Educational Leadership (Online), MA
Administrative Unit
This degree is administered by the Office of Graduate Studies through the faculty of Education, Department of Counseling, Bilingual Education, and Educational Leadership, College of Education.
Objectives
The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership is designed to prepare advanced candidates for positions of leadership in the PK-12 educational setting. Advanced candidates participating in this program may become eligible for Principal as Instructional Leader Certification often required for positions in building level school administration in Texas. Degree candidates receive training in instructional and administrative leadership, cultural proficiency, public relations, human resource management, school law and ethics, fiscal responsibility, organizational theory, and other relevant areas appropriate for twenty-first century educational leaders. Eligible candidates in Texas may also pursue Superintendent Certification following successful completion of the MA and/or successful completion of the requirements for Principal as Instructional Leader Certification in Texas*. Educational Leadership programing is aligned with the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Principal and Superintendent Competencies, as well as the CAEP/ELCC (Education Leadership Constituent Council) standards.
*Note: If you are not certified and/or do not work on a Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved* campus, you may be eligible for the MA program but are almost certainly not eligible for Principal as Instructional Leader Certification in Texas. Furthermore, the UT Permian Basin Educator Preparation Program Office, the Certification Office and MA in Educational Leadership program professors may not be able to offer formal advisement and/or support if you plan to pursue certification in a state outside Texas. To ensure this program will meet certification requirements for candidates outside the state of Texas, those candidates are encouraged to contact their state's certifying organization.
*(approved campuses include any public ISD in Texas, any TEA approved charter school or private school, and DoDEA schools)
Admission Requirements
Regular Admission
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
- At least one (1) year of teaching experience.
- GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 credit hours
- Essay submitted and reviewed: "What do you see as the role of an educational leader?"
Conditional Admission
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
- At least one (1) year of teaching experience.
- GPA below 3.0 - 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours
- Essay submitted and reviewed: "What do you see as the role of an educational leader?"
- OTHER EVIDENCE: At least one of the following:
- Minimum GRE score of 282 (verbal and quantitative combined); or
- Statement related to the circumstances surrounding your lower GPA and why you believe you are ready for graduate studies (up to a page in length) AND Two (2) professional letters of recommendation - both should be from school administrators who have supervised your work in the classroom. If you can only secure one from such a person, the second must be a professional letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to your capacity to be a school leader.
Requirements for the Master's Degree with Principal as Instructional Leader Certification
Educational Foundations Requirements
| EDUC 6305 | Research Design in Education and the Social Sciences | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Educational Leadership Requirements
Note: EDLD 6371 - AEL may substitute for EDLD 6370.
Educational Leadership Elective
*Note: EDLD 6371 AEL may substitute for EDLD 6370.
Total Credit Hours: 30
Principal as Instructional Leader Certification Testing and Experience Requirements
In addition to completing the degree, candidates for the Principal as Instructional Leader Certification must earn a passing score on the 268 TExES Principal as Instructional Leader Certification Exam, the 368 Performance Assessment for School Leaders, and must have at least 2 years of creditable classroom teaching experience among other eligibility requirements. Visit with a programmatic faculty member or with a member of the Educator Program Services Office for more information.
Principal as Instructional Leader Certification Requirements for Candidates who have a Master's Degree
Note: EDLD 6371 AEL may substitute for EDLD 6370.
Advanced candidates with a master's degree in fields related to education will be required to complete 27 additional hours in the following areas:
Additional Requirements
In addition to completing course requirements, candidates for certification as a building-level leader in Texas must earn a passing score on the TExES Principal as Instructional Leader certification exam and the 368 Performance Assessment for School Leaders and must have at least 2 years of creditable classroom teaching experience among other eligibility requirements. Visit with a programmatic faculty member or with a member of the Educator Program Services Office for more information.
Superintendent Certification Requirements for Candidates who have a Master's Degree and Principal as Instructional Leader Certification
Advanced candidates with a Master's degree and Principal Certification may qualify as candidates to receive Superintendent Certification. All courses are available online. Accepted candidates will need to complete the following:
- Passing grade on the TExES Superintendent Certification Exam.
- 16 hours of graduate credit in areas of SBEC/ELCC Superintendent and District Level competency. Superintendent practicum experiences are integrated into all course work.
Program Recommendations
All advanced candidates should consult with the program coordinator, or assigned Educational Leadership advisor, to develop a degree and/or certification plan representing current SBEC competencies and ELCC standards. Substitutions of courses for the advanced candidate's Master's Degree or Principal Certification plan must follow the proper procedures of a Petition to Graduate Studies, and are subject to approval of the candidate's advisor and the appropriate Graduate Committee. Continued consultation and advisement with the Educational Leadership faculty will ensure successful completion of the Master's Degree and Principal or Superintendent Certification.