MS in Educational Leadership (30 credits)

Traditional Online Model

K-State’s College of Education offers an online Master’s of Educational Leadership that provides the knowledge and skills needed to assume a significant leadership role in preschool and PK-12 school settings.

The program is 30 hours and offered in a traditional online model of synchronous and asynchronous learning and an asynchronous model.

Both delivery models lead to the same respected degree and can meet requirements for the Kansas building-level principal endorsement.

K-State is committed to preparing school leaders who understand the challenges and opportunities of school leadership. This program is designed to meet the need for leaders in our nation’s school system.

Courses take a broad view of leadership beyond the traditional training of school administrators and provide you with the skills you’ll need to make this important career transition.

The traditional online version of the M.S. in Educational Leadership, features:

8-week courses with structured assignments and due dates
Synchronous and asynchronous sessions
A cohort-like experience with more scheduled interaction

The courses in the traditional offering are instructor-dependent and paced.

Aligned with the 2018 NELP Standards for Building Leaders, the program qualifies and prepares you for PK-12 building-level licensure while recognizing and building upon your existing experience.

With clear learning goals and resources tailored to each key area of building leadership, you'll gain the necessary skills for success.

Curriculum:

EDLEA 801 Ethical Dimensions of Educational Leadership (3 credits)
EDLEA 810 Philosophical Analysis of Leadership in Education (3 credits)
EDLEA 819 Introduction to Education Finance (3 credits)
EDLEA 820 Data Literacy/Data Informed Decisions in Educational Leadership (3 credits)
EDLEA 831 Educational Law (3 credits)
EDLEA 835 The Principalship (2 credits)
EDLEA 836 School-Community Relations (3 credits)
EDLEA 855 Leadership in Teaching and Learning (3 credits)
EDLEA 860 Inclusive School Culture in Educational Leadership (3 credits)
EDLEA 870 Educational Professional Learning/Human Resource Administration (3 credits)
EDLEA 889 Practicum in Educational Leadership (1 credit)

Practicum and Portfolio Assessment:

To complete the practicum requirement, learners must participate in field-based experiences at their current school district.

The practicum engages learners in various school settings and provides candidates with coherent, authentic, and sustained opportunities to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills in NELP Standards 1-7. The experiences approximate the full range of responsibilities required of building-level leaders and enable learners to promote the current and future success and well-being of each student and adult in the school.

Students are required to document a minimum of 150 clock hours of guided field experience through the formal practicum and other coursework. To assist in reaching this requirement, additional practicum requirements are embedded in many courses in the licensure sequence.

Learners must include a written log of practicum activities with the student’s final portfolio assessment. Evidence of experiences is provided by the student and evaluated by a district supervisor (current principal or district leader) and the faculty member in the program.

Rubrics meeting KSDE and CAEP standards and requirements are used in the evaluation.

For more information, Contact Dr. Royce Ann Collins at edleadership@ksu.edu

Enrollment:

Enroll in 3, 6, 9 or 12 credit hours. You choose the pace. You can start the program at eight different times in the year: August, mid-October, December, January, mid-March, May, June or July. Set the pace yourself! Take a course when it works for your schedule.

Admission Requirements

To choose the self-paced option, please note that in your Statement of Objectives: I want to pursue the asynchronous option.

All students are required to meet the general university admission requirements.

Graduate | International | Nondegree

Additional Requirements

Valid state-issued teaching license
Approximately three years of teaching experience

Additional Documentation

Your application must include the following:

Statement of objectives: State your academic objectives in one to two pages and include the following information:
- career and professional goals and aspirations and how being accepted to the program will specifically benefit your goals and aspirations
- description of relevant professional experience within education or a related field
- future professional plans
- resume/curriculum vitae
- note you want to pursue the asynchronous program
Official transcripts from each college or university where you received your bachelor’s degree(s) and completed any post-baccalaureate coursework or degrees
Two letters of recommendation from college or university educators and/or colleagues or supervisors who are qualified to address your professional skills and your potential for success in the graduate program
A completed Admissions Standards Self-Survey (located within the application). A score of level 3 or higher is required for admission.

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.