Master of Educational Leadership
Course Requirements
Program
The leadership concentration track of the Master of Education degree is aimed at training individuals who are interested in providing instructional, administrative, and public service leadership to schools, school districts, and communities. Elementary and secondary education teachers interested in building on their existing skills, or professionals outside of the discipline of education who want to enter the field of corporate training and development, should consider the educational leadership concentration. The Master of Education/Leadership Program includes courses from education, business, and human resource management.
As with the standard Master of Education Program, students in the Master of Education/Leadership track choose from two different degree requirement options – 33 credits and comprehensive examination and 33 credits and master’s thesis – which enables them to customize the program to best fit their interests and needs.
Admission
Students must apply for admission into all of the graduate education programs. The Education Department's Graduate program reviews applications throughout the year, and makes recommendations to the program director.
In order to be considered for admission, applicants must have the following:
a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the last two years of undergraduate study
a passing score on either the Graduate Record Exam or the Miller's Analogy Test if the applicant's undergraduate GPA is < 2.8.
In addition, all applicatns are required to submit a complete application packet to the Graduate Education Department. This packet includes a completed application form, $30 application fee, and two letters of professional recommendation. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work completed by the applicant must be sent directly from the college/university to the Graduate Education Department. Applicants may take up to, but no more than, six credits while their credentials are being processed.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete their degree within five years of their initial enrollment.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained throughout the program.
Students must pass 33 to 36 credits of master-level education courses.
Degree Requirement Options
Option I: 33 Credits and Comprehensive Examination
The examination is a non-credit examination designed to assess the student’s ability to synthesize and apply his or her learning. This exam takes approximately five hours to complete.
Students should apply for the comprehensive examination after they have completed at least 24 semester hours of course work with a GPA of at least 3.0 within the Master of Education/Leadership Program.
Students must have completed all of the requirements in the areas of Educational Core and Enrichment.
Students should register for EXAM 501 when they register for semester classes. The Master of Education comprehensive examination is given three times annually: once each during the fall and spring semesters, and once during the summer term. The comprehensive exam may be taken no more than twice.
There is a $150 fee for the comprehensive examination.
Option II: 36 Credits and a Master’s Thesis
A letter requesting approval must be sent to the education department chair. Approval must be granted and a mentor assigned for pursuing this option.
Students should apply for the Master’s Thesis after they have completed at least 24 semester hours of course work with a GPA of at least 3.0 within the Master of Education/Leadership Program.
Students must have completed all of the requirements in the areas of Educational Core and Enrichment.
When approval is complete, students must enroll in EDUC 601: Independent Study, a three-credit course.
There is a $150 fee for the master’s thesis.