School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation

Chad Depperschmidt, EdD—Associate Professor and Interim School Head
Kerri Kearney, EdD—Professor and Associate School Head

The School of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Aviation (SEFLA) offers degrees, options or certificates in the following areas:  aviation and space; school administration; educational psychology; educational technology; school library media, online teaching; higher education; college student development; research, evaluation, measurement and statistics; and social foundations. These programs conduct scholarly inquiry and educate professionals in areas foundational to thought and practice in a wide variety of professional roles associated with business and educational and industry settings. Consistent with the goals of OSU's Professional Education Council's Core Concepts and Goals Statement, the faculty strives to demonstrate and perpetuate teaching that is based on theory and research-driven educational practices.

We provide specialized training at the undergraduate and graduate levels yet permit flexibility to enable students to meet individualized goals. General information about undergraduate degrees is offered under the "University Academic Regulations" section of the Catalog. General information about graduate degrees may be found in the "Master's Degree," “Certificates,” "Doctor of Education," or "Doctor of Philosophy" areas of the "Graduate College" section of the Catalog.

Financial support is available for research assistantships and for qualified graduate students to assume teaching responsibilities under faculty supervision. Selections for assistantships are made in the spring semester for the following academic year. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply through the SEFLA website.

OSU NASA STEM Education Projects. Susan Stansberry, Professor of Educational Technology is the Principal investigator for the OSU NASA Education Program, NASA STEM Pathway Activities--Consortium for Education (NSPACE).

OSU is the lead institution in activities supporting NASA’s goal to improve STEM instruction; increase youth and public engagement in STEM; enhance the STEM experience of undergraduate students; better serve historically underrepresented groups in STEM fields; and design education for a needed STEM workforce. The NSPACE project leverages the skills and expertise of a group of innovative partners, including 13 institutions within the Texas A&M University System, Langston University, OSU’s Center for Sovereign Nations, Northern Oklahoma College, the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, and the Technology for Learning Consortium. NSPACE supports STEM activities at Johnson and other Space Centers for K-12 students, educators, and community college and undergraduate students. NSPACE offers a broad and varied portfolio of opportunities to involve students and educators in hands-on experiences and research applications on Earth, in the air above Earth, and in the microgravity environment of space. Activities are "as only NASA can" and are designed to support NASA Education's goals of strengthening the Nation's future workforce, attracting and retaining students in STEM disciplines, and engaging Americans in NASA's mission. NSPACE's portfolio of 15 STEM Engagement activities (https://education.okstate.edu/departments-programs/educational-foundations-leadership-aviation/nasa.html) are available to students of all ages, but primarily at the university level. In the first two years of our five-year cooperative agreement, we have reached over 337,000 students and over 82,000 educators in 51 states and territories. Bringing International Space Station (ISS) downlinks into classrooms; facilitating high school students' design, prototyping, and manufacturing of hard and soft goods sent to the ISS; challenging college students to design and create spacesuit informatics using AR or to compete in an engineering design challenge; providing internships for students; and facilitating the Year of Education on the ISS are just a few of the activities this project supports. Links to all activities and additional project information may be accessed at https://education.okstate.edu/departments-programs/educational-foundations-leadership-aviation/nasa.html.

Course Prefixes

Course prefixes in SEFLA include AVED (Aviation Education); EDLE (Educational Leadership - School Administration); EDTC (Educational Technology); EPSY (Educational Psychology); LBSC (Library Science); REMS (Research, Educational Measurements and Statistics); HESA (Higher Education and Student Affairs; and SCFD (Social Foundations).

Aviation and Space Program

Jon Loffi, EdD—Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Undergraduate Studies (Stillwater)
Timm Bliss, EdD—Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator for Undergraduate Studies (Tulsa and Oklahoma City) and Program Coordinator for Graduate Studies

The Aviation and Space Program prepares students for careers in the aerospace industry. The BS in Aerospace Administration and Operations degree program offers five options:  Professional Pilot, Aviation Management, Technical Services Management, Aerospace Security and Aerospace Logistics.

The Professional Pilot option prepares students for careers in flight operations in both the general aviation and the air carrier segments of the aviation industry. In addition to high quality aviation-related coursework, the student will attain FAA certifications for Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot-Instrument Rated for both single-engine and multi-engine aircraft and Certified Flight Instructor. The Professional Pilot option is compliant with Title 14 CFR of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 141.

The Aviation Management option prepares students for management positions in the aerospace industry. Employment opportunities include positions with fixed-base operators, air carriers, corporate flight departments, commuter and air taxi operations and a variety of career areas associated with airport operations, manufacturing, maintenance and government aviation and aerospace organizations.

The Technical Services Management option builds on an individual's technical experience in aircraft maintenance or avionics to prepare the students for management positions in all segments of the industry. Twenty-five hours of technical training may be credited toward this option if received from an accredited institution.

The Aerospace Security option prepares students for careers in homeland defense and aerospace security fields. Employment opportunities include law enforcement, governmental agencies,  airports, and private industry that deal with aerospace security operations.

The Aerospace Logistics option prepares students to work in the aerospace logistics sector. Employment opportunities include positions with military and civilian maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities worldwide as well as any aerospace organization involved in supply-chain management activities.

The Aviation and Space Program has an extensive industry-based management internship program established with aerospace industries, major and regional air carriers and a variety of other companies within the aerospace industry.

The AVED Program is also an institutional member of University Aviation Association (UAA). AVED website

Educational Leadership

Kathy Curry, EdD—Associate Professor and Program Coordinator (School Administration)

Educational leadership emphasizes the important role of leadership in all areas of education including PK-12 schools and workforce development. The PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies is offered with options in Educational Administration and Higher Education; the Doctorate in Education (EdD) is offered in School Administration; and the Education Specialist (EdS) in Education has an option in School Administration. The Master of Science degree is offered with an option in School Administration (a 36-hour program designed for those who aspire to the principalship). Students holding a related masters degree and teacher certification may add on principal certification through coursework and institutional recommendation. The program also offers graduate certificate programs in district level leadership, building level leadership, and workforce and adult education. These certificates incorporate courses that partially fulfill superintendent and principal state licensure requirements. Admissions to the graduate programs in Educational Leadership are competitive and based on multiple factors. EDLE website

Educational Technology

Susan Stansberry, PhD—Professor and Program Coordinator

The mission of Oklahoma State University's Educational Technology program is to facilitate the growth of scholars and educational technology professionals through rigorous programs of study that provide exceptional hands-on, collaborative, and innovative learning, research and service experiences and are highly regarded at the international, national, state and university levels. The program website, edtech.okstate.edu, offers greater detail. Programs/certifications include:  MS in Educational Technology with options in Educational Technology and School Library Media, PhD in Education with an option in Educational Technology, Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching, and Certification in School Library Media. This program is also home to the Emerging Technologies and Creativity Research Lab. EDTC website

Educational Psychology

Mike Yough, PhD—Associate Professor and Program Coordinator

Educational Psychology is the study of human learning, development, and motivation in educational settings. Educational psychologists are concerned with understanding how environments are structured to promote cognitive, personal and social development broadly as well as learning motivation. The role of Educational Psychology is to bring together theory and research from psychology and related disciplines in order to facilitate healthy human development and effective learning and teaching. Our PhD program is designed to prepare graduates to teach in college or university settings, public education, and/or to do research in university, business, and government settings. The MS program is designed to help students develop the capabilities, knowledge, skills and competencies that prepare them as effective professionals or attractive PhD program applicants. EPSY website

Research, Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics

Jam Khojasteh, PhD—Associate Professor and Program Coordinator

The Research, Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics program (see website) offers the MS and PhD degrees as options under the MS in Educational Psychology and the PhD in Educational Psychology as well as three graduate certificates: 1) Program Evaluation, 2) Educational & Psychological Measurement, and 3) Statistical Methods & Analysis in Education & Behavioral Sciences. The MS program prepares students to function as staff members in research and evaluation units in school districts, governmental agencies, and private corporations and foundations. Graduates of the doctoral program are prepared to serve as college or university professors, directors of research and evaluation for public schools and universities, researchers for funded projects, state department of education consultants, and professional employees for test publishers and local, state and federal government agencies. This program is also home to the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation. REMS website

Higher Education and Student Affairs

Kerri S. Kearney, MBA, EdD— Professor and Program Coordinator

The Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program features three distinct academic degrees. These include the PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, with an option in Higher Education and the MS in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with options in Higher Education and College Student Development. The PhD is a research-based degree that prepares individuals for leadership as faculty, administrators, or policy analysts. In addition, two Master of Science degrees are offered. The MS options prepare individuals for leadership positions in all levels in higher education or leadership positions in student affairs.  Admission to HESA graduate programs is competitive and based on multiple considerations. HESA website

Social Foundations

Guoping Zhao, PhD—Professor and Program Coordinator

Social foundations of education is an interdisciplinary study of schooling and other forms of education. Ever since it began during the 1930s at Teachers College of Columbia University, social foundations has brought together scholars who situate education in historical, philosophical, economic and social contexts. Using the tools of the humanities and the social sciences, social foundations scholars ask perennial questions, such as:  What is the purpose of schooling in a democracy? What knowledge and values should be taught and to whose benefit? How are issues of race, ethnicity, social class, gender and ability manifested in schools? 

Drawing from history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, international studies and other disciplines to teach their courses, faculty in the social foundations program area ask that educators reflect critically on the social and cultural dynamics in educational settings and how policy and practices might be improved. Students from other human service professions and other disciplines are invited to make similar use of the content of these courses for their professional practice. SCFD website

Programs/Options Degrees

Degrees offered through SEFLA programs include Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS), Education Specialist (EdS), Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Five programs are delivered fully online:  MS Aviation and Space, MS Educational Technology, MS Educational Psychology (Educational Psychology option), MS Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Higher Education option), and Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching.

Aviation and Space

  • Aviation and Space – MS
  • Aerospace Administration and Operations
    • Professional Pilot – BS
    • Aviation Management – BS
    • Aerospace Security – BS
    • Aerospace Logistics – BS
    • Technical Service Management – BS
  • Applied Educational Studies/Aviation and Space Specialization – EdD

Educational Leadership

  • Educational Leadership Studies/School Administration – MS
  • Education/Educational Administration – EdS
  • School Administration – EdD
  • Educational Leadership and Policy Studies/Educational Administration – PhD
  • Graduate Certificate (GRCT) in Building Level Leadership
  • Graduate Certificate (GRCT) in District Level Certificate
  • Graduate Certificate (GRCT) in Workforce and Adult Education

Educational Technology

  • Educational Technology
    • Educational Technology – MS
    • School Library Media – MS
  • Online Teaching – Graduate Certificate
  • School Library Certification – Graduate Certificate
  • Education/Educational Technology – PhD

Educational Psychology

  • Educational Psychology – MS, PhD

Higher Education and Student Affairs

  • Educational Leadership Studies
    • Higher Education – MS
    • College Student Development – MS
  • Educational Leadership and Policy Studies/Higher Education – PhD

Research, Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics

  • Educational Psychology/Research, Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics – MS
  • Educational Psychology/Research, Evaluation, Measurement and Statistics – PhD

Social Foundations

  • Social Foundations of Education – MA
  • PhD in Education/Social Foundations – PhD