Leadership Education - Education Leadership (K-12) (ELDR) - MS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

33 credits

3.0 GPA required.

Degree Requirements

Three requirements must be satisfactorily completed to earn the degree: 33 graduate credits, a capstone paper/thesis, and the Comprehensive Exam. A core of five Leadership Education courses (15 credits), two Education Leadership courses (6 credits), and 12 elective credits is required of all degree candidates.

Education Leadership (33 credits)

The Master’s of Education Leadership is designed for teachers and other professional staff in PK-12 schools who want to develop their leadership capacities as productive change agents and supporters of school-wide initiatives through the promotion of continuous improvement strategies and effective administrative practices.

Education professionals who enter this degree program are the leaders and future leaders of our schools. They are distinguished from other educators, in part, but their willingness to take a more active role in the decision-making processes that occur at their schools.

Graduates provide leadership in their school building or program. Often this means they become:

Team leaders, lead teachers, or department chairs
Curriculum and instruction faculty or administrators
Educational technology leaders
Alternative education such as charter school leadership
Student services personnel
Dean of students

Leadership Education Core (15 credits)

LDRS 612 - Systems Thinking (3 credits)
LDRS 614 - Change Leadership (3 credits)
LDRS 615 - Communication (3 credits)
LDRS 618 - Scholarship (3 credits)
LDRS 619 - Leadership Capstone Experience (1-3 credits)
OR
LDRS 699 - Master’s Thesis (Thesis Advisement Credits) (1-3 credits)

Education Leadership Courses (6 credits)

EL 604 - Curriculum Planning, Development, and Diverse Learners (3 credits)
EL 654 - Context of School Leadership (3 credits)

Electives (12 credits)

These twelve credits are determined in collaboration with an academic advisor and are intended to enhance general leadership skills and/or provide career and job specific knowledge.

Capstone Writing Requirements

Candidates must write a significant research paper or master’s thesis to show proficiency in research and writing at the graduate level. The topic and proposal for this paper is initiated in LDRS 618 and brought to completion under the guidance of a capstone or thesis advisor. Guides for form and style are available from the Department of Leadership Education.

Non-Thesis Option - student completes LDRS 618 - Scholarship (3 credits) , then takes LDRS 619 - Leadership Capstone Experience (1-3 credits) and writes the paper under the guidance of their capstone advisor.
Thesis Option - student completes LDRS 618 - Scholarship (3 credits) , then takes LDRS 699 - Master’s Thesis (Thesis Advisement Credits) (1-3 credits) and writes the paper under the guidance of their thesis advisor, and defends their research to a faculty panel.

Comprehensive Examination

Each candidate must pass an oral comprehensive examination over their capstone or thesis materials.