of school leadership. School leaders must be knowledgeable of ethics but also practice professionally as moral agents. An examination of praxis that is associated with the profession is fundamental to aspirant preparation. The awareness of and abiding embodiment of moral commitments is crucial for planning and working with teachers, students, staff, and the broader school environment. This course is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to the philosophy of administrative leadership
College of Education Mission
The mission of the college of education is to promote inquiry that fosters democratic life and is fundamental to productive activity in the interrelated areas of teaching, research, and service in a multicultural society.
EACS Mission
The Principal Leadership course is aligned with the Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision (EACS) area beliefs that PK-12 schools are complex organizations that need leaders who understand the:
- Theoretical and conceptual aspects of schools, their people, and programs for both children and adults who are constantly learning from the context of the organization
- Technical knowledge of the content areas and areas of specialization found within the EACS knowledge bases
- Integration of theory, research, and practice as a means of grounding new best practices
Course Prerequisites
Graduate Standing.
Course Materials
Required Readings
- Spillane, J. P., & Lowenhaupt, R. (2019). Navigating the principalship: Key insights for new and aspiring school leaders. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
- Stefkovich, J. A., & Frick, W. C. (2021). Best interest of the student: Applying ethical constructs to legal cases in education (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Additional Readings
- Frick, W. C., Gross, S. J., & Wilson, A. S. (2018). Being an ethical leader means taking responsibility for students’ academic and social success. In L. Bass, W. C. Frick, & M. D. Young (Eds.), Developing ethical principles for school leadership. (pp. 1-27). UCEA PSEL/NELP Leadership Preparation Series. New York: Routledge.
- Frick, W. C., & Covaleskie, J. F. (2014). Preparation of integrity. In C. M. Branson & S. J. Gross (Eds.), Handbook of ethical educational leadership (pp. 386-404). New York: Routledge.
- Frick, W. C., Parsons, J., & Frick, J. E. (2019). Disarming privilege to achieve equitable school communities: A spiritually-attuned school leadership response to our storied lives. Interchange, 50(4), 549-568.
- Tuana, N. (2007). Conceptualizing moral literacy. Journal of Educational Administration, 45(4), 364–378.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical Spotting 1: The Morally Questionable | Write a paper that addresses a school or school-related issue that you have identified as morally questionable | 50 |
| Ethics Spotting 2: The Moral Temptation | Write a paper that addresses a school or school-related issue that you have identified as a moral temptation. | 50 |
| Ethics Spotting 3: The Ethical Dilemma Interview | Write a paper that addresses a school or school-related issue that you have identified as an ethical dilemma. | 50 |
| Personal and Professional Values Alignment | Complete an exercise that focuses on a deeply structured process of self-reflection with the goal of enhancing moral consciousness. | 100 |
| Concept and Application Project | Write a paper that identifies and builds upon a relevant topic or problem presented in the two major required course texts | 200 |
| Weekly Quizzes | One quiz each week - worth 5 points each | 40 |
| Weekly Discussions | One discussion board each week - worth 5 points each | 40 |
| Total | 530 |
Course Policies
Course Attendance
This is an asynchronous course. Regular and continuous weekly engagement with the course through Canvas LMS is expected. Your activity in the course as measured by login time will be monitored by the instructor. Emergency situations that disallow you to be regularly and continuously engaged week by week must be communicated immediately to the instructor and will be addressed on an individual basis.
Communication
The best way to communicate with me is through Canvas or email. I will respond as quickly as possible.
Late Policy
No late work accepted unless student notifies me of an emergency.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and would like to request reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
The university's policy is to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|