Degree Offered
- Master of Arts
Nature of the Program
The Master of Arts in Leadership Studies in Education is a fully online program designed to prepare building- and district-level educational leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of today’s educational environments. The program emphasizes place-based leadership that is responsive to the specific needs of local schools and communities.
Coursework and learning outcomes are aligned with the National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards for Building and District Leaders, as well as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) advanced-level accreditation standards. The program is also designed to prepare students for relevant administrative licensure exams (Praxis).
Students may pursue one or more of the following administrative credential options as part of this master’s program:
- Principal (PreK–Adult)
- General Supervisor of Instruction (PreK–Adult)
- Superintendent (PreK–Adult)
Graduates are eligible for administrative credential(s) upon successful completion of the program and all additional state certification requirements.
Designed for working professionals, the program features fully online, 8-week asynchronous courses that offer maximum flexibility. Embedded practicum experiences provide hands-on, practical opportunities to develop essential skills for building- and district-level administration, with attention to both general and specialized areas of leadership.
Admissions for 2026-2027
- Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (4-point scale) for regular graduate admission. Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be admitted as a provisional graduate student. Once admitted provisionally, students are required to achieve a 3.0 GPA in their first 9-hours of coursework to be reclassified as regular status and remain in the program.
- Applicants must hold a Professional Teaching Certificate.
- Applicants must have at least two (2) completed years of teaching. As one requirement to obtain administrative licensure, students will need to have completed three (3) years of teaching by program completion. (Note that the degree is not dependent on successful licensure)
Applicants who have not already earned a certificate in General Supervision of Instruction, The Principalship, or Combined School and District Leadership will also need to be admitted into one of these certificate programs for this program.
Major Code: 5550
Degree Requirements
A student must have a GPA of at least 3.00 in all courses applied to the certificate (core/non-electives courses). In addition, students must earn a B or higher on each key assessment. Each course includes one key assessment. Key Assessments are detailed in the attached Assessment Plan. These curricular requirements apply to the following courses: EDUC 630, EDUC 631, EDUC 632, EDUC 633, EDUC 634, EDUC 639, and EDUC 640.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for all coursework applied to the program. | ||
| A minimum grade of B is required in all coursework. | ||
| EDUC 630 | Strategic Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | Organizational & Community Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Cultural Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 631 | Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 633 | Ethical & Policy Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 639 | Leadership Internship 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 640 | Leadership Internship 2 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Place-based Leadership | ||
| Superintendent Seminar | ||
Additional education-focused elective courses as approved by advisor. | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EDUC 630 | 3 | EDUC 632 | 3 | EDUC 633 | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | 3 | EDUC 631 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| EDUC 639 | 3 | EDUC 640 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 6 | 6 | ||||
| Total credit hours: 30 | |||||
Certificates
Combined School and District Leadership
Certificate Code - CG79
To be eligible to receive a graduate certificate, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.00 in all courses applied to the certificate (core/non-electives courses).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 630 | Strategic Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 631 | Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Cultural Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 633 | Ethical & Policy Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | Organizational & Community Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 639 | Leadership Internship 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 640 | Leadership Internship 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EDUC 630 | 3 | EDUC 632 | 3 | EDUC 633 | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | 3 | EDUC 631 | 3 | EDUC 639 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | ||||
| EDUC 640 | 3 | ||||
| 3 | |||||
| Total credit hours: 21 | |||||
General Supervision of Instruction
Certificate Code - CG77
To be eligible to receive a graduate certificate, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.00 in all courses applied to the certificate (core/non-electives courses).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 630 | Strategic Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | Organizational & Community Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Cultural Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 631 | Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 633 | Ethical & Policy Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 639 | Leadership Internship 1 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EDUC 630 | 3 | EDUC 632 | 3 | EDUC 633 | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | 3 | EDUC 631 | 3 | EDUC 639 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Total credit hours: 18 | |||||
The Principalship
Certificate Code - CG78
To be eligible to receive a graduate certificate, a student must have a GPA of at least 2.80 in all courses applied to the certificate (core/non-electives courses).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 630 | Strategic Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 631 | Instructional Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 632 | Cultural Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 633 | Ethical & Policy Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | Organizational & Community Leadership | 3 |
| EDUC 639 | Leadership Internship 1 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EDUC 630 | 3 | EDUC 632 | 3 | EDUC 633 | 3 |
| EDUC 634 | 3 | EDUC 631 | 3 | EDUC 639 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Total credit hours: 18 | |||||
Major Learning Outcomes
Leadership Studies in Education
By the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Make strategic leadership decisions, including the development of mission and vision driven by values and goals.
- Make instructional leadership decisions, including professional development plans, curriculum and instruction programs, and assessment and accountability systems.
- Evaluate climate and cultural leadership practices, including the establishment of a community of care for teachers and students and strategies toward equity and cultural responsiveness.
- Employ ethical decision-making regarding policies and utilize appropriate systems to protect the rights of students and faculty.
- Utilize organizational leadership practices to manage facilities, human and fiscal resources, and ensure a safe environment.
- Practice community-engaged, collaborative leadership strategies.
- Evaluate place-based leadership theories and practices.