Master of Education in Educational Leadership - School Administration K-12 Track

Graduate Admission Standards for M.Ed. Program

Students are required to meet the following prerequisites for admission to the program:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
3. Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts of all academic coursework attempted.
4. Current résumé.
5. Statement of professional goals and a writing sample demonstrating the capacity to perform at the graduate level.
6. Two recent letters of recommendation; these can be from professional or academic sources but must be interactions that occurred with the last six months.

M.Ed. Degree Completion Requirements

1. Complete the degree in a maximum of four calendar years from the date on a student’s initial registration or may be held to any new degree requirements.
2. Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and achieve a B (3.0) grade or higher in each course.
3. Complete a minimum of 30-36 credits.
4. All students in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership K-12 and Exceptional Student Education degree program must pass all relevant certification examinations.

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

This program consists of 36 credit hours of coursework delivered either online, in the traditional classroom or a mixture of both. Courses focus on educational leadership related theory, knowledge and clinical experience in the field.

Program Options

The Ross College of Education offers a Master of Education program in Educational Leadership with three options to accommodate students' needs:

1. Master's with Certification Option
   Students who are planning to obtain Florida State Certification in Educational Leadership can study for the Master's degree in the Certification Master's option of the Educational Leadership Program.
2. Non-certification Options
   Students seeking a Master's degree but do not desire Florida State Certification may enter the Non-certificate Master's Option. With approval of their advisor, students are allowed flexibility in course electives and, depending on their experience and career goals, may substitute some of the core courses in the program for other courses designed to meet their professional need. In lieu of EDL 699 (Internship in Educational Leadership) a practicum course of three credits is required.
3. International Student Option (non-certification)
   International students seeking to earn a Master of Educational Leadership degree in a year may choose this option. The plan of study includes generic educational leadership courses as well as specific courses designed to meet students' identified needs.

Program Goals

The goals of the Educational Leadership program are to provide a curriculum that:

• Introduces a body of diverse theory regarding educational leadership.
• Focuses on the interpretation of laws and rules that govern the educational institution.
• Enhances effective skills in written and oral communication, mathematical computation, information literacy, intellectual strategies and use of computers.
• Emphasizes the critical examination and evaluation of ethical issues and implications in today’s educational establishment.
• Develops data analytical skills to drive decision making and school improvement.

Expected Outcomes

After completing the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, students will be able to:

• Master state educational leadership standards and competencies.
• Demonstrate content areas competencies and skills.
• Display knowledge of basic leadership theories and concepts and apply them to leadership behaviors.
• Understand the relationship between communication and interpersonal relationships.
• Compare and contrast the strategies for evaluating curricular and instructional innovations.
• Develop the ability to plan, develop, implement and evaluate the financial status of an educational institution.
• Analyze the federal, state constitutional, statutory and regulatory provisions governing educational systems.
• Analyze management policies and procedures for appropriate use of technology.
• Analyze federal, state and school data to ensure effective school improvement planning.

Completion of the Florida-approved program in Educational Leadership (Option 1 & 4) requires the passing of all sections of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE). Out of state candidates seeking certification or licensure must also pass their state’s department of education requirement.  Candidates residing in Georgia are required to take and pass GACE (Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators). If there is no state test requirement, candidates must complete the PRAXIS II exit exam.