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

The Masters program in Education Leadership is not taking applications at this time

M.Ed. program graduates who pass the Georgia certification examination in leadership will qualify for a nonrenewable NL-5 Educational Leadership certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The NL-5 Educational Leadership certificate is usually required for an entry-level leadership position in PK-12 schools.

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership (M.Ed.) degree program emphasizes instructional leadership, understanding of school culture, and leading schools. Field experiences are embedded in coursework and contribute to final semester course grades.

Admissions Criteria (M.Ed.)

Regular admission is available to applicants who meet all departmental criteria listed below. Provisional acceptance may be available after positive review by the department.

• Clear renewable teaching or professional service certificate
• GRE combined score of 800 (minimum 400 Verbal score)
• Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 calculated on all work attempted in which a letter grade was assigned
• Three letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, or professional colleagues. Use the form letter of recommendation developed by the department. It can be obtained from the Graduate School.

Program of Study (M.Ed.)

The M.Ed. program consists of thirteen courses (36 semester hours). Students can complete the program typically within five to six semesters. The thirteen courses are grouped into three strands.

Strand A – Instructional Leadership

1. EDLE 6320 Supervision of Instruction (3 hours)
2. EDLE 6323 Promoting Teaching and Learning (3 hours)
3. EDRS 6342 School and Classroom Assessment (3 hours)
4. EDRS 6341 Using Data to Improve the School (3 hours)

Strand B – School Culture

1. EDLE 6325 or EDFD 7306 Leadership Formation (2 hours)
2. EDLE 6327 Professional Learning Communities (2 hours)
3. EDLE 6330 Building School Culture (2 hours)
4. EDLE 6331 Advanced Culture Seminar (3 hours)

Strand C – Leading Schools

1. EDRS 6303 School Based Research Methods (3 hours)
2. EDLE 6313 Understanding Systems and Change (3 hours)
3. EDLE 6316 School Law and Ethics (3 hours)
4. EDLE 6329 Managing School Operations (3 hours)
5. EDLE 6332 Advanced Change and Improvement (3 hours)

Notes about the Program: Regular admission to the program requires a clear professional teaching or service certificate.

1. EDLE 6330 Building School Culture must be taken before EDLE 6331 Advanced Culture Seminar.
2. EDLE 6313 Understanding Systems and Change must be taken before EDLE 6332 Advanced Change and Improvement.
3. Each course that earns 3 semester credit hours carries a requirement of 15 hours of embedded field experiences. Each course that earns 2 semester credit hours carries a requirement of 10 hours of embedded field experiences.
4. Maximum of nine (9) semester credit hours for enrollment any semester, without permission from the department.
5. Graduation applications must be submitted to the Graduate School Office by mid-semester of the semester preceding graduation.

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Education Specialist in Educational Leadership (Ed.S.)

Upon graduation, students qualify for a clear renewable Performance-Based Educational Leadership Certificate (PL-6) for the school level or system level.

The Education Specialist in Educational Leadership (Ed.S.) degree program affords candidates advanced preparation in educational leadership. Whereas the master’s program emphasizes entry-level knowledge and skills, the specialist program requires students to practice, learn, and demonstrate leadership competencies through a one year field-based residency that is supplemented with formal coursework.

As required by the Georgia PSC, the student enrolled in the Ed.S. program must hold a current Georgia Educational Leadership certificate and be employed in a leadership position in a PK-12 school. Each school system defines for its own employees what constitutes a leadership position.

Admission Criteria (Ed.S.)

Admission requirements include the following:

• Master’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate course work completed
• Current Georgia certificate in Educational Leadership (L-5 or NL-5)
• GRE combined score of at least 900 (minimum 450 Verbal score)
• Employment in a leadership position in a local education agency (LEA). Each school system defines for its own employees what constitutes a leadership position.
• Recommendation by the employing Superintendent or Headmaster
• Three letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, or professional colleagues. Use the form letter of recommendation developed by the department. It can be obtained from the Graduate School.

Program of Study (Ed.S.)

The Ed.S. program typically consists of 27 semester hours. Eighteen hours comprise the field-based residency component, and remaining hours are fulfilled through formal coursework.

The degree program is designed to be delivered within one year (3 semesters). Ed.S. students always begin their course of study in the Summer semester and graduate the following Spring.

