Program Overview

Introduction to Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership unit provides PK-12 preparation and development for educational administrators across the preschool, primary, secondary, and district levels. The unit has been setting the standards for tomorrow's educators since 1892 and has trained more than 500 PK-12 educators through its three degrees and two certification programs over the past ten years.

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

The MA-EL program prepares students for leadership in all educational settings, including public, private, charter, and virtual schools, educational service providers, authorizers, government programs, community education, preschools, daycares, corporate, and military. The program is fully online and strives to meet the needs of its students. Students will learn the skills to effectively lead their organization and meet the diverse needs of 21st Century learners through performance-based learning.

Emphasis Options

• Supervision Emphasis: Develops the skills and knowledge to effectively lead and change lives through education, preparing students for success as a principal through strategic planning and team building within diverse populations.
  • Focuses on developing personal brand value
  • Prepares students for success as a principal
• Charter School Leadership Emphasis: Develops an advanced understanding of the issues facing charter schools, the governing policies, and reform efforts to effectively achieve institutional success within a diverse population.
  • Prepares students for success within the growth sector of charter education
  • Focuses on developing an advanced understanding of charter school issues

Fast Track to Administrator Certification

The Fast Track program for administrator certification is embedded in the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership degree. Students who already have a master's degree can take only the seven certification core courses. An advisor will work with the student to ensure they only take the courses they need.

Specialist in Education (Ed.S.)

The Specialist in Education in General Educational Administration is an advanced degree program that prepares professional educators with instructional and leadership skills beyond the master's level of competence. The purpose of this degree is to extend the academic foundation, skills, and abilities of educational leaders and to build leadership capacity in a variety of educational settings. The Ed.S. degree is based upon the satisfactory completion of 30 semester hours of graduate-level coursework.

Concentration Areas

• Instructional Leadership: Prepares aspiring school leaders for the Michigan administration certification in Elementary and Secondary Education.
  • Focuses on developing skills for building-level leadership
  • Covers topics such as principalship, school and community relations, and school building administration
• Administrative Leadership: Prepares aspiring superintendents and central office administrators for Michigan administrator certification at the Central Office.
  • Focuses on developing skills for district-level leadership
  • Covers topics such as administration of the school district, advanced law, and public school finance

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

The Ed.D. degree in Educational Leadership provides in-depth knowledge and skills to educational leaders who seek to develop and refine their knowledge and skills to help transform the educational institution. The program qualifies students for the Michigan Central Office administrator certificate through the Michigan Department of Education. Students entering the program with an earned Specialist in Education degree in Educational Leadership from an approved institution may receive up to a maximum of 27 credits toward the Doctor of Education.

Program Details

• The Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program begins in the fall of each year.
• Students will accomplish their career goals as a principal, superintendent, or curricular leader through enhanced knowledge and skills in advanced research and analysis, ethical leadership, organizational culture and change, and organizational theory.