Master of Education in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.)Master of Education

Florida state-approved for certification

The Educational Leadership program in the Donald E. and Helen L. Ross College of Education is a 36-credit hour program leading to a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and eligibility for the Florida Educational Leadership Certification (K-12), Level 1. The schedule of classes enables students to complete the program in twelve months.

The program prepares aspiring instructional leaders and administrators to meet the challenges of today’s schools. The program of study includes leadership and organizational theory, applied research, professional knowledge, field experiences and school-based internship.

Certification

The master of educational leadership with a specialization in school administration K-12 is state approved in Florida and meets all requirements of the Florida Department of Education educational leadership certification. The program focuses on preparing prekindergarten through 12th grade teachers for administrative positions in public and nonpublic schools and school systems. The program provides the foundational knowledge, skills and competencies that future instructional leaders require to ensure that they foster successful learning communities. Course content is research-based and infuses best practices in education, while aligning directly with the Florida Department of Education’s program certification requirements.

Following successful passing of the FELE, completers of this program receive transcript endorsements indicating the completion of a state - approved modified program in Educational Leadership.

Graduate Admission Standards for M.Ed. Program in Ed Leadership

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

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts of all academic coursework attempted.
• Current résumé.
• Statement of professional goals and a writing sample demonstrating the capacity to perform at the graduate level.
• Two recent letters of recommendation; these can be from professional or academic sources but must be interactions that occurred within the last six months.
• Rating of effective or higher on “Performance of Students” and “Instructional; Practice” sections of candidate’s two most recent performance evaluations.
• Analysis of candidate’s relentless focus on improving student achievement in own classroom;
• Contributing to demonstrable improvement of teaching effectiveness in classroom of colleagues (not own classroom).

M.Ed. in Ed Leadership Degree Completion Requirements

• Complete the degree in a maximum of four calendar years from the date on a student’s initial registration or be held to any new degree requirements.
• Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and achieve a B grade or higher in each course.
• Complete GSR 501, Graduate Orientation Seminar (one credit).
• Complete a minimum of 37 credits.
• Pass FTCE Educational Leadership exam (FELE).

Instructional Delivery

Courses for the educational leadership degree in the Florida state-approved program are available online.

Program goals

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

• Ensures program graduates are able to identify and implement leadership practices that impact prioritization and results for student achievement on priority learning goals.
• Ensures program graduates are effective leaders with the ability to recruit and develop a diverse faculty and staff.
• Explores the relationship between the Florida Educational Leadership Standards and the Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS).
• Focuses on the interpretation of laws and rules that govern educational institutions.
• 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

Upon completing of the master’s degree program in Educational Leadership, students should 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.