Master of Science in Educational Leadership - Flexible, Built for Educators
K-State’s College of Education now offers an asynchronous Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Leadership — a 30-credit program designed for working educators who need flexibility without sacrificing quality.
Whether you’re preparing for a PK–12 building-level principal endorsement or seeking new leadership opportunities outside the classroom, this asynchronous program puts your experience, your schedule and your goals at the center.
If the asynchronous model isn’t a good fit, K-State also offers a traditional online model with synchronous and asynchronous coursework. Both paths lead to the same respected degree and can meet requirements for the Kansas building-level principal endorsement.
A Program Designed for Educators like You
Teachers and aspiring leaders often juggle packed schedules, family responsibilities and community commitments. That’s why the asynchronous M.S. in Educational Leadership is built around true flexibility.
Why Choose the Asynchronous Path
- Move through courses on your schedule — start eight different times throughout the year.
- Take 3, 6, 9 or 12 credit hours based on what fits your life.
- Choose which enrollment periods to take courses, adjusting your pace when work or family requires it.
- Use your real-world experience to demonstrate knowledge and expertise and accelerate learning.
Aligned with the 2018 NELP Standards for Building Leaders, the program helps you build the skills needed for the principalship while honoring the experience and knowledge you already bring.
"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,
Course Instructor
Learning That Fits Your Life
Asynchronous Coursework
Each course uses a variety of learning activities, including video, essay, environmental scan or analysis of practice. These assessments measure your knowledge and skills while allowing you to personalize how you demonstrate your learning.
Each module puts the tools and resources you need right at your fingertips, allowing you to immediately apply what you learn to your current role. Each scenario mirrors authentic leadership situations, helping learners think and act like a principal or district leader in an academic, supportive environment.
Practicum Built Around Your School
You’ll complete 150+ hours of field-based experiences. Your practicum tasks mirror the responsibilities of real school leaders and are evaluated by both your district supervisor and K-State faculty.
Quality Faculty with Real K–12 Experience
Our faculty bring more than 50 years of combined experience as teachers, principals and district leaders — meaning they understand the realities of today’s classrooms and leadership roles.
Curriculum Overview (30 Credits)
- EDLEA 801 Ethical Dimensions of Educational Leadership
- EDLEA 810 Philosophical Analysis of Leadership in Education
- EDLEA 819 Introduction to Education Finance
- EDLEA 820 Data Literacy/Data-Informed Decisions
- EDLEA 831 Educational Law
- EDLEA 835 The Principalship
- EDLEA 836 School–Community Relations
- EDLEA 855 Leadership in Teaching and Learning
- EDLEA 860 Inclusive School Culture
- EDLEA 870 Educational Professional Learning/Human Resource Administration
- EDLEA 889 Practicum in Educational Leadership
Affordable and Accessible
K-State offers the same online tuition rate to all online students, regardless of location. Many students also benefit from scholarships or district support.
Beyond the Master's Program
K-State’s College of Education also offers:
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.
Take the Next Step
Whether you want to lead a building, strengthen your instructional impact or advance into broader PK–12 leadership roles, K-State’s self-paced M.S. in Educational Leadership gives you the flexibility and support to get there.
For more information about Educational Leadership programs, contact Dr. Royce Ann Collins at edleadership@ksu.edu.
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. 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. 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.