The College of Education offers a complete educational leadership graduate studies program, from graduate certificates and leadership endorsements to the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degrees.
The program focuses on developing leaders in educational settings, emphasizing PK-12 settings, and leads to professional building or district licensure as a school principal or superintendent for most graduates.
Our primary goal is to prepare educational leaders to acquire knowledge, establish beliefs, and develop skills as outlined by the National Educational Leadership Standards (NELP) for building and district leaders.
We believe an educational leader promotes the success of all students through the actions outlined in the Kansas Building and District Leadership Standards and the National Educational Leadership Preparation Program Standards.
The Educational Leadership programs are available online with synchronous or asynchronous delivery options. Some links below will take you to the K-State Online website for additional information about the traditional synchronous online options.
(Two delivery options available: traditional online with synchronous sessions or asynchronous delivery.)
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Leadership is a professional degree program that prepares skilled practitioners for leadership roles in PK-12 settings.
This program is for:
Students who desire a building-level (principal) endorsement should select this degree/program to meet the requirements of the state of Kansas for professional licensure.
Students who intend to assume other significant leadership roles in public schools, apart from professional licensure, should consider this degree.
The degree program is now available in 30 hours, offering even more flexibility.
There are two online delivery models available:
Asynchronous online program.Students move at their own pace through the courses, using their experience and knowledge to demonstrate mastery.
Synchronous online program. This online program courses are 8 weeks long and have synchronous and asynchronous class sessions.
"For me, what sets this program apart is the pace, flexibility and relevance of learning. Students in a master's program for educational leadership are teachers. Their work life is already very rigorous, and it's fast-paced. They need a learning model for professional development and graduate school that is flexible, relevant, recent and has some connection to it. That's important to them to keep them motivated throughout the learning experience."
Dr. Paul Erickson, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment 6-12 USD 313 in Buhler, Kansas.
FAQs
The asynchronous option is a 30-credit master’s degree program designed for working educators seeking flexibility as they prepare for PK-12 building-level leadership roles. You move through each course and demonstrate proficiency based on your knowledge and experience.
Learners can complete the program in as little as 5 semesters or take up to seven years, depending on their schedule and credit load.
Asynchronous courses allow you to start at eight different points throughout the year. You progress independently through each 8-week course toward a single deadline for all coursework and use your experience to show understanding of the concepts. Traditional online courses follow an 8-week schedule, with synchronous class meetings and weekly assignment deadlines. The courses are instructor-dependent and paced.
Yes. You can begin during any of eight entry points throughout the year: August, mid-October, December, January, mid-March, May, June or July. Students regularly change the number of courses they take for each enrollment period, and may skip an enrollment period based on their schedule.
You choose your load: 3, 6, 9 or 12 credit hours, based on what fits your life and responsibilities. Take more courses when you have more time and fewer when life is too busy. You can even skip an enrollment period if you need to, based on your schedule.
Yes. We want people in this program with classroom experience. The program structure allows you to leverage your professional experience to demonstrate skills and knowledge, which may accelerate your progress. This program is not a good fit for people with only 1 or 2 years of classroom experience.
Yes. The curriculum is aligned with the 2018 NELP Standards for Building Leaders and prepares you for PK-12 building-level (principal) licensure in Kansas.
Coursework, practicum experiences and assessments collectively build the knowledge and skills required for successful entry-level school leadership roles.
You must complete 150 clock hours of guided field experience in your current school district. These experiences connect directly to required coursework and leadership standards. Prompts are provided in each course as to the experiences you should be completing for the practicum.
Final assessments may include videos, essays, reflections, environmental scans and real-world analysis of your professional practice.
Yes. All coursework — traditional or asynchronous — is delivered fully online. No campus visits are required.
Absolutely. K-State’s experienced faculty, who have extensive PK-12 leadership backgrounds, offer guidance and personalized support throughout your program.
Your practicum experiences take place in your current district, and evaluations are completed by your principal or district leader along with K-State faculty.
K-State online tuition is the same price for all students, regardless of residency. Scholarship opportunities may be available through K-State financial aid or your district.
Yes. Students may qualify for scholarships, district support or federal student aid.
Requirements for admission to the MS in Educational Leadership are the same no matter the format of course delivery. To select the asynchronous option, students indicate this preference in their Statement of Objectives.
The asynchronous master’s degree is ideal for experienced educators seeking to become PK-12 building leaders or those wanting to expand their influence beyond the classroom while balancing full-time work, family and community commitments.
There are no differences between the standards and learning outcomes for any delivery model of the MS in Educational Leadership. It is simply different delivery models.
No, you will be earning the Master of Science in Educational Leadership.
Yes, we would love for you to come to campus and participate in the Commencement ceremony when you graduate. The faculty will be very happy to welcome you to campus and always love the opportunity to meet students in person.
The Doctor of Education (Ed. D.) in Educational Leadership is a professional degree program that prepares skilled leadership practitioners. Students who do not already hold a district-level (superintendent) endorsement may tailor coursework in their emphasis area to meet that license requirement.
Each student’s program of study is individualized with the approval of the major professor and the supervisory committee to optimize the student’s interests, expertise, and goals.
This 18-credit-hour graduate certificate is offered in response to the demand for trained qualitative researchers at the national and international levels.
In the program, students are introduced to qualitative research methods from a broad social science perspective so they understand how qualitative research is conducted in education and other fields.
This experience allows students to make connections between different parts of the inquiry process, thereby developing a stronger understanding of how to conceptualize, execute, and report projects conducted through qualitative inquiry.
Leadership Licensures
Building Leadership Licensure This license qualifies you to be a building principal at the PK–12 level in the state of Kansas.
District Leadership Licensure This license qualifies you to be a District Superintendent at the PK–12 level in the state of Kansas.
For more information about Educational Leadership graduate programs, contact Dr. Royce Ann Collins at racollin@k-state.edu.
