Instructional Leadership, Licensure Concentration, M.Ed.

Program Overview

The M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership with Licensure Concentration prepares current educators for principal/supervisor licensure in Tennessee. The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical application through internships and action research projects.  

Program Outcomes

Students will be able to: 

• Analyze multiple forms of data and establish strategies to ensure student growth and achievement 

• Apply theories and concepts of instructional leadership in K-12 settings 

• Use educator evaluation data to inform, assess, and adjust professional learning goals and plans 

• Design collaborative learning experiences informed by multiple sources of data 

Admission Requirements

Basic requirements plus additional licensure-specific criteria: 

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited four-year institution 

• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better 

• Official GRE or MAT scores 

• Letter of recommendation on official employment letterhead 

• Minimum three years schoolwork experience 

• Acceptable interview score 

• Acceptable writing sample score 

• Acceptable in-basket exercise score 

• Valid teacher license 

• Portfolio submission 

• Committee interview required 

• No conditional admissions for licensure candidates 

Important Dates

• Submit by July 1st for Fall Admission 

• Spring and Summer admission available for licensure programs only 

• Please see the current published Graduate and University calendars for important dates. 

Program Duration

Typically, 2-3 years for part-time students; program offered entirely online 

Transfer of Credits

Maximum of 12 relevant graduate credit hours from accredited institutions, subject to advisor and department chair approval 

Degree Requirements 

• Minimum 33 credit hours 

• 3.0 cumulative GPA required 

• Grades of “D” and “F” cannot count toward degree 

• Successful completion of comprehensive examinations 

• Pass School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) 

• Complete and defend Action Research Project 

• Sequential internship completion

Accreditation Information  

College of Education 

• Education (M.S., M.A.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D.: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) 

• Music (M. Ed.: National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) 

• Psychology (Ph.D. with concentration in Counseling: American Psychological Association (APA) 

Career Opportunities

School principal, assistant principal, curriculum supervisor, instructional coordinator, district-level administration 

Faculty Credentials

Twianie Roberts, Ed.D., Interim Department Chair
Sosepriala Dede, Ed.D., Assistant Professor
Eleni Elder, Ed.D., Professor
Janet Finch, Ph.D., College of Education Dean/Professor Celebrating 25 years of Service 
Kirmanj Gundi, Ed.D., Professor 
Robbie Melton, Ph.D., Interim Provost, Interim Vice President/Professor
Terrance McNeil, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Trinetia Respress, Ed.D., Interim Graduate Dean/Professor
Eric Vogel, Ph.D., Professor
Jewell Winn, Associate Professor, Executive Director for International Programs & Academic Global Engagement, Senior International Officer/Fulbright Scholar Liaison 

Program Website

https://www.tnstate.edu/eduadmin/masterofedulic.aspx 

Program Coordinator/Contact Information

Eleni Elder, Ed.D., Professor
Phone: (615) 963-7296
Email: ecoukos@tnstate.edu