Residency Requirements

1. EDLE 8301 Leadership Residency 1 (6 hours)
2. EDLE 8302 Leadership Residency 2 (6 hours)
3. EDLE 8303 Leadership Residency 3 (6 hours)

Required Courses

1. EDLE 7385 Special Topics (3 hours)
2. EDLE 8324 Ethics in Educational Leadership (3 hours)
3. EDLE 8329 School Leadership in a Pluralistic and Diverse Society (3 hours)

Other Courses
Additional courses from the master’s level program may be required, based on the experiences of the student.

Notes about the Program:

1. Leadership Residency is a three consecutive semester program (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters). Successful completion of EDLE 8301 is required to enroll in EDLE 8302. Successful completion of EDLE 8302 is required to enroll in EDLE 8303.
2. Additional courses from the master’s level program may be required, based on the experiences of the student.
3. The Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision degree is designed for the graduate student who currently holds a leadership certificate (L5 or NL5). After completing the Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision degree, the student will qualify for a clear renewable Performance-Based Educational Leadership Certificate (PL-6) for the school level or system level.
4. Maximum course enrollment for any semester is nine (9) semester hours, without permission from the department.
5. Graduation applications need to be submitted to the Graduate School Office by mid-semester of the semester preceding graduation.

 

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Non-Degree Add-On Certificate in Educational Leadership (Performance Leadership Certificate; PL-6 or PL-7)

After completing the program for the Non-Degree Add-On Certificate in Educational Leadership, the student will qualify for a clear renewable Performance-Based Educational Leadership Certificate (PL-6 or PL-7) for the school level or system level.

The Non-Degree Add-on Certificate in Educational Leadership program (21 semester hours minimum) is useful for two categories of candidates:

1. Educators with earned Ed.S. or doctoral degrees who hold L6 and L7 certifications may wish to convert their current leadership certificates to the new performance-based leadership certificate (PL-6 or PL-7).
• Candidates in this category must complete the three residency courses (18 semester hours) in the Non-Degree Add-On Certificate in Educational Leadership program (PL-6 or PL-7) and EDLE 8329 School Leadership in a Pluralistic and Diverse Society (3 semester hours).
2. Candidates with earned Ed.S. or doctoral degrees who do NOT hold L6 or L7 leadership certificates, but who wish to earn a leadership certificate.
   • These candidates must first pass the GACE Leadership certification exam, apply for, and obtain a non-renewable NL-6 or NL-7 leadership certificate.
   • With the NL-6 or NL-7 leadership certificate in hand, candidates complete the three residency courses (18 semester hours) in the Non-Degree Add-On Certificate in Educational Leadership program (PL-6 or PL-7) and EDLE 8329 School Leadership in a Pluralistic and Diverse Society (3 hours). Additional courses from the master’s level program may be required, based on the experiences of the candidate.

Admissions Criteria (Non-Degree Add-On Certificate in Educational Leadership)

Admission requirements include the following:

• Education Specialist or doctoral degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
• Current Georgia certificate in Educational Leadership (L6, L7, NL-6, or NL-7)
• Employment in a leadership position in a local education agency (LEA). Each school system defines for its own employees what constitutes a leadership position.
• Recommendation by the employing Superintendent or Headmaster
• Three letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, or professional colleagues. Use the form letter of recommendation developed by the department. It can be obtained from the Graduate School.

Program of Study (Non-Degree Add-On Certificate in Educational Leadership)

Residency Requirements

1. EDLE 8301 Leadership Residency 1 (6 hours)
2. EDLE 8302 Leadership Residency 2 (6 hours)
3. EDLE 8303 Leadership Residency 3 (6 hours)

Required Course

1. EDLE 8329 School Leadership in a Pluralistic and Diverse Society (3 hours)

Other Courses

1. Additional courses from the master’s level program may be required, based on the experiences of the student.

Notes about the Program:

1. Leadership Residency is a three consecutive semester program (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters). Successful completion of EDLE 8301 is required to enroll in EDLE 8302. Successful completion of EDLE 8302 is required to enroll in EDLE 8303.
2. Additional courses from the master’s level program may be required, based on the experiences of the student.
3. Maximum course enrollment for any semester is nine (9) semester hours, without permission from the department.