Instructional Leadership Major
Student Learning Outcomes
- Instructional Leadership for Continuous Improvement: An ethical and effective instructional leader facilitates professional practice that continually improves student learning.
- Culture for Teaching and Learning: An ethical and effective instructional leader collaborates with stakeholders to create and sustain an inclusive, respectful and safe environment conducive to learning and growth for all.
- Professional Learning and Growth: An ethical and effective instructional leader develops the capacity of all educators by designing, facilitating, and participating in collaborative learning informed by multiple sources of data.
- Resource Management: An ethical and effective instructional leader facilitates the development of a highly effective learning community through processes that enlist diverse stakeholders and resources.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program requires the applicant to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better on a 4.0 scale, and submission of an official report of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score or Millers Analogies Test (MAT) score is required for admission. All applicants must submit test scores at the time of application.
Applicants for the Non-licensure or Career and Technical Education Teacher Leader Concentrations may be considered for conditional admission with a lower grade point average or MAT/GRE score. Non-licensure applicants whose grade point averages or standardized test scores are below those normally expected for admission, which may result in their admission being denied, may be given further consideration for admission to the M.Ed. program if the student provides the following: (a)an acceptable work record (a resume or curriculum vita), (b) three written recommendations indicating probable success in the program,and (c) a writing sample that will be scheduled through the department.
The student must remove conditional status in the first nine hours of graduate courses; failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program. There is no conditional admission for licensure candidates.
Additional Admission Requirements for the M.Ed. Licensure Concentration
In addition to the general admission requirements, consideration will be given to: (a) a letter of recommendation on official employment letterhead; (b) a minimum of three years of work experience in the schools; (c) an acceptable score on an interview; (d) an acceptable score on a writing sample; (e) an acceptable score on in-basket exercises to be scheduled through the department; and (f) a teacher license. A portfolio is required as part of the admissions process. The department will send the instructions for the portfolio upon receipt of your application in the department. The criteria listed above will be evaluated to determine the applicant’s overall potential for success in the program as compared to other applicants in the admissions cycle. There are no conditional admissions.
Each student must be interviewed by a committee of professional administrators prior to admission to the program. The admissions committee will review and evaluate the entire academic and professional record in making the admission decision. Each student must inform his or her advisor early in the program that Principal/Supervisor licensure is being sought. All candidates must complete and successfully defend a required Action Research Project.
All application materials must be submitted to the Graduate School by the deadlines below:
- Submit by July 1st for Fall Admission
- Submit by November 1st for Spring Admission*
- Submit by April 1st for Summer Admission*
*For licensure programs there is admission in the spring and summer only.
Transfer Credits
Candidates wishing to transfer credit(s) toward the M.Ed. program may transfer a maximum of twelve (12) relevant graduate credit hours from an accredited institution for courses that correspond to program/state requirements. All courses must be reviewed and approved by your academic advisor and the department chair.
Degree Requirements for M.Ed. Instructional Leadership Non-Licensure Candidates
Candidates for the M.Ed. degree must take a minimum of 33 hours of course work and pass the comprehensive examinations in the field of general education and educational administration. The program of study must be completed after nine (9) hours of coursework. A student in the M.Ed., Instructional Leadership (Licensure and Non-Licensure) must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to meet degree requirements. Grades of “D” and “F” cannot count towards the degree. All candidates must meet with their advisor prior to registration each semester. Courses must be taken in order as determined by program requirements. All students must complete a Comprehensive Examination Application one semester prior to their intended examination date. All applications must be approved by your academic advisor. All examination dates can be located on the Graduate School Academic Calendar.